Having an accident or injury that involves your teeth can be frightening. Depending on the severity, you may wonder where you should go for treatment. So, hospital or dentist: which is better for my emergency? Below you will find helpful information on how to handle a dental emergency. Hospital or dentist? Let’s look.

Hospital or Dentist: Which Is Better for My Emergency?

Dental emergencies can vary drastically in terms of severity. This can make it difficult to know who to call when you experience an emergency. Consider the following tips to help guide you on who to call for your serious health issues.

Hospital:

A good indication that you should go to the hospital is if you cannot breathe or swallow due to the dental issue. Severe bleeding and pain should also alert you to get to the hospital. Dental emergencies or trauma that require immediate medical attention include jaw fractures, dislocations, deep cuts to your face or mouth, or a tooth infection with symptoms such as swelling or difficulty breathing. Some emergencies may require that you head straight to the emergency room while others may be life-threatening and require you to call 911 to get immediate help. Use your best judgment as it’s best to err on the side of caution.

Emergency Dentist:

There are a number of dental emergencies that require the help of a dentist that aren’t life-threatening. A 24-hour emergency dentist in Los Angeles is the best option in many cases. They are equipped to handle a variety of dental emergencies, including teeth that have been chipped, cracked, or knocked out. The benefit of getting treatment from an emergency dentist is that they are knowledgeable on the ways in which to treat a dental emergency in addition to preserving your oral health and natural teeth. An emergency room dentist will likely just focus on the emergency without considering the long-term effects on your oral health.

Dentist:

A dentist can practice both general dentistry and emergency dentistry. However, some dental issues do not rise to the level of a dental emergency. This means that you can likely wait to see a dentist for your issue during regular hours. For example, a toothache or tooth sensitivity isn’t a dental emergency even though it may hurt really bad. An infection without swelling, difficulty breathing, or difficulty swallowing is likely something that can be treated during normal business hours by a dentist.

Endodontist:

All endodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are endodontists. In some cases, you may need to see an endodontist. If your tooth pain is caused by damage to your pulp (the innermost portion of your teeth) then you’ll likely need to see an endodontist. In most cases, these issues are not an emergency. An endodontist will likely recommend a root canal. This will preserve your natural tooth and reduce your risk of more serious oral health issues. Untreated pulp damage can result in the loss of your tooth or an infection so it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible.

Emergency Dentistry and Endodontic Treatment in Los Angeles

Dental emergencies can happen at any time. In fact, they often happen at the most inopportune times. Emergency dental services are crucial in these moments as a dentist skilled in trauma can ensure your natural teeth remain intact and healthy. Maz Endodontics in Los Angeles offers emergency dental services 24/7 to ensure your short- and long-term dental needs are met. If you experience bleeding, swelling, pain, or have had a traumatic injury that has impacted your face, contact the top endodontist in Los Angeles. In addition to emergency dentistry services, Maz Endodontics also provides endodontic treatments.