What is dental emergency? Basically, any dental problem that requires immediate treatment by emergency dentist in order to save a tooth, stop bleeding, or alleviate severe pain is considered a dental emergency. A severe dental emergency, like infection or abscess, can be life threatening and should be treated immediately.
Dental emergencies are extremely common: in a recent survey, 22 percent of the general population had experienced orofacial pain and 12 percent experienced toothache in Downtown Los Angeles in the last six months.
Dental emergencies can occur at any time. Often, people are unsure whether they should go to a hospital or an emergency dentist near you for a dental emergency. The answer actually varies. Like other medical emergencies, dental emergencies require different levels of care depending on their severity. Where you go for treatment when you have a dental emergency in Downtown Los Angeles depends on the type of dental emergency you have.
When deciding whether should go to Downtown Los Angeles ER or to emergency dentist around you in DTLA for treatment, consider the following factors:
When to Go to the Hospital or Emergency Room
Dental emergencies or traumas involving the face and mouth that require immediate medical attention include:
- jaw fractures
- jaw dislocations
- serious lacerations of the soft tissues of the face and mouth
- an abscess or infection that is very swollen or that is impacting breathing or swallowing (particularly if you are immunocompromised).
If you experience this type of severe dental emergency, call 911 for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) or go directly to a hospital or emergency room in Downtown Los Angeles.
When to See Emergency Dentist
There are many dental emergencies that are not considered life-threatening, but which still may require immediate care by your dentist:
- a broken or cracked tooth
- an avulsed (lost/knocked out) tooth
- pain from a decayed tooth or abscess (not swollen, not impacting breathing, or swallowing).
This kind of dental emergencies does not necessarily require treatment at a hospital. Your emergency dentist should be the first person you call. Hospitals and emergency rooms in Downtown Los Angeles are usually not equipped to provide you with the treatment necessary to restore a tooth or provide other emergency dental treatment that may be required. That care should be sought quickly, but it does not need to be in an emergency room or urgent care clinic.
In cases where your Downtown Los Angeles emergency dentist is not able to see you after hours, but you still require treatment from a medical professional, please go to the Downtown Los Angeles emergency room or urgent care clinic near you. Keep in mind that they may not always be able to provide you with treatment, but every effort to manage your pain and discomfort will be made until you are able to get an appointment with your Downtown Los Angeles emergency dentist.
We Are Here to Help
Dental emergencies do not always occur at an ideal time of day (as if there was one), so your regular Downtown Los Angeles dentist may not be able to see you when you need him to.
River Dentistry is the only full-service and emergency dental office in Downtown Los Angeles. We provide affordable and painless emergency care in a relaxing, spa-like environment. We are open late, Saturdays and Mondays, and we always do our best to accommodate walk-ins.
Even if you do not have insurance, you can get urgent dental care and get diagnosed with our great $50 Dental ER special (a $150 value). First, one of our emergency dentist will evaluate your condition with a thorough dental exam and digital x-rays. Then, he or she will recommend a treatment and/or prescribe necessary medicine to temporary alleviate the pain and/or inflammation. We will also provide you a free estimate for the dental treatment you may need. To keep our prices low and to reserve your appointment time, we will ask for $50 payment when scheduling your appointment. You will get it back as credit towards any treatment you receive.
For more information about our Downtown Los Angeles Dental ER emergency dentist services and with any questions, please call us at 213-486-0006 or make your appointment online.