It’s understandable when a crisis occurs, the first place you think to go to is your local emergency room. After all, “emergency” is part of its name. While this is standard procedure in most situations, dental injuries should be treated differently. Why? To better understand the reasoning behind this question, let an emergency dentist in Round Rock explain why you’re better off skipping the ER and instead, heading to your dentist’s office.
The Downfalls of the ER
The emergency room is a great place to seek immediate help if you are suffering from a broken arm, concussion, heart attack, continual bleeding, or a host of other medical crises. However, when a dental emergency arises, you’re better off turning to your local dentist in Round Rock and not the doctors at the ER. Here’s why:
- Wait Time: If you think waiting in the lobby of a dentist’s office for 10 or 15 minutes is too long then sitting in an ER waiting room for hours will leave you very unhappy. Emergency rooms are notorious for long wait times, even if what you are experiencing is of real urgency.
- Greater Cost: Worried about how much your dental accident will cost? If you opt for the ER, you can expect to pay significantly more than you would at your dentist’s office.
- No Dental Expertise: There is no telling who you will end up seeing at the emergency room. General doctors, while they can address certain symptoms associated with your dental crisis, do not have the expertise of a regular dentist, so don’t expect to have your problem fully solved at the ER.
How Your Dentist Can Better Help in an Emergency
There are only a few scenarios that warrant an ER visit over your dentist’s office: a fractured or broken jaw, bleeding that will not stop, or swelling that will not go down. Otherwise, it’s best to let your dentist in Round Rock handle the problem.
Your dentist has the education and professional background to diagnose and treat almost any type of dental emergency. From toothaches to knocked-out teeth to soft tissue lacerations, you can trust that your oral health is in the best of hands with your dentist.
Not only will you receive personalized treatment over the phone from staff members who will help you handle your situation at home, but you will spend less time waiting in the lobby, and you will most likely keep more money in your pocket when determining how to fix the problem. Not to mention, your dentist will be able to address and treat your situation in one, maybe two, visits.
Skip the lines and the headache at the ER and stick to the professionals who know your teeth and gums best.
About the Author
Dr. Mike Asay completed his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish at Brigham Young University, graduating with honors, before going on to attend Baylor College of Dentistry, earning his dental degree. As a qualified and devoted dentist, he is happy to care for the oral health needs of patients in Round Rock and its surrounding communities. Whether you need a thorough cleaning or help with a dental emergency, Dr. Asay and his team will be there to walk you through how to handle the situation until you are able to make it to our office. To learn more about us and how we can help you through an emergency situation, visit our website or call (512) 244-2796.