November 21, 2020 by Dr. Wheatley in Blog 1 0 0

When you need a dentist over the holidays

When a Toothache hits on a Holiday

If you wake up on Thanksgiving with a toothache, chances are your regular dentist is closed. Finding a dentist near you who is open over the holidays and can squeeze you in on short notice can be challenging. Before you read on, call us at (405) 85 SMILE if you are in pain right now. Even if it’s a holiday or a weekend, we monitor our phones and get back to you shortly. But here are some basics to determine if you should see a dentist for your toothache or tooth injury on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Should I wait for my dentist or find an emergency dentist?

Well, it depends. If you are in pain and your regular dentist can’t fit you in, you should call an emergency dentist. Pain is your body telling you something is seriously wrong, so the longer you wait, the more damage may occur. If you break a crown or knock out a tooth, it is certainly not something you want to showcase for an extended period. So call another dentist. However, if you just feel a little discomfort and over the counter pain medications can get you through the holiday or the weekend, you can probably wait. There are several home remedies and temporary fixes. But there are effective and ineffective home remedies that can help you cope with the pain. Read more about these pain relief methods here.

Stay Away from the Emergency Room unless…

Especially this year, where emergency rooms are stretched thin due to the Covid-19 pandemic, you should only go to the emergency room for a dental problem if you are dealing with severe trauma to the face and teeth. If it is something your dentist can fix, see a dentist instead to conserve resources for those who need them.

Call the Dentist immediately if…

To help you determine if you can wait to be seen by your dentist or if you need to take a trip to the ER or an emergency dentist, ask yourself the following questions:

Are you in severe pain? Severe pain and bleeding are signs of an emergency. Seek help immediately.
Have you lost a tooth? Fast treatment can potentially save a tooth. You’d need to pick it up by the enameled portion, put it in a sterile container full of milk, and get to a dentist as soon as possible( ideally within an hour.)
Broken and chipped teeth, crowns, or fillings? You can likely make it through the holidays without causing more damage, but you should see a dentist if you can’t properly eat or speak.
Do you have loose teeth? Adult teeth should not be loose teeth. A loose tooth, even without pain, is a severe problem. See a dentist right away.
Do you have an infection or experience swelling? An abscess or severe infection in your mouth can be potentially dangerous, and treatment should not wait. .
Trauma and blood. If you have seriously injured yourself, make sure you describe the condition in great detail. Some traumas may be better addressed in an emergency room or trauma unit.

Deal with Dental Problems before they ruin your Holidays

If you have been putting off a root canal for too long, a filling just doesn’t feel right, or you suspect that you may have an infection coming on, take care of the problem before the holidays. It’s always easier to deal with your dentist whom you know and trust than an emergency dentist that you just picked from the phone book.

Call an Emergency Dentist if you are in Pain!

If you have severe pain or swelling, the best first course of action is to call and speak to someone who can help. Call us at (405) 85 SMILE. Even if it’s a holiday or a weekend, we monitor our phones and get back to you shortly.

Generally, if you experience a dental emergency, you should:

Call us for assistance. We will help guide you through the appropriate treatment steps.
Seek treatment sooner rather than later. It is often a good idea to see a local dentist rather than waiting until you get home.
Treat your mouth with caution. If you’ve injured your teeth or gums, be gentle with them, clean them, and generally try to maintain a safe, sanitary environment to ward off infection.

All of us at Tecumseh Ridge Dental of Norman hope you experience a great holiday season without dental emergencies or toothaches. But if you do experience them, we are here for you.