Why You Should Call an Emergency Dentist Instead of Visiting the ER

If an emergency dentist is not one of the first people on your contact sheet, you are not alone. Simultaneously if you have had a toothache that will not go away and have had to rush in and see a dentist, either for you or for a loved one, you know that some of the worst pain a person can experience can stem from the teeth. We know, that as an emergency dentist, we know that it is a good idea for you to add our phone number to your contact list so that if an emergency situation happens, you have someone that you can call. The sad fact is that many people do not plan for emergency situations, even less so when it comes to teeth. Since teeth are so good at performing their work, without causing major angst, people tend to ignore them. Over 40% of American’s will not even visit the dentist regularly to keep their teeth in good health. What this does is it leaves you in a spot where you may not know where to turn if you do find yourself in incredible tooth pain. Taking the precaution of having the contact number for our office is a small but important step in reducing your potential for discomfort.

Skip the ER -

You won’t find an emergency dentist in the emergency room of your local hospital. Emergency dentists are trained as dentist, and we have simply decided that the needs of our patients extend beyond regular business hours. Unfortunately, there are a growing number of people who do not have an emergency dentist, since their regular dentist does not provide these services, are finding their way to the emergency room to get treatment for their oral and dental issues. A recent study of the data from 24 states, and encompassing 3 years, found that there has been a steady increase in the number of people visiting the emergency room for dental needs. The total increase over these three years was found to be 16%. There is nothing wrong with seeking aid from an emergency room physician if you are in dire condition and have no other options. However, we are trained and equipped to deal with dental issues, whereas the skilled physicians at the emergency room are not. As such, the physicians in the emergency room can treat the symptoms you are experiencing but cannot address the root cause, which means that you will need to see a dentist after your ER visit anyway.

The most common, and often the most complex, reasons why people seek out the care of an emergency dentist is a toothache. Among the most debilitating of pains, a toothache is one of the fastest reasons to send you scurrying off for medical attention. It can also be a symptom of a much larger and deeper problem. Toothaches can occur because of infections, gum diseases, or damage to the teeth.  As an emergency dentist, we can treat you immediately and ensure that you do not continue to experience discomfort.  With that in mind, you should visit us immediately instead of heading to the ER.

Visit Our Spanish Speaking Dentist Office for Dentures

As a Spanish speaking dentist, we can replace missing teeth using dentures, bridges or dental implants. However, we have found that people don’t think about dentures. That may sound like a strange, and very obvious, statement to make but the fact is that people simply do not think about tooth loss in general. Whether this comes from a sense that they will not lose their teeth, thanks in part to improved oral health and hygiene habits, or if they simply have never given it any consideration, over 60% of people surveyed had never thought about tooth loss.  This means there is a large population of patients who do not have any information and education about dentures, bridges, or implants. However, according to a study published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry recently, the need for dentures is not subsiding. The data cited the fact that in the early 90’s there were only 33.6 million people who were using complete dentures. Projecting out to 2020, the journal predicts that there could be 37.6 million people using a complete set of dentures. This study did not consider partial dentures or take into account other devices that may be used for tooth loss like bridges or dental implants. For those who believe tooth loss is something that only happens to older folks, you might be surprised to find that over 20 million American woman, aged 40 and up, wear dentures today.

People don’t need dentures suddenly. There is always a chance that you have an accident and find yourself in need of a replacement set of teeth, however, this is extremely rare. As a Spanish speaking dentist, we have found that with most people, the process of getting dentures takes time. There are warning signs, and indications that you might be losing a tooth and should probably be considering what measures to take.

The two largest reasons why people lose teeth and have to get dentures are age and disease. The good news is that while you cannot stop age, gum diseases are far more manageable. The challenge for most people is to realize that when you have gum disease there is a ticking clock. The faster you get in to see a dentist, the better the chances are that you can save your tooth or teeth. Wait too long, and we will be discussing the type of dentures that are right for you. Perhaps the best advice we could give you is to give us the opportunity to catch and fix any problems before they happen. Only 53% of Americans visit the dentist two times a year like recommended, which means that nearly half the country never gives their dentist an opportunity to save their teeth.

Unfortunately, many people just ignore it when they have a dental problem. Did you know that roughly 70% of Americans will experience bleeding of their gums at some point during their lifetime? While this is a very common occurrence, it can also be symptomatic of a more serious condition like gingivitis. Tooth pain, bleeding gums, achy jaws are all ways of your mouth telling you that something is wrong and that you should consider going into our office before it gets worse. As a Spanish speaking dentist, if you do lose some of your teeth, we can replace them with a comfortable set of dentures, a dental bridge, or dental implants.