More than two million Americans visited an emergency room in 2018 for dental-related emergencies. You can avoid having to visit an emergency room by knowing how to choose an emergency dentist. A visit to a local dental practice can save you time and money.
With so many options for dentists,
how do you know which licensed emergency dentist is right for you? In this
article, we'll explore how to weigh emergency dentistry experience and other
factors when finding the right dental practice to handle your dental
emergencies.
Emergency
Dentistry Experience
Many dentists specialize or focus on
one area of dentistry like family dentistry, prosthetic placement, or
orthodontics. Any dentist should be able to provide basic emergency dentistry
treatments, but they may not practice emergency dentistry often.
One clue to look for is whether they
list emergency dentistry on their website. If it isn't listed, it's probably an
afterthought for that dental practice. While you are searching the website, be
sure to check out their references and reviews.
Medical
Training
Visit the dentist's website and see
where they addended college and dental school. Dentists will mention special
academic achievements or specialty training they underwent after dental school.
The website may also mention whether the dentist undergoes continuing
education.
Location
Even the best emergency dentist
won't be of much help if their office is one hour away from your home. Focus
solely on dental practices that are 30 minutes away from your home or place of
work.
A dental practice that is closer
would be ideal. In the event of a true dental emergency, those extra minutes
can really add up.
Available
Hours
Have you checked the hours of
availability at Healthy Smiles Dental and other dental practices? The better the hours, the
better the chances that you can receive prompt dental care in the case of an
emergency.
Call the dental office and ask what
their policy is for treating dental emergencies. They should be willing to make
those emergencies a priority. It's easy to focus on comparing emergency
dentist costs, but little things like hours of operation are important as
well.
Sedation
Dentistry
Sedation dentistry is commonly used
during dental emergencies. Local anesthesia eliminates pain and discomfort
during an emergency dental procedure, and sedation helps you relax. Under the
effects of sedation, your anxiety will disappear and time will seem to pass
more quickly.
Learn
More Tips on How to Choose an Emergency Dentist
Knowing how to choose an emergency
dentist should be taken seriously. Certain dental emergencies like a root canal
infection can become life-threatening if it isn't treated immediately. Even
less serious emergencies can easily lead to the need for tooth extraction
without prompt care.
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