Have you ever woken up in the dead of night with an aching toothache pain at 2 AM? Or bite into an apple only to be met with the familiar crack? Dental emergencies never come at the most opportune times. As an emergency dentist here at College Street Dentistry, I’ve guided numerous patients through those excruciating moments.
What Hospitals Can and Cannot Do for Dental Pain
The Reality of ER Dental Care vs. an Emergency Dentist
Let’s be real here – emergency rooms are not dentists’ offices. Let it sink in this way: would you call in an electrician to fix your electrical wiring, am I right? ER doctors are great medical professionals, but they just can’t match the specialized training and equipment of a dentist.
I remember one patient who spent six hours in the ER waiting room with a painful toothache. After sitting for all that time, all the doctor could prescribe was pain medication and antibiotics. The problem that needed to be fixed – an infected root canal – wasn’t treated until she visited our office the next day.
When Hospital Care Makes Sense
All that said, there are definitely some scenarios where the ER is your absolute first priority. If your face is as swollen as a balloon and you cannot breathe, do not even consider – get to the hospital! If, likewise, you have been hit by a hockey puck across the jaw and worry the jaw may be broken, the ER will treat this type of trauma case.
When to Call an Emergency Dentist Instead
We’re Experts for a Reason
Think about it – would you want a generic handyman or master technician fix your expensive smartphone? In most dental emergencies, seeking out an actual dentist will get more tangible treatment.
College Street Dentistry sees emergencies like:
That throbbing toothache that’s waking you up all night
The crown that came off at your big business meeting
A tooth knocked out playing weekend sports
“But what about Sunday?” you wonder. Silver lining! Most emergency dentists, including us, offer after-hours care for genuine emergencies. Just call our main number at (416) 960-5512, and you’ll be transferred to emergency service.
Caught Between Options? Try These Temporary Solutions
Your Do-It-Yourself Dental Emergency Kit
Sometimes you truly are stumped – maybe you’re in a cabin three hours from the nearest dentist, or it’s midnight. Under these circumstances, having some tricks up your sleeve can be a lifesaver (or at least a comfort-providing factor).
I always chuckle when patients tell me about their grandmother’s old remedies – some actually work! Clove oil, for instance, contains eugenol, a natural anesthetic. A little application on a sore tooth can be short-term relief.
For a knocked-out tooth (and believe me, I’ve seen everything from skateboard accidents to wedding dance mishaps), time is of the essence. Did you know that a tooth can be saved if it’s put back in place within an hour? Pick it up only by the crown, rinse it gently if it’s dirty, and try to reinsert it into the socket. If not, keep it in milk or saliva until you arrive at our office.
When Home Remedies Don’t Work
Let’s be realistic though – these are temporary fixes only. That over-the-counter dental cement will hold your crown in place for a day or two, but it won’t hold up. Think of these steps the dental equivalent of putting a spare tire on your car – it’ll get you to the repair shop, but you’d never dream of driving across the country on it!
Planning Ahead: Your Dental Emergency Plan
Having a Relationship Before Crisis
You don’t want to wait until you’re in pain to look for an emergency dentist. Knowing you have your established care with a dental office offering emergency appointments gives you peace of mind. At College Street Dentistry, we prioritize emergency visits at the highest level for established and new patients.
I also teach my patients to save our number (416) 960-5512 in their cell phone – you never know when you might need to contact us! Our clinic at 474 College Street, Suite 207, Toronto, is in a convenient part of town and easy to find.
Your Action Plan
Remember, toothache is your body waving a red flag. It is telling you that something is wrong, and that bit of information is worth listening to. Whether the ER, our emergency dental work, or even temporary do-it-yourself remedies, prompt action can make all the difference to the outcome.
The next time you’re faced with a dental emergency, breathe deep and assess what you’re experiencing. Is it life-threatening? Head to the ER. Is it a dental emergency that needs professional treatment? Call us. And if you’re temporarily stuck, use those self-care interventions until you can get proper treatment.
Your smile is worth preserving – and we’re here to help when emergencies arise!
