Should You Go to Urgent Care for Tooth Pain?
Is your mouth hurting? If so, you may be wondering if it's a good idea to go to urgent care for tooth pain. Here's what you need to know.
It's estimated that oral health diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people around the world. If left unchecked, poor oral hygiene can infect your teeth and gums causing a significant amount of pain.
And that's not the only type of tooth pain out there. Whether it's a knocked-out tooth or severe tissue damage, certain tooth pains can be unbearable. If you're going through pain and you can't schedule a dentist appointment you might be asking yourself, Should I go to urgent care for tooth pain?
If you want to discover the answer to this question, you're in the right place. In this guide, we'll help you decide whether or not tooth emergency services are needed for your specific type of pain.
Can You Go to Urgent Care for Tooth Pain?
If you're dealing with tooth pain, your best bet is to go to a dentist that offers emergency dental services. For starters, they can give you something to deal with the pain.
However, more importantly, they can deal with the issue that's causing the pain. Unfortunately, depending on where you live there might not be emergency dentist services open.
Certain days and times, like Sunday morning, you'll probably have trouble finding someone to squeeze you in.
In these circumstances, you can go to urgent care or the emergency room. They'll provide you with pain medication that should hold you over until you can schedule an appointment with a professional dentist.
Can Urgent Care Help With Dental Procedures?
We mentioned that urgent care can help you with tooth pain until you're able to see a dentist. But can they treat the condition that's causing your pain? Most of the time the answer is almost always no.
Urgent care providers typically don't have the equipment to deal with dental care emergencies like infections, abscesses, and similar problems. If you have soft tissue damage around your mouth, like on your lip, they can help with that.
However, for most dental emergencies they'll advise you to wait until you can see a doctor. If an urgent care center is well-equipped enough, it might be able to handle tooth extractions for severely cracked or broken teeth.
However, even if you get this procedure, you should still schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as you're able to. That way, they can check up on the injury and make sure no restorative work is necessary.
What Type of Tooth Pain Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?
Any tooth pain that is making you unable to function in your day-to-day life is likely reason enough to see a dentist.
However, the pain associated with certain conditions and injuries is often classified as a dental emergency. These can include things like:
- Severe toothaches
- Partially dislodged teeth
- A tooth that is badly cracked up to the gum
- A tooth that's been knocked out
- Dental abscesses marked by swelling around your face
- The dental restoration that's been lost or broken
- Soft tissue damage like a deep cut around the lips or inner mouth
If you have any of these problems, you should see a dentist as soon as you can. If there's excessive bleeding and you can't find a dentist to stop it, you might need to go to urgent care or the emergency room.
They can stop the bleeding and give you something for the pain until you can see a doctor.
What Type of Tooth Pain Can Wait for the Dentist?
Some certain conditions and injuries cause tooth pain that shouldn't be treated as a dental emergency. For example, if you have a mild or slightly dull pain around your tooth, that can wait for a regular dentist appointment.
The same goes if you have a small crack or chip in your tooth, but not that much pain. Broken braces or pain associated with Invisalign can also wait for your standard appointment.
However, there are things that you can do to deal with this specific type of pain. Lastly, if you have an object stuck between your teeth, then you don't need to go to an emergency dentist.
Instead, take over-the-counter pain relievers and apply a cold compress as needed.
Why Should You Think Twice Before Urgent Care?
If you're dealing with dental pain, you may want to go to urgent care or the emergency room as soon as possible. In some cases, this might be appropriate, like if you can't function from the pain or you need to stop bleeding associated with an injury.
However, there are some reasons why you should think twice before doing this. First, as we mentioned there's likely nothing urgent care can do except for helping with the pain.
Second, places like the hospital are expensive. One study found that the average emergency service costs roughly $14,101.
While a dental emergency likely won't cost this much it still will be quite expensive. As such, if you think you can wait you're better off finding an emergency dentist.
How Do You Find an Emergency Dentist?
A Google search in your area is typically the fastest way to find this type of dentist. Just make sure that they specifically offer emergency services. Ideally, you'll also be able to confirm whether or not they accept your dental insurance.
However, if you don't have time you might just need to go with the first place that can squeeze you in. A good emergency dentist will do everything in their power to see you as soon as possible.
Need Help With Dental Pain? Contact Broadway Cosmetic Dentistry PC
We hope this guide helped you answer the question, Should I go to urgent care for tooth pain? As you can see, urgent care can provide you with medication to deal with the pain until you see a professional.
However, most of the time that's all they can do. As such, you'll be much better off getting emergency dental services from a professional here at Broadway Cosmetic Dentistry PC.
When you contact us with severe dental pain, we do everything we can to squeeze you in at the first possible minute. So if you're ready for the relief from dental pain that you deserve, schedule your appointment with us today.
Dr. Rohit Z Patel
D.D.S
After graduating at the top of his class, Dr. Patel continued his postgraduate studies in endodontics at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in New York. He was appointed to assistant clinical professor of dentistry at Columbia University and later moved on to teach at the Montefiore Medical Center’s Department of Dentistry. Westchester Magazine recognized Dr. Patel as a “Top Dentist for 2012.”
Dr. Yung Kim
D.D.S
Dr. Yung Kim is a double board certified Periodontist and board certified Prosthodontist, educated to treat many extremely complex disorders involving gum disease, tooth decay, and oral pathology. His focus is on full-mouth, complex, surgical, and reconstructive dentistry. He has extensive knowledge of implant dentistry and advanced surgical procedures, specializing in teeth in a day and All-on-Four implants. He is also Invisalign certified and experienced with CAD/CAM restorations and dentures.
Dr. Brendan Gallagher
D.D.S
Dr. Brendan Gallagher is dedicated to providing safe, compassionate, and reliable surgical care while keeping communication clear and timely with referring offices. He values building strong partnerships with colleagues to ensure the very best care for patients. Outside of practice, Dr. Gallagher enjoys mentoring upcoming dentists through social media and podcasting. He also enjoys running, trying new craft beers and spending time with friends and family. You can find Dr. Gallagher at our Brewster, Tarrytown and Mount Vernon locations.
Dr. Santvana Vyas
D.D.S
Dr Vyas attended NYU College of Dentistry and earned DDS in 2016 at the top of her class. She was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU), the national dental honor society and earned Outstanding Achievement Award in study of Prosthodontics.
Dr Vyas is an active member of American College of Prosthodontics (ACP) and American Dental Association (ADA). She is appointed as a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU College of Dentistry. She is married and is blessed with two sons.
Dr. Gianna DeMase
D.D.S
Dr. DeMase received her undergraduate degree from Binghamton University where she double-majored in Biology and Spanish. She then earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University College of Dentistry where she graduated with honors in periodontics. After dental school, Dr. DeMase completed a General Practice Residency at Jacobi Medical Center, a level one trauma hospital. Here, she participated in community outreach in the women’s health clinic and taught medical students how to do oral exams. She also worked with special needs patients in Jacobi’s Rose F. Kennedy Center. Dr. DeMase remains committed to being active in the community.
Read More
Dr. DeMase has experience in cavity restoration, endodontics, oral surgery, oral pathology, and prosthodontics including implant restorations.
She highly values patient education and always ensures your comfort and understanding of the treatment. She strongly believes in patient centered care and therefore tailors each treatment plan to you and your needs. As a member of the American Dental Association, Dr. DeMase is always aware of the latest studies and developments in the dental field and strives to apply them to her practice. In her spare time, she can usually be found with a book in her hands.
