They say that there’s no better way to anticipate the pain of heartbreak than to go through it. But when it comes to having sharp pain hitting your mouth, that’s a different kind of pain that needs an immediate course of action. When something like this happens at a very unexpected time, we tend to panic before we ask for help. Don’t worry – this situation is something we do not usually plan, and it’s a good thing dental emergencies are here to aid in these situations.
What Is an Emergency Dentist?
An emergency dentist is a dental professional that deals with urgent oral health problems that cannot wait for a standard appointment, as these kinds of issues cause intense discomfort and pain and have a high risk of infection if left untreated.
The biggest advantage of seeing an emergency dentist is that you get prioritised care and address the cause as soon as you get there. This is why emergency dental clinics in places like Toorak are usually set up to see patients immediately without asking to book an appointment in advance and even in the wee hours of the night. This means that you need not travel far for experience and updated equipment to deal with these sudden dental problems.
What Is a Hospital Emergency Room?
While going to an emergency dentist is not as life-threatening at most, the ER, or the emergency room of the hospital, is typically designed to treat conditions that are serious and risky, especially if the condition involves more than the teeth, gums, and mouth, like severe infections and major injuries. This means that dental problems are not their main focus and are at best helped to keep the infection from spreading or trauma from affecting other organs.
Emergency Dentist vs Hospital Emergency Room: The Key Differences
We know that all emergencies are unplanned; however, these kinds of incidents can be prevented. To expound on this further, here are the key differences of the two options you can opt for as preventive measures:
- Emergency dentists focus entirely on dental health, as it is what they are trained to do. Hospital emergency rooms are there to be the space to treat overall medical emergencies, and having dental issues, unless they are a serious health risk, are considered secondary.
- Priorities also vary where hospital emergency rooms cater to people with life-threatening conditions first, and waiting for hours is seen as normal. However, if you are searching for a reliable urgent emergency dentist in the area, Toorak Dental Studio offers same-day appointments, meaning that patients are checked as quickly as possible, especially when pain is involved.
- Treatments also vary because of the range of patients seen every day; for instance, at a hospital, emergency rooms are places where doctors give temporary relief to their patients until they can see a dentist, while an emergency dentist can provide direct treatment straight away.
When Should You Go to an Emergency Dentist or to an Emergency Room?
If you wish to plan for your well-being in the future, consider looking for emergency dentists around your area and save their contact details. Consider seeing an emergency dentist if the pain in your tooth is unbearable, you have noticeable swelling in your gums or face, or if your tooth has fallen out.
On the other hand, where situations are beyond the dental-related issue, going to a hospital emergency room is ideal, especially if there is uncontrollable breathing, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, or a serious accident caused trauma in your affected body part.
Making the Decision Easier Next Time
Like any of us, we were taught that hospitals are the default option for emergencies, so it might not even cross your mind that dental clinics can handle urgent cases. The good news is that dental professionals are more people-centred, and their services focus on involving the patient in the process concerning their oral health.
The best time to think about dental emergencies is always right before things get worse, and when you know that you have options, you can plan and save time, especially when you are at the exact moment of the situation. Even if thinking about the future is scary, or thinking in advance that something bad might happen to you can cause worry, planning in advance can be a lifesaver.
They say that relief from something painful is hard to achieve, as the process of dealing with it can be taxing; however, there is relief in knowing that help is available and readily accessible.