Doctor, It’s an Emergency!

Doctor, doctor! It's an emergencyPicture this: You’re playing basketball with a group of friends and you’ve just made a basket from mid-court! In your excitement, you land on your ankle the wrong way and before you know it you’ve smashed your face against the court floor. You look down and see one of your pearly whites lying on the court floor. Uh oh! You’ve got a dental emergency.

What Does Dr. Colleran Consider an Emergency?

Oral discomfort is just that, uncomfortable, but it doesn’t necessarily make it an emergency. For example, losing a filling will cause tenderness and mild irritation but many dentists don’t consider a lost filling to require an emergency filling. This is a good example of an urgent dental concern.

Dr. Colleran breaks dental emergencies down two two main categories: Fractures (or broken tooth) and infections.

  • Dental Fractures: Fractures or displaced teeth are the result of traumatic injuries. We often see patients who have broken teeth while playing close contact sports. Any time you fracture or lose a tooth, you need to seek an emergency dentist right away. Putting the tooth in milk or lukewarm water will help preserve the tooth until you’re in Dr. Colleran’s operatory.
  • Infections: Colleran considers infections that cause pain severe enough to hinder your sleep or that cannot be offset from over-the-counter medications are to be a dental emergency. Many times, these sort of acute infections are the result of underlying conditions that have been ignored. This is why it’s important to take an active role in preventive care.

 

Know Your Rights

The ADA advises dentists that they have an obligation to make reasonable accommodations for patients seeking an emergency dentist, especially patients who have already visited their office. If your dentist cannot fit you in, in a reasonable timeframe, it is their responsibility to help you find an office where you can quickly be seen.

Dr. Colleran has established many professional relationships to assure that no matter the dental emergency, our patients can be treated whether it be in our office or in the office of a trusted colleague who we know will care for our patients the same way we do.

 

See Dr. Colleran Before It Turns Into an Emergency

Although Dr. Colleran accommodates emergency visits, we want to see you before it’s urgent. Scheduling regular check-ups can prevent conditions from getting to the point that they require an emergency dentist appointment. You can schedule with us online or call our office: (805) 543-0814.

The post Doctor, It’s an Emergency! appeared first on Michael Colleran, DDS.



from Michael Colleran, DDS https://slotownsmiles.com/blog/doctor-its-an-emergency/

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