Dental emergencies occur, well, unexpectedly, of course, often causing extreme pain and discomfort. If you experience a dental emergency, it’s important to find a Berkeley emergency dentist with a team capable of getting you out of pain quickly and setting you up for a safe and healthy recovery.
COVID-19 Pandemic Effect on Dental Care
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in dental offices either being recommended or mandated by their state to postpone elective dental care to do their part in “flattening the curve” and mitigate the spread of the virus. We understand this has left some patients feeling lost as to how to approach a dental emergency they or a loved one may be experiencing. On the date of this blog post, March 31st, 2020, most dental offices are allowed to see patients experiencing a dental emergency. Most dental offices and hospital systems would much rather you visit a dentist for dental emergency care than take up the very limited and precious space in a hospital ER at the moment. Please contact our office if you believe you are experiencing a dental emergency.
What is a Dental Emergency?
According to the American Dental Association, dental emergencies “are potentially life threatening and require immediate treatment to stop on going tissue bleeding [or to] alleviate severe pain or infection.” These urgent health issues involve the teeth, gums, and mouth.
Here are a few examples of dental emergencies:
- Severe toothache, especially pain that prevents sleep and daily function
- Swelling of gums, face, or neck
- Bleeding in the mouth that doesn’t stop
- Trauma from an injury
- Abscessed tooth
If you’re currently suffering from any of these issues, consider it a dental emergency that requires the care of a dental professional as soon as possible.
Signs of Dental Emergencies
It’s important that you can recognize the signs of dental emergencies so that you know whether to call your dentist or use home care techniques. We do recommend always reaching out to your dentist for any questions you have, even if you feel it is something minor.
The following signs indicate that you’re most likely experiencing a dental emergency that a dentist needs to handle:
- Severe pain
- Infection in or around the mouth, especially with an abscess and high fever
- Tooth fracture resulting in pain and/or causing soft tissue trauma
- Unusual bleeding from the mouth
In many cases, seeking help for a dental emergency can save your tooth and prevent further health complications. Abscesses, for example, can spread toxic infection through the body if they’re not treated properly. Lost teeth also have the best chances of recovery if reattached quickly after they fall out.
Berkeley Dental Emergencies
The last thing you want to do is make dozens of phone calls trying to find a dentist available to provide the emergency dental care you need. Our Berkeley CA dentist offers a wide range of dental emergency treatments for patients of all ages.
When you trust Berkeley Hills Dentistry with your smile, you’ll receive the highest quality of comprehensive, personal, and compassionate dental care. Our team of highly trained dentists can treat everything from a cracked tooth to severe trauma, giving you the comfort you need when you need it most. Call our office today for more information about dental emergencies and treatments.