Who do you call in a dental emergency? In the Las Cruces area, you might find plenty of numbers that pop up on a Google search, but the reality is that it can be difficult to find the right professional when you’re in a crunch. At Las Cruces Dental Solutions, our team wants you to be empowered with all the facts and considerations so you can make the right decision next time you find yourself with a dental emergency.
The First Place to Turn: A Qualified Dentist
While you can go to an urgent care or an emergency room, the reality is that they’re not trained to work on patients with emergency dental issues. They may be able to perform basic services, like such as an emergency tooth extraction of an infected tooth or supplying medications to manage pain, but they’re just as likely to direct you to a dentist to fix the problem more comprehensively.
This is why it’s so important to go to the right person the first time: you save time, you save money, and you might even be able to preserve your oral health. Don’t believe us? Consider that it’s possible to reattach a knocked-out tooth if you treat the issue as quickly as possible!
What Constitutes an Emergency?
When it comes to urgent dental care, especially if you’re not experiencing particularly severe symptoms, it is important to understand the varying levels of emergency before you visit the dentist. Here, we’ll look at a few scenarios where you should contact a dentist immediately:
- Swelling: Swelling gums can mean anything from mild gingivitis to vitamin deficiencies to side effects from certain medications, none of which require immediate treatment. However, sudden and persistent swelling gums, coupled with pain, redness, and heat, could also signify an infection, which would mean emergency dental care.
- Extreme bleeding: It’s not an emergency to bleed a little when you brush and floss, especially if you’re not one to floss every day. However, if the bleeding becomes severe or doesn’t staunch, this could be a sign of an infection.
- Fever: Fever is one of the ultimate signs that you have a tooth infection. Unfortunately, undiagnosed abscesses can escape the mouth and travel to critical organs. In the most extreme cases, untreated infections can be deadly.
- Damaged teeth: Whether you chip your tooth on a pecan or it’s knocked out after a nasty fall, an emergency dentist can treat damaged or lost teeth. If you do happen to lose a tooth, sanitize it immediately and put it back in the empty socket. If that’s not possible, put it into a jar of milk and take it to the emergency dentist.
- Extreme pain: Extreme pain can come from damaged nerves, infections, or damaged teeth. While the pain might go away if you ignore it long enough, it’s not a long-term solution.
What to Know About Emergency Dentistry in Las Cruces, NM
Most dentists will tell you to err on the side of safety if you’re still unsure whether you’re experiencing a dental emergency. In addition, you should keep an eye on any developing issues. For example, a slightly loose tooth may not be cause for concern, but as a general rule, it’s unlikely to get better. Similarly, a fever doesn’t always have to be anything other than the first sign of a common cold, but emergency dental services can at least give you more insight about what's happening.
At Las Cruces Dental Solutions, we can help you treat your dental emergencies, especially when they happen at inconvenient times. Whether you're looking for a walk-in dentist or a dentist who can meet you in the middle of the night, we can find answers to even your toughest problems!
