Helping Patients Find Weekend Emergency Dentists near Los Angeles, CA

Emergency Dentists vs. General Dentists

In short, emergency dentists are typically general dentists who have additional training and experience that allows them to help patients who are in emergency situations. This can include patients who are in extreme pain or who have suffered a traumatic event to their teeth, gums, or general mouth area. Emergency dentists are oftentimes available during hours and on days in which general dentists are not, such as after typical working hours and on weekends or holidays.

General dentists usually provide routine care to their patients, providing check-ups and preventative dental care. Patients usually book appointments with their general dentists at times throughout the year that coincide with typical business hours. Emergency dentists are available to provide care in the event that a general dentist is not available and there are extenuating painful and serious circumstances for a patient. Emergency dentists are not meant to take the place of a patient’s general dentist. Emergency dentists open on Saturday, Sunday, after hours, and on holidays to offer their services.

Additionally, emergency dentists are equally as qualified as general dentists to treat dental issues. In some cases, dentists who offer emergency services may have more experience in handling emergency dental situations such as abscesses, severe toothaches, traumatic dental injuries, and more. The bottom line is that you can trust an emergency dentist in the event that your dental issue requires an emergency visit.

How Soon Can I Be Seen by an Emergency Dentist?

An emergency dentist exists for patients who need to be seen quickly because they are in serious pain or because their situation requires time-sensitive care. There are many cases in which an emergency dentist may be able to see you immediately once you contact them. This is especially true for patients who have time-sensitive cases, like a tooth that has been knocked out. There are also cases in which you may have to wait for a few hours but are still able to be seen on the same day as you contacted them.

There are less common situations in which an emergency dentist may have patients who need to be seen more immediately than you. In these cases, you may be asked to wait. If your pain is too severe to wait, you may be able to find another emergency dentist nearby or apply pain medications to help.

How To Manage Tooth Pain Until You Can Be Seen by a Dentist

In the event that you have to wait for a few hours until being seen by an emergency dentist, there may be ways to ease your pain. If you have a persistent, painful toothache, you may be able to find relief by swishing with warm salt water. Flossing around the hurting tooth may also remove small bits of food that can increase your pain levels. Taking over-the-counter pain medications such as Tylenol can also temporarily help with pain until you are able to get a more permanent solution from your dentist.

In some cases, you may experience pain that requires attention but may not necessarily require emergency attention. In the case that you have to wait for a weekend before seeing your general dentist, there are some home remedies that may help ease your pain. Icing a sore tooth, applying pain-relieving or numbing gels to your gum or sore tooth, and/or taking pain medications may provide some temporary relief.

How To Know When My Dental Issue Is an Emergency

You may be experiencing tooth pain that is not necessarily cause for an emergency dental visit. It is important to discern whether or not you should seek immediate medical care or if it would be better to wait a day or two in order to see your general dentist. Some examples of dental problems that are painful but that may not necessarily be considered emergencies include:

• The beginning pains of a cavity. This can take on many various feelings, such as sensitivity to hot and/or cold foods, a dull ache surrounding a certain tooth, light gum pain or sensitivity, and more. These feelings can be painful but can usually wait to be assessed and treated by a general dentist during typical business hours.
• Small chips or cracks in your tooth. These can happen as the result of chewing something hard, minor physical injuries, and other mishaps. In the case that your tooth slightly chips or breaks, you may not need to seek emergency care. Unless it is overwhelmingly painful, these types of issues can usually be taken care of by a general dentist.
• Minor injuries to the soft interior of your mouth. In cases of minor abrasions, tears, or injuries to the inside of your mouth, a simple at-home cleaning can hold you over until you are able to see your general dentist. However, if the bleeding is uncontrollable, unusually heavy, and will not stop, it may be necessary to seek emergency care.
• Broken braces. It is not uncommon for someone to break a wire or bracket while having braces. This can happen while eating certain foods, during physical activity, or in other ways. Unless the broken braces are penetrating the soft tissue of your mouth or causing unbearable discomfort or pain, these types of issues can usually be taken care of at the earliest convenience of your general dentist or orthodontist.

If you are experiencing dental pain and are unsure about whether or not you should seek medical care, a quick call to a nearby emergency dentist can help answer your questions. Our team at Emergency Dental Services provides weekend emergency care and can answer any questions you have concerning your particular circumstances.

Dental Problems That Qualify As Emergencies

When you are experiencing pain of any kind, it can be difficult to assess if your situation requires immediate emergency care or if you may be able to wait for more general care. In any case, it can be helpful to reach out to a medical professional for advice. Below are some general instances in which it may be best to seek emergency help.

• You are experiencing a severely loose adult tooth. Once adult teeth have grown in, they are never meant to be loose. A loose tooth could be the result of many things, but either way, it should be taken care of promptly. A loose tooth will not fix itself and can only be helped with proper medical care. In some cases, loose teeth are time-sensitive issues, meaning that emergency care could be the best option.
• You are experiencing a severe toothache. It is not abnormal to experience slight tooth pain in the course of a lifetime, but tooth pain that is persistent and interrupts eating, sleeping, and other everyday habits can be cause for immediate attention. If the pain will not subside and is continually overwhelming, especially after administering pain medication, a trip to see an emergency dentist may be helpful.
• Your gums are bleeding and will not stop. Any kind of persistent bleeding in the mouth that cannot be stopped after a short amount of time should be a cause for concern. If the bleeding is accompanied by persistent and overwhelming pain, an emergency dentist may be your best option. Small amounts of bleeding of the gums can be early signs of gum disease, but overwhelming amounts may require more immediate attention.
• Your jaw is severely swollen. Swelling of any kind usually indicates some kind of infection and can be extremely painful. If you are experiencing swelling in your jaws, it could mean that you have an infection in your mouth. You will not be able to treat this on your own, and it will not go away. Depending on how painful and serious it is, you may need to seek immediate medical care.
• You have an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth is the result of an infection near a certain tooth and the surrounding gums. These will not go away on their own and should be assessed and treated by an experienced dentist as soon as possible.
• You have a tooth that has been knocked out. Adult teeth that are knocked out may be able to be put back into place, but such issues are extremely time-sensitive. A knocked-out tooth is always considered an emergency situation and should be treated as such. If your tooth has been knocked out, seek emergency dental help right away. If you do, an experienced emergency dentist may be able to save your tooth.

How Much Will an Emergency Dentist Visit Cost?

The causes for an emergency dentist visit will vary, and so will the costs. Treating an intense cavity will not be the same process as treating an abscessed tooth or a tooth that has been knocked out. Therefore, the costs associated with each type of treatment will vary. The cost of your visit will also depend on the services that your situation may or may not require, such as x-rays, having to have a tooth extracted, needing anesthesia, or administering fillings or crowns.

Each emergency dentist, like general dentists, is also able to set their own rates. In addition to the varying needs of your particular situation, the emergency dentist you choose will determine the cost of your visit. The location of your emergency dentist may also factor into the price you will pay, as some geographic locations simply tend to be more expensive than others.

In the case of true dental emergencies, it is always best to seek emergency care. Issues that are real emergencies will not fix themselves or go away on their own, and you will not be able to treat them either. Putting off medical care in emergency situations will only make your problem worse and end up costing you more down the road. While emergency care may be expensive, it is always more helpful and less expensive to take care of the problem earlier on.

Dentist Open on Weekends Near Me

Emergency Dental Service exists so that you do not have to worry about searching for the best emergency dentist near you during your time of need. We connect patients to nearby emergency dental services in times of crisis by helping you find the closest dentist to you, make your appointment, and more. It can be difficult to make informed and quick decisions when you are experiencing intense dental pain. Let Emergency Dental Service help.

If you are experiencing emergency dental pain near Los Angeles, California, allow Emergency Dental Service to put you in contact with a nearby emergency dental service. Do not try to wait out the pain of an emergency dental situation. Doing so could cause you more pain and cost you more money in the long run. You may use our provider search page to find nearby help or call our offices at 1-833-624-1382.