Emergency Dentist 24/7 Scottsdale, AZ

Dental care may be one of the most underrated but most important forms of caring for your health. That is why if you are experiencing a dental emergency, you should not hesitate to contact an emergency dentist right away. Luckily, there are dentists open on weekends who can help with a range of emergency dental needs.

Experiencing a dental emergency can be painful, if not downright scary. However, it is important to remain calm to avoid exacerbating the situation. Instead, contact the Emergency Dental Service, which can help you contact dental offices open on Saturday or Sunday in your area.

What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is more than a bit of pain in your teeth or gums. It is a burdensome condition that can be life-threatening if not treated in time. Therefore, before you rush into a weekend dentist, you should be clear about what is considered a dental emergency and what is not. If you experience the following symptoms, you should contact an emergency dentist right away:

• A severe, unrelenting toothache
• Severe swelling
• Broken teeth or badly cracked teeth
• A knocked-out tooth
• Excessive bleeding
• Damaged dental restorations
• Mouth lacerations
• Excessive bleeding

Although you may be tempted to bear the pain and wait it out until Monday, for the aforementioned symptoms, you should seek immediate attention. For example, if your tooth is broken, it is at a higher risk of falling out completely, which can be avoided if you get it fixed promptly.

What Is Not a Dental Emergency

There are some situations where it is wiser to schedule a regular dental appointment. Not only can it be more costly to make an emergency visit, it can also waste your time. If you are experiencing these symptoms, consider waiting until after the weekend to see your dentist:

• Minor tooth pain
• A child’s loose tooth
• A minor crack in your tooth
• Items stuck between your teeth
• Small cuts in the mouth
• Broken braces without pain

These are just some of the issues that may not be emergencies. If your bleeding stops or if your pain subsides with medication, you may not have a dental emergency. In certain situations, home treatment may do the trick until you can schedule a dental appointment. Keep in mind it is still important to speak with your dentist about these issues; however, you can wait to do it.

Common Causes of Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can happen at any place, at any time, and for a variety of reasons. While sometimes they can be anticipated, other times they happen unexpectedly. Generally, though, dental emergencies fall into four main categories: dental care negligence, trauma, post-procedural complications, or pre-existing health conditions.

Neglecting dental care is a common precursor for dental emergencies. The issue with this is that neglecting certain dental procedures can lead to infections down the line. This is why regular, consistent, and quality dental care is important. Below are some examples of how avoiding dental care can lead to major problems:

• Untreated gum disease
• Untreated cavities
• Leaving an abscess untreated
• Erupted wisdom teeth

Most people expect that their dental procedure, whether it be a cavity filling, braces, or implant installation, goes smoothly and without complications. However, sometimes, a dentist may make a mistake, or the procedure may have unintended post-op issues. If these issues are not promptly corrected, they can cause issues that lead to an emergency or maybe an emergency themselves. Some examples include:

• Dry Socket or Alveolar Osteitis
• Adjacent teeth damage
• Nerve injuries
• Braces that fall off
• Jaw stiffness
• Improperly placed dentures or implants

While the aforementioned emergencies may be anticipated, some occur unexpectedly, as in dental trauma. Common examples include playing a sport, being hit or struck, or falling. In these situations, you may break or crack your teeth or get them knocked out.

Finally, there are some situations in which a preexisting medical condition can lead to dental emergencies. If you have diabetes or kidney issues, it can create dental problems down the line, like gum disease. Moreover, pregnancy can be a precursor for dental issues as pregnancy hormones can greatly impact dental health.

Implications of Avoiding Emergency Dental Care

You should treat your dental emergency the same way you would treat a broken arm, headache, or other medical emergency as your dental health is just as important. While you may think a throbbing toothache may not be cause for concern, it can be a sign of a serious underlying issue. If you avoid a dental emergency, here are serious issues you may experience:

• Serious infections. If your tooth gets infected, it can not only harm your mouth, but the infection can travel to other parts of your body, causing serious health issues.
  
• Increase other health conditions. Diabetes and kidney disease are two medical conditions that may be exacerbated by dental issues.
• Unrelenting, life-interfering pain. If you avoid certain dental procedures, you may be left with serious pain that does not go away without treatment. Though it may not be as serious as an infection, it can greatly interfere with your day-to-day life.
  
• Permanent tooth loss. A decaying or damaged tooth can lead to permanent tooth loss if left untreated. Once you lose your teeth, there is no going back, and you may require dentures or implants.
  
• Tissue or bone damage. Not only can avoiding dental care impact your teeth, but it can damage the surrounding tissues or bones as well.
  
• Social isolation and emotional stress. Certain dental issues are not only physically painful but can have social and emotional implications. For example, if you get your teeth knocked out, it may be embarrassing to smile, laugh, or interact with your peers. It is also difficult to eat or chew, which can also cause stress.

Ways to Avoid a Dental Emergency

A dental emergency can be an emotionally trying experience. Avoiding a dental emergency in the first place using preventative care.  While it may be difficult to avoid trauma, such as getting your tooth dislodged from a fall, other emergencies can be avoided. Common examples of preventative care include:

• Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing regularly to avoid plaque buildup that can lead to cavities or infections
• Yearly dental check-ups. At your check-up, your dentist can inform you of problem areas or treat cavities or other issues before they fester.
• Wearing protective gear when engaging in sports or other high-impact activities
• Maintaining a healthy diet is beneficial for your dental care just as much as it is for health care
• Cleaning and maintaining dentures or implants to avoid damage or infections in your mouth
• If you are pregnant, you should maintain regular, proper dental care to ensure overall health.

Services We Provide at Emergency Dental of Phoenix

The Emergency Dental Service is a reputable and reliable service to help with your emergency dental needs. We provide a broad range of procedures if you have a weekend dental emergency. We hold ourselves to the same high standards as your regular dentist to help ensure optimal health. Here are common emergency dental procedures we provide:

• Cavity fillings. A cavity is likely one of the most common dental procedures done on both children and adults. A cavity is a small hole in the tooth that needs to be filled to avoid serious infections. While some cavities can be filled at a scheduled appointment, if you are experiencing severe pain or swelling, you should have it examined right away.
  
• Dental crown repairs. A dental crown is a small cap that is placed over a damaged, decayed, or fragile tooth. The purpose is to restore the strength of your tooth so that you can speak, chew, and eat properly. While most are sturdy and long-lasting, they can be damaged by normal wear and tear or fall off. If this happens, you should get it repaired immediately to avoid infection.
  
• Denture repairs. Dentures are artificial teeth that replace or are placed on top of broken, decayed, or damaged teeth. Because they imitate real teeth, they should be cleaned and maintained regularly to ensure optimal use. However, if they get broken or damaged over the weekend, you shouldn’t wait until Monday to get them fixed. Delaying repair not only impacts your day-to-day life but can leave your mouth vulnerable to harm.
  
• Dental implant repairs. Dental implants are similar to dentures, except they are not easily removable and are installed in your jaw. If they get cracked or damaged because of loosened abutments or even bone loss, you should get them fixed immediately.
  
• Root canal. If the pulp of your tooth gets inflamed or if you have trauma or decaying teeth, you may require a root canal. A root canal is a procedure that involves removing the infection, cleaning out the problem tooth or teeth, and sealing it. If you need a root canal, you will know because it is incredibly painful, causing sensitivity to hot or cold food or drinks, gum infections, and other serious symptoms. Therefore, you should act immediately to get the problem fixed.
  
• Tooth extractions. Sometimes, you may need your tooth extracted immediately. Delaying an extraction can lead to serious problems, including infections, excessive bleeding, permanent tooth loss, or gum damage. Further, you could potentially aspirate or swallow a loose or decaying tooth if you do not get it extracted immediately.
  

Dental abscess treatment. A dental abscess is a build-up of pus, which is often caused by a bacterial infection. An abscess is not only painful but can cause future damage if left untreated. At your emergency dental appointment, your dentist will drain the abscess, provide antibiotics, and treat the root cause.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

A dental emergency room is similar to your regular dental office, except you may have shorter wait times. At your emergency dental visit, you may receive an assessment that asks about your medical history. This will help the dentist determine the root of your problem and avoid administering medications to which you may be allergic.

The priority at your appointment is to ease your immediate symptoms, especially if you are experiencing severe pain or bleeding. Your dentist may also perform an X-ray or even emergency surgery if the situation warrants it. Other times, your emergency dentist may treat certain symptoms and schedule a future appointment to tackle other issues.

It is important to note that the cost of an emergency dentist may be higher than a regular dental visit. However, this should not deter you from seeking treatment, as delays may cause serious issues down the line. For example, you may only require a root canal at your emergency visit, but delaying this can lead to an infection that causes tooth loss, which requires a costly implant. At Emergency Dental Services, discounts may also be available for you.

Can I Go to an Emergency Room?

If you experience a dental emergency, it may be tempting to go to your local hospital emergency room. After all, most are able to ease your immediate symptoms and stop bleeding if that is your issue. However, it may be better to contact an office such as Emergency Dental of Phoenix. This is because emergency rooms are not equipped to handle dental procedures.

If you need dentures or an emergency root canal, for instance, an ER doctor is often not equipped to perform the procedure. On the other hand, not only can your emergency dentist treat your symptoms, but they can also perform the required procedures. Whether you need dentures, implants, or a cavity filling, your emergency dentist can help you.

Weekend Emergency Dentist: Contact Us Today

It can be incredibly inconvenient if you are experiencing a dental emergency on the weekend. Still, it is better to seek immediate treatment than to risk creating future problems. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, contact a local Emergency Dental Service using our provider search page or call 1-844-885-1538 today to schedule an appointment.