Understanding Emergency Dental Care at Southern Smiles
Hello, everyone. My name is Dr. Shakally, here at Southern Smiles. We are starting some videos to address our patients' main questions or concerns. One of these topics is emergency dentistry. It's a subject very close to my heart because we often help patients who come to our office in pain or with swelling. I'll answer some of the main questions we receive here.
When do I need to see an emergency dentist versus going to an emergency room or scheduling a regular dental appointment?
We often get asked when to call the dentist and say, "Hey, I have an emergency," versus going to urgent care or the emergency room. The answer depends on a few factors, like the time of day. Is your dentist open? Is the issue something like a chipped tooth that can wait, or is it swelling that's preventing you from breathing? Different people have different ideas of what an emergency is, but you should definitely go to the emergency room or urgent care for any rash, swelling, or fever related to your teeth. If it's just a toothache, even if severe, it's probably better to call your dentist to see if they can help you. Often, dentists have emergency numbers and can prescribe antibiotics until they can see you, which is likely what the ER will do.
When do I need an emergency dental extraction?
When is it best to do an emergency extraction? People ask us when they need an emergency extraction. When patients show up in our office, we really try everything we can to save those teeth. But sometimes it's not possible to save it with a root canal and crown. Usually, cases where the tooth is so broken down that by the time we remove all the cavity and the nerve, there's not even room for that tooth to have a crown. Or, let's say a patient is going to spend thousands of dollars saving that tooth, but it's realistically only going to last for a year or so. It might be more worthwhile for them to consider an implant.
Why might I need an emergency root canal?
A lot of patients call us and ask why they need an emergency root canal. The answer often is that a root canal involves removing a patient's nerve, usually infected from bacteria starting as a cavity. That's how most root canals develop. The cavity starts, you didn't catch it early enough, and by the time you realize it's there, the cavity is already into the tooth and requires a root canal and crown.
Do you offer same day care?
Absolutely. We accommodate many walk-ins in our practice. Most of the time, we can see them, perform the treatment, and relieve their pain. Sometimes we can't, whether that's due to a tight schedule or the patient needing antibiotics first. Our promise to our patients is at least to get them out of pain. We may not finish the treatment that day, but we'll alleviate the pain.
Can I schedule a late hour appointment?
Sometimes patients call us and ask if they can schedule appointments after work, after 5:00 p.m., which is when we typically close on weekdays. We can make some exceptions, usually after getting to know the patient and determining this is the only available time for them or if it's an extreme emergency. If someone shows up at our office at 4:30 pm and needs work, we're going to take care of them, regardless of our closing time.
Can I be seen on the weekends?
Absolutely yes. We are open Fridays and every other Saturday. As you can imagine, Saturdays tend to book quickly and far in advance. If you're interested in a Saturday appointment, call our office and discuss that with our scheduler.
I hope I've answered some of the main questions people have about emergency dentistry. If you live in or near Phoenix, AZ, and are looking for emergency dental care, contact us at (480) 530-0755. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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