HOW YOU SHOULD RESPOND TO A DENTAL EMERGENCY IN SW FLORIDA

People go to their local hospital or urgent-care center emergency room for many different reasons, whether due to injuries, severe illness, unexplained pain, or unusual symptoms. However, your local emergency room is probably not the go-to care facility if you experience a dental emergency. If you chip, crack, or lose a tooth, lose a filling or crown, or have a toothache or inflamed gums, you might spend hours in an emergency room waiting room before an attending physician tells you you need to consult an emergency dentist.

If you have a dentist, check their website to see if they offer emergency dental services. If they don’t or you don’t have a dentist, the easiest way to find an emergency dentist is to conduct an Internet search by typing “emergency dentist near me” in the search bar. In the Marco Island, Florida area, you can secure expert emergency dentistry services from Island Tower Dentistry. Depending on the severity of the dental emergency, Island Tower Dentistry dentists Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke and Dr. Ryan Whelen strive to see their patients, seasonal residents, or anyone needing emergency dental care as soon as reasonably possible. Read on to learn more about dental emergencies and how Island Tower Dentistry Responds to them.

WHAT COUNTS AS A DENTAL EMERGENCY?

Determining whether an oral injury or severe tooth, gum, or jaw pain counts as an emergency is often subjective. Some people are willing to bear unusual pain or ignore dental trauma and delay dental care with the hope that the issue may resolve itself. Those less willing to put up with any oral pain or compromised oral functioning are much more likely to seek emergency dental services, sometimes even when the issue does not constitute an emergency.

Dental professionals consider the following issues as potential emergencies that may warrant speedy attention:

• Trauma-induced loss of a tooth or teeth.
• Cracked or chipped tooth.
• Severe oral pain.
• Significant gum inflammation that seems to be intensifying.
• Intense swelling in the jaw area.
• Broken bridge work.
• Lost filling or crown.

While some of these issues may seem relatively minor, forsaking quick dental care could further compromise your oral health. And why endure any related pain when emergency dental care can alleviate it? Island Tower Dentistry’s emergency dental service can often provide same-day, non-scheduled examinations during regular business hours. We can also provide emergency treatment during off-office hours when warranted by the severity of the oral trauma or illness.

TAKE THESE STEPS IF YOU NEED EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE

If you’re dealing with any of the issues mentioned above, there are several steps you should take to address the problem. First, seek medical care from your local emergency department if any oral trauma involves broken bones, lacerations, excessive bleeding, and or extensive tooth loss. If you experience unidentified or severe oral pain or inflammation with other symptoms like fever, nausea, headache, neck ache, or dizziness, you should first seek emergency medical care.

No matter when your potential dental emergency occurs, treat it like an emergency instead of trying to schedule a standard dental appointment that may delay treatment by days or weeks. As an “emergency,” your emergency dentist can determine the appropriate course of care through a telephone consultation. This consultation might lead to scheduling an immediate office visit, even if the office is closed. Alternatively, your emergency dentist might decide that treatment can be delayed until the office reopens. Whatever the decision, emergency dentists typically strive to treat the oral trauma or illness within 24 hours.

SELF-CARE FOR DENTAL EMERGENCIES

Depending on the issue, emergency dentists typically recommend the following self-care measures for anyone experiencing the most common dental emergencies:

• For tooth loss, store the dislodged teeth in a container of cold milk and pack sockets with gauze or cotton. You can also use a teabag as a cushion between the upper and lower teeth.
• If you chip, crack, or break a tooth, try to find any dislodged pieces and store them in a cold container of milk.
• Take over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for toothache, gum pain, or inflammation. Cold compresses also help ease pain and reduce swelling.
• To fight potential infection and ease pain, periodically rinse your mouth with half teaspoon of salt dissolved in eight ounces of warm water.

CONSULT WITH ISLAND TOWER DENTISTRY FOR DENTAL EMERGENCIES

The dental-care professionals at Island Tower Dentistry have offered emergency dental services to residents and visitors in the Southwest Florida area since its founding. Whether due to trauma, disease, or unknown causes, our Marco Island, Florida, practice will respond promptly to your dental emergency. To resolve your emergency oral health concern quickly, contact us today at 239-394-1004 for a consultation. If you call during non-office hours, please listen carefully to the recorded message for details on how to connect with our emergency dentists.