Something is wrong in your mouth — maybe. Perhaps you’ve cracked or broken a filling. Maybe you feel tooth crown pain. Or perhaps something with your teeth just doesn’t feel right.
Do you have a dental emergency? Perhaps you’re even wondering: What exactly is a dental emergency?
What is a Dental Emergency?
That’s a good question.
In the beginnings of the COVID-19 epidemic, the ADA described dental emergencies as “potentially life-threatening and require immediate treatment to stop ongoing tissue bleeding, alleviate severe pain or infection.” Guidelines were more stringent during those first few months so that medical equipment could be prioritized to dealing with the pandemic.
Following Gov. Mike DeWine’s guidelines, we’ve since opened our dentist office in Middleburg Heights to all types of patients. We still follow strict safety protocols to ensure the safety of our patients, staff, and their families.
Generally, a dental emergency qualifies as any dental care treatment where you need to be seen that very day or within the next several days. Examples of dental emergencies include:
- Tooth Crown Pain or Toothache
- Broken or Cracked filling (even if you’re feeling no pain)
- Lost Fillings
- Loose or Missing Crown
- Broken or Chipped Tooth
- Excessive Mouth Bleeding
- Dental Trauma
What to Do if You Have a Dental Emergency
If you have a dental emergency, the first thing you should do is call our dentist office in Middleburg Heights. We’ll ask you to describe the problem and if you are feeling any pain.
We can usually get you in pretty fast — even that very day. We usually reserve a few appointment slots throughout the week for just such dental emergencies. Broken or cracked fillings, even broken or chipped teeth, are common occurrences. They are nothing to panic about, but we should take care of them right away.
Even if your filling fell out but you’re feeling no pain, don’t ignore it. The tooth is now exposed to tooth decay. It’s important we protect it and you get the dental care you need.
Don’t Have a Dentist? Call Us!
If you don’t already have a dentist, don’t worry. We’re accepting new patients! We can see you for dental emergencies — even if we’ve never seen you before. Dr. Postel is a dentist in Middleburg Heights treating Cleveland, Parma, and Independence families! We practice gentle dentistry using the latest technological advances in pain management and dental therapy.
Don’t Have Insurance? Don’t Worry
Don’t have insurance and worried about the cost? Relax. For extensive procedures, we are often open to payment plans. We also take CareCredit, designed to help families manage unplanned medical expenses.
What to Do Before Your Appointment
If you broke, chipped, or lost a tooth or filling, try to save the missing piece. Teeth should be placed in milk for preservation. We may be able to reattach a missing or broken tooth. We may also be able to reuse a missing filling. Don’t worry if you can’t find the piece or swallow it — it’s not the end of the world!
If you’re feeling dental pain, we recommend taking over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol or Advil. A cold compress may also help. You could try rubbing clove oil (available in most drugstores and grocery stores) over the area to relieve tooth crown pain.
