A dental emergency can occur at any time and when this happens, it is important to know the right step to take so that the condition can be averted. A dental emergency that is not attended top on time may lead to severe consequences such as infections or even a permanent loss of the tooth
Most emergency rooms in hospitals do not have an emergency doctor that will be on call 24/7. However, if you have a condition where there is a fracture or dislocation of the jaw, serious injury to the soft tissues, or abscesses that are characterized by severe swelling, it is important to seek help in a hospital.
Some dental emergencies will require urgent medical attention and the time that they occur or the severity of the emergency will determine the right place to seek help. A dental emergency that is associated with other health conditions should be attended to in a hospital, whether there is a dentist on call at that time or not so that the more complex issues can be handled before a dentist steps in.
A hospital may fail to provide the dental services that you require but you will be given treatment such as pain relief that will allow you to wait until you are able to access a dentist. If the dental emergency is not associated with injuries or broken jaws, you should contact your dentist as he will know the right step to take so that the condition can be sorted. If he is not available to provide the help that you need, he will direct you to a place where you will be able to get assistance.
A hospital will not necessarily have the right dental equipment to take care of a dental emergency and it should be the last option if there is no dentist available and the discomfort is too much to bear at that time.