It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic created many challenges, making even routine errands and dental appointments difficult. If you’re experiencing a dental problem, it can be hard to know whether it requires immediate attention or can wait. Understanding what qualifies as a dental emergency is important for protecting your oral health. With guidance from an emergency dentist, you can determine when prompt treatment is necessary and what steps to take to keep your smile healthy and safe “dental emergency.”
What is NOT a Dental Emergency?
Anything that is considered to be non-urgent or routine care is deemed to be not a dental emergency, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). These include treatments that can be put off until a later date after quarantine restrictions have been lifted.
Keep in mind that these standards can change as the spread of COVID-19 is a constantly developing situation. Regardless, non-urgent care includes:
- Initial or periodic oral examinations and recall visits, including routine radiographs
- Routine dental cleaning and preventive therapies
- Orthodontic procedures other than those to address acute issues (e.g. pain, infection, trauma) or other issues critically necessary to prevent harm
- Extraction of asymptomatic teeth
- Restorative dentistry including treatment of asymptomatic carious lesions
- Aesthetic dental procedures
When Should You Visit the Dentist Right Away?
Dental emergencies generally fall into two categories: dental emergencies and urgent dental care. Dental emergencies involve potentially life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical attention, while urgent dental care addresses problems that need prompt treatment to relieve pain, prevent complications, or protect your oral health.
For example, dental emergencies include:
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Conditions capable of compromising the airway (i.e. soft tissue bacterial infections accommodated by major swelling or trauma involving the facial bones)
Urgent dental care is far more broad and includes the following:
- Severe dental pain
- Pain in the third molars
- Dry socket dressing changes
- Tooth fractures causing pain or soft tissue trauma
- Knocked-out teeth
- Dental treatment needed before critical medical procedures
- Serious dental cavities or damaged restorations causing pain
- Suture removal
- Denture adjustments for patients undergoing radiation treatment for cancer
- Replacing temporary fillings for patients experiencing discomfort following a root canal
- Snipping excess orthodontic wire that’s poking into gum tissue
How to Avoid Dental Emergencies
With all these points in mind, it’s more important than ever to stay protected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The best way to avoid dental emergencies include:
- Brushing twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste
- Flossing daily
- Never chewing on really hard foods or inedible materials that can crack teeth (i.e. ice cubes, popcorn kernels, pens, pencils, and packages)
- Wearing a protective mouthguard when playing contact sports
- Avoiding hard or sticky foods however possible (especially if you have any older restorations)
Are you not sure if you’re experiencing a dental emergency? Don’t be afraid to contact a dentist and ask them for guidance during this difficult time.
About Premier Dental Care
For Dr. Adam and Diaz Jones, protecting their patients’ oral health is their top priority. Their expertise in emergency dentistry as well as other restorative procedures should give you confidence in their abilities to treat a wide array of dental emergencies, even during a pandemic. If you’re not sure if you’re dealing with a dental emergency, do not hesitate to contact them through their website.