What is Considered a Dental Emergency?
Not all dental concerns are emergencies. That being said, you should always call our office at the first sign of dental pain or discomfort. Depending on your dental emergency, we’ll be able to determine whether you need same-day treatment or can wait a few days to see a dentist.
Each patient is different. But here are some general guidelines to help you determine if you need emergency dental care ASAP.
How to Recognize a Dental Emergency
A dental emergency can’t wait until the next opening in our schedule. For example, if you on Saturday, you can’t wait until Monday to see a dentist. You would need to see a dentist within 30 minutes for the best chance of re-implanting your tooth.
Check out our list below for more examples of dental emergencies.
Examples of dental emergencies:
- Knocked-out tooth
- Loose adult tooth
- Dental abscess (pimple on the gums)
- Oral bleeding that won’t stop
- Painful swelling in or around your mouth
- Large crack in tooth that’s causing pain
- Large chip in tooth that’s causing pain
- Broken filling or crown that’s causing pain
- Severe toothache
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, the most important thing to do is to call our office right away. We’ll be able to provide urgent dental care as soon as possible to restore your oral health.
We’ll also provide at-home instructions for you to follow until you’re able to see one of our dentists.
What to Do For Non-Emergencies
Even if you’re not experiencing a dental emergency, it’s still important that you call our office if you have any concerns about your oral health. The sooner we’re able to intervene, the sooner we’ll be able to diagnose and treat the dental issue.
Here are some examples of non-emergencies:
- Mild toothache
- Lost filling or crown
- Small chip in tooth that’s not causing pain
- Small crack in tooth that’s not causing pain
If you call with a non-emergency, we’ll fit you into the next available opening in our schedule. Depending on how busy we are and the urgency of your situation, you may need to wait a few business days.
In the meantime, our office will give you instructions for how to manage your symptoms until you’re able to see one of our dentists. For example, we may recommend that you take over-the-counter pain relievers if you have a .
Learn More: What to Do For Severe Tooth Pain →
If your symptoms worsen, please call our office as soon as possible. Depending on your circumstances, we may ask you to come in right away.
Request an Appointment With Us
Our emergency dentists in Shelby Township, MI, will be able to diagnose and treat the source of your pain. They’ll also be able to help educate you on the best ways to prevent dental emergencies moving forward.
To schedule an emergency appointment, please call the dental office of Frank P. Ruffino DDS at (586) 799-4240. For non-emergencies, you may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our office will reach out to you shortly.
