Emergency Dentist 24/7 Omaha, NE

Maintaining proper dental care is one of the most important ways to take care of your health. Lack of adequate care can not only impact you physically, but it can affect social interactions and job performance as well. While many Americans have routine dental treatment, sometimes they may experience a weekend dental emergency that requires immediate attention.

If you require immediate dental assistance, the Emergency Dental Service is a viable resource to help you find a dentist in your area. For example, if you are a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, there are a number of dental offices open on Saturday or Sunday near you.

What Emergency Dental Care Is

Before you rush to a weekend or emergency dental office, it is important to know what constitutes a dental emergency and what does not. In general, like many emergencies, a dental emergency is an injury or issue that can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. The list below provides a brief description of procedures that are considered dental emergencies.

• Severe tooth or gum pain that does not go away
• A badly cracked or broken tooth
• A tooth that has been knocked out
• An abscess that causes significant swelling
• Broken or lost dental restorations like crowns or cavity fillings
• Mouth lacerations
• Excessive bleeding

These are just some examples of dental issues that require emergency treatment. A broken tooth may not seem like an emergency, but if it gets infected, it can cause significant problems in the long run. Likewise, throbbing, unrelenting pain in your gums may be a sign of a bigger issue that could escalate if not treated immediately.

What Emergency Dental Care Is Not

While there are some dental issues that should be treated emergently, other issues can wait until a routine visit or until the next business day. Treating a routine issue as an emergency can be costly, so it is important to know when you can wait. Here are examples of dental procedures that are not emergencies and can be treated during regular business hours:

• Dull tooth pain or pain that subsides with medication
• Loose teeth in children
• Having an item stuck between your teeth
• Small breakage or cracks in teeth
• Minor cuts in and on the mouth
• Broken braces or retainers

While these can be uncomfortable or inconvenient, they generally are not dental emergencies. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is wise to attempt at-home treatment first before contacting a weekend or emergency dentist. This can save you a lot of time, money, and stress. However, it is still important to contact your dentist during regular business hours if you experience any of these for proper guidance, repair, and prevention techniques.

Emergency Dentist or Emergency Room?

If you experience a dental emergency, for example, a broken tooth, you may be tempted to rush to your local hospital’s emergency department. However, locating a local emergency dentist, such as Emergency Dental of Omaha, may be more practical. Emergency dentists specialize in oral health conditions and may not only be able to provide immediate relief but also the dental care required to improve your condition.

For example, if your tooth was knocked out, an emergency doctor may be able to stop the bleeding or provide pain medications, but they are generally not equipped to replace your tooth. On the other hand, an emergency dentist can ease your symptoms and repair your tooth so that you are able to eat, drink, and go about your daily life.

Consequences of Avoiding Emergency Dental Care

Emergency dental care should be treated like any other health emergency. While you may think you can tolerate severe tooth pain over the weekend, neglecting treatment can prove costly in the long run. Therefore, it is important to act right away as avoiding emergency dental treatment in some cases may lead to:

• An open wound in your mouth makes you more vulnerable to infections that could potentially spread to other areas in your body.
  
• Exacerbate other health problems. The human body is interconnected, meaning an issue in one area of the body could exacerbate issues in other areas. For example, untreated dental issues can worsen heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions.
  
• Severe pain. Excruciating mouth or gum pain can be disruptive to your daily life, impacting your ability to eat, sleep, and do ordinary tasks.
  
• Permanent tooth loss. Ignoring severe symptoms can lead to permanent tooth loss if not treated right away.
  
• Bone and tissue damage. If you avoid treating a mouth infection, for example, you could potentially risk damaging the bones and tissue that support your teeth and gums.
  
• Social isolation and emotional stress. Dental emergencies can be stressful and socially isolating if left untreated. For example, if you have a missing front tooth, it could impact your ability to confidently conduct a job interview or socialize with family and friends. Further, we use our mouths every day, so any damage to them can be emotionally stressful.

Common Causes of Dental Emergencies

If you are experiencing a dental emergency, you may want to know what caused it. While some emergencies are a result of dental care negligence, other times, they are unexpected. For example, untreated gum disease, cavities, abscesses, or erupted wisdom teeth can lead to infections. Other times, post-procedural complications, like a broken wire on braces or intense pain following an extraction, may be reason to seek emergency attention.

Still, there are other situations in which a person may unexpectedly require emergency dental care. These scenarios are usually the result of some trauma, accident, or injury. Examples include playing a sport and having your tooth knocked out or cracked, slip and fall accidents, or experiencing trauma to the mouth that severely impacts the gums or teeth.

In certain cases, mouth damage may arise from other medical issues. For example, diabetes and kidney disease can risk your likelihood of developing periodontal or gum disease. Likewise, the increased hormonal fluctuations experienced in pregnancy can increase your likelihood of having a dental emergency centered around swollen or bleeding gums.

How to Avoid Dental Emergencies

While some dental emergencies are unavoidable, like being struck in the mouth while playing a sport, other times they can be avoided with the proper care. Preventing dental emergencies requires a multifaceted approach beyond routine dental care. Here are a few ways you can avoid a dental emergency in the future:

• Daily dental care. It is recommended that you brush your teeth twice a day and floss regularly to prevent plaque buildup.
• Yearly dental care. You should visit your dentist at least once yearly to check for potential issues that could result in dental emergencies down the line.
• Wear protective gear. If you are engaging in contact sports, it is recommended that you wear protective gear such as a helmet or a mouth guard.
• Diet and eating habits. While there are genetic components to obtaining cavities, many are caused by a diet containing too much added sugar. Other oral diseases may also be caused by a sugary diet.
• Elder care. If you are a senior who has dentures, you have unique needs related to your oral care. You should contact your dentist for tips and techniques to maintain your dental health while using dentures.
• Pregnant women. Pregnancy hormones can make gum health fragile, causing swelling or bleeding. Therefore, pregnant women should pay careful attention to their dental care, being sure not to skip brushing or flossing as this can impact their baby’s health as well as their own.

Are Dentists Open on Weekends?

A dental emergency is an emergency that often cannot wait until the following business day to receive attention. That is why Emergency Dental of Omaha is available on weekends, Saturday and Sunday, for your emergency dental needs. Our Emergency Dental Service can help with some of the most common emergency dental procedures, from cavity fillings to emergency root canals.

Cavity Fillings

Many children require tooth cavities, but adults can get them too. A cavity is a small hole in the tooth and is one of the most common dental issues. While a cavity is a small hole, it can cause large problems like extreme pain, swelling, an inability to eat, and infections if not treated properly.

A qualified dentist will fill the hole with a transparent or silver material to prevent further issues. While cavity fillings are typically done in a dentist's office, sometimes they fall out, requiring immediate replacement.

Dental Crown Repairs

If your tooth is seriously decayed, broken, or fragile, you may require a dental crown. A dental crown is essentially a cap placed over the tooth that restores its strength. While they are effective, dental crowns can sometimes loosen or crack with normal wear and tear. If something like this happens over the weekend, you will want it to be repaired immediately.

Denture Repairs

Dentures are artificial teeth that replace the real thing. While elders tend to require dentures most often, anyone with severely broken, decayed, or cracked teeth may require dentures. Dentures ensure a person can eat and speak properly while providing a person confidence in their smile.

Just like natural teeth, dentures are prone to problems as well. Therefore, if your dentures are cracked or broken, you may want them repaired immediately instead of leaving your gums vulnerable or risking social pressures.

Dental Implant Repairs

Much like dentures, dental implants are artificial teeth that allow individuals to chew and speak normally if their natural teeth are decayed or broken beyond repair. However, while dentures are easily removable and may often shift, implants are anchored to the jawbone and mimic teeth more naturally.

Still, just like dentures, dental implants are also prone to issues that may require immediate repair. Just as you wouldn’t want to wait to fix a broken or severely cracked tooth, you may also want to avoid waiting to replace a broken implant. Some reasons for implant repair include damage, loosened abutments, or bone loss.

Root Canal

A root canal is a serious procedure that is used to repair severe tooth damage caused by infected or inflamed pulp, trauma to the teeth, tooth decay, or previous tooth procedures. If you need a root canal, you will typically know it. Some symptoms you may experience include intense, prolonged pain, sensitivity to hot or cold food or drinks, swollen or decaying gums, lumps or pimples on your gums, and other symptoms.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you do not want to wait to seek treatment. A root canal involves removing the bacteria or infection in the tooth, cleaning it, and restoring it.

Tooth Extractions

Sometimes, you may require your tooth to be removed immediately. This often occurs if your tooth is damaged beyond repair, seriously decayed, or you have surrounding bone or tissue damage. Delaying this process may result in severe issues down the road, so contacting an emergency dentist right away is an excellent option.

Emergency Dental Visit: What to Expect

If you have a dental emergency, you may be anxious to understand what to expect at your visit. An emergency dental visit is similar to a regular dentist visit. However, a marked difference is shorter wait times and the type of care you receive. Just like at a typical emergency room visit, a healthcare professional will do a quick assessment to understand your medical history and what caused the problem.

Once a preliminary assessment is made, your emergency dentist may ease your immediate symptoms or even conduct an X-ray to determine the root cause. If you require emergency surgery, your provider may be able to treat you the same day; however, certain procedures may require a follow-up appointment.

Whatever the case, if you need emergency dental treatment, your dentist can ease your immediate symptoms, provide treatment advice, and schedule you for further care.

Contacting a Weekend Emergency Dentist

Dental emergencies can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, especially if they occur on the weekend. However, delaying necessary treatment can create serious complications in the long run. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, contact a local Emergency Dental Service using our provider search page or call 1-844-885-1538 today to schedule an appointment.