Do you have the phone number of your nearest emergency room on hand at all times? The vast majority of people do, and very often, they also have a list of the most important emergency numbers stapled somewhere in the house (usually on the fridge or near the phone).
This is a very smart thing to do because you never know when an emergency will occur, and you definitely won’t have time to look for help when it does. This is why it’s imperative that you know exactly who to call in order to get immediate help. However, quite often, people don’t add the number of an emergency dentist to this list. Thus, when some kind of dental emergency occurs, they don’t know where to go.
Maxwell Miller’s Downtown Dentistry and other reputable dental clinics usually offer emergency services to their regular patients, as well as anyone who asks for their help. However, not all dentists are this way. Thus, you should do some research to make sure that you know which clinics nearest your home provide emergency services.
A private dentist, regardless of how skilled and talented the person might be, won’t be able to stay on alert 24/7, but some smaller dental offices often claim that they can provide their services around the clock. Unfortunately, the quality of the treatment they can provide is often low. This is why it’s always better to seek help from bigger clinics, like Maxwell Miller’s Downtown Dentistry.
When Do You Need to Start Looking for an Emergency Dentist?
The only possible answer to this question is now. If you cannot foresee the future, you will need to make sure that, should anything happen, you will be able to get the treatment you need immediately.
Of course, you can just go to the ER at the nearest hospital, but doctors that work there aren’t trained to handle dental emergencies. Thus, even despite the fact that they may possess some knowledge on the subject, they won’t be able to provide you with adequate treatment.
Unfortunately, in many cases, if a dental emergency isn’t fixed by a qualified professional within the first hour, you may suffer some permanent damage. For example, a broken tooth can be completely restored if treated by a specialist that uses high quality equipment. However, this can be done only if you arrive at the dentist’s office in less than thirty minutes after the incident and have the tooth with you. This is why it’s imperative to find an emergency dentist in your area and keep their phone number on hand.