Whether you’ve emergency dentist and fallen in Times Square and chipped your tooth or woke up with severe dental pain or a knocked-out tooth, a visit to an emergency dentist can make all the difference in relieving your discomfort and managing the long-term impact of oral injuries. Unlike ER doctors who are trained to manage pain and swelling due to general injuries, emergency dentists specialize in treating a variety of dental emergencies and work to quickly relieve symptoms and prevent further damage.

When Do You Need an Emergency Dentist?

Dental emergencies can occur from a number of sources. Rough play in sports, car accidents, and work-related injuries can cause dental trauma that leads to pain, bleeding, and other complications. If left untreated, dental injuries may lead to permanent teeth loss, crooked jaws, and other serious health concerns.

Emergency dentists are equipped to treat both biologically and mechanically mediated dental emergencies, such as infection, tooth fracture, luxation, and avulsion. Depending on the extent of an injury, an emergency dentist will prescribe pain relievers, antibiotics, and a course of rest to help manage symptoms until a patient can visit a regular dental provider.

Patients can take steps to reduce their risk of dental injuries, including wearing a mouthguard during physical activities and avoiding hard or sticky foods. In some cases, an emergency dentist will refer a patient to another specialist to complete treatment. This may include orthodontics (braces) and dentofacial orthopedics to straighten and adjust a patient’s bite, or periodontics for advanced treatments such as root canal therapy.