Although the American Dental Association (ADA) has recommended that dentists not perform elective and routine dental procedures, we are still open for emergency dental needs. And if you have a dental emergency, it’s best to see a dentist, not go to the emergency room. Here’s why.

Conserve ER Resources

Even at the best of times, ER resources are limited. Now they are seriously stressed by the large number of people seeking care for symptoms related to COVID-19 and should be saved for people who might need to be hospitalized for the disease. That’s why the ADA has asked us to focus on emergency care: to help ease the strain.

Reduce Exposure Risks

Because people are seeking care for COVID-19 at the ER, the department is likely to be a hotbed of contagion for the novel coronavirus. Even when you take precautions, you are much more likely to contract the disease by visiting the ER than coming to a dentist. We have the same or better decontamination protocols, and there are fewer people with the virus (possibly even none) coming through our office.

Faster Treatment

With all the people seeking care at the ER these days, you can expect that wait times will be much longer than in the past. When you talk to the triage nurse, they are likely to put you at the bottom of the list in terms of priority. If they even treat you. They might send you away and ask you to seek care at a dental office after all.

Better Diagnosis

At the ER, they can diagnose many different diseases and conditions, but they are not particularly skilled at diagnosing dental conditions. They can mistake gum disease, food impaction, and an infected tooth, especially if they’re rushed and stressed by COVID-19 patients. We can take the time to properly diagnose your condition and match you up with the best treatment.

Lasting Results

At the ER, their main priorities are treating your immediate problem and sending you on your way, and that has never been more true than now. If they can stick a proverbial bandage on it and kick you out the door, they will. It sometimes happens, for example, that people are given antibiotics for an infected tooth. This might knock down the infection and stop your fever, but your tooth will become reinfected quickly.

We will take the time to make sure we really solve your problem and give you root canal therapy or other treatment whose results will last years, even decades.

Save Your Tooth

Another way that they deal with infected teeth at the ER is jumping right to an extraction when a tooth might be saved with root canal therapy or gum disease treatment.

Once a tooth is gone, you cannot get it back. While a dental implant is a great tooth replacement, it is not identical to your lost tooth, so it’s better to save your tooth whenever possible.

More Attractive Results

As we’ve noted above, at the ER they might rush to extract a damaged tooth. If they do so, they might not take into account the procedure to replace it with a dental implant or dental bridge. This can impact your ability to get the best replacement, and it can definitely impact the aesthetics of your tooth replacement when you get it.

But if we have to extract your tooth, we will make sure to lay the groundwork for a functional, attractive replacement tooth.

Better Experience

At the ER, they don’t have time to worry about your experience as a patient. They are focused on providing the essential care for you and the other patients in the department, and anything beyond that is superfluous and so it is neglected.

But we always care about giving our patients the best possible experience. Whether you’re a regular patient or new to our office, we will take care of you.

Continuity of Care

As the ER is focused on immediate care, follow-up after treatment is notoriously bad. And with dental care, it’s likely to be even worse. And even if they do arrange for follow-up, it’s very unlikely to be the same person you saw at the ER.

But when you get treatment at our office, we will follow-up with you to make sure you are doing okay. Any follow-up care will be taken care of at our office, and we’ll have access to all records of your treatment so we know what was done and what needs to be done.

Save Money

Of course, you shouldn’t make care decisions based exclusively on cost, but it is still an important consideration, especially now when you might be worried about your income. Treatment at a dentist’s office is generally cheaper than treatment at the ER. Even if you don’t have dental insurance, you will still save money at the dentist’s office.

Have a Dental Emergency in San Diego?

Do you have a dental emergency in the San Diego area? We can help you at our location in Chula Vista. Please call (619) 656-6785 or (760) 798-1768 today for an appointment with one of our dentists.

The post 10 Reasons to See a Dentist for Emergency Care appeared first on Lovebites Dental.

Our community is dealing with the novel coronavirus, and, each household has its own way of coping. Whether you’ve already stayed indoors for weeks or you have just recently switched to the statewide stay-at-home order, our daily routine is shifting greatly.

With all this change, we’ve heard a lot of concerns from our patients. So, we wanted to reassure you that we’re still offering emergency dental care. Now, you may be wondering, what does an emergency consist of? To answer your question, a dental emergency is anything that conflicts with eating, sleeping, or talking. If you experience toothaches, chipped teeth, lost teeth, or jaw pain, visit us at Irresistible Smiles.

Toothaches

Tooth discomfort, if left untreated, can cause a variety of problems. When you experience a toothache, it could ultimately lead to an inability to eat or drink. Furthermore, when toothaches go untreated, the decay can grow and need a more intensive procedure, like a root canal. If you experience toothaches that last for more than a few days, visit your dentist for emergency treatment.

Chipped, Cracked or Lost Teeth

When you chip or crack your teeth, you need to seek immediate treatment at your dentist’s office. Chipped or lost teeth, if left untreated, can cause a serious misalignment in your jaw. In other words, your jaw and your smile could adjust improperly just because your teeth are damaged.

Additionally, loosened teeth can also cause big problems. If a tooth loosens without trauma, it could be a sign of gum disease or jaw misalignment. Either way, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist so the issue doesn’t get worse.

Jaw Problems

If you experience jaw pain for any reason, we consider it an emergency. Some of our patients get jaw pain from trauma incidents that result in cracked or broken jaws. In order to treat this pain, you must see your dentist or an emergency center immediately.

Another form of jaw pain comes from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease. If you wake up with jaw pain or headaches daily, you might need TMJ treatment. Your overall health is important to us which is why we also treat TMJ as an emergency. Constant headaches, jaw aches, and neck aches are preventable. And it’s our goal at Irresistible Smiles to keep them at bay!

Your Dentist Wants to Help

While the coronavirus keeps us at home, remember to maintain your oral hygiene! And, if you’re concerned about your pearly whites, keep up with our dental blog for information about different dental treatments. To schedule an emergency appointment or talk to a professional, call us at (619) 656-6785 in Chula Vista contact us online.

The post When to Seek Emergency Dental Care appeared first on Lovebites Dental.

Sometimes, we get too busy and preoccupied with day-to-day life and a visit to our Dentist takes a backseat, all too often forgotten. When was the last time you have been to the dentist?

When was the last time you have been to the dentist?

For some of us, a visit to the dentist is as scary today as when we first went as kids.

But there just are some dental issues that absolutely can’t be avoided and that require immediate attention from your dentist.

Normally it’s a nasty toothache, but did you know that there are a lot of other symptoms that should be a cause for concern?

You’ll be surprised at how normal these ‘little symptoms’ seem and at how important it is to have them checked by our San Diego dentist.

When to Visit Your Dentist:

Bad Breath and Unusual Taste in The Mouth:

If you have a sudden change in the smell and taste of your mouth, and it has nothing to do with what you ate (or drank, or smoked), then you must visit your dentist. It could be a sign of gum disease, cavities, or even GERD.

Mouth Sores That Do Not Seem to Heal:

Mouth sores are common. They come and go, especially when your body is trying to adjust to natural changes in chemical composition or even changes in the weather.

Normally, mouth sores should heal within two weeks; if they linger longer than that, you should definitely go see your dentist.

Mouth sores are one of the first signs of mouth cancer, but it should appear along with other symptoms.

Visiting the dentist is only a safety barrier, just to rule out anything serious.

Pain, Swelling, and Bleeding in the Gums:

Any form of pain or swelling is an indication that something is wrong.

It could mean a gum infection, cavities, or gum disease.

The first sign of tenderness or swelling, accompanied by some discoloration in that specific gum area, should send you to your dentist right away. Gum problems, when neglected, could cause tooth loss.

Teeth Sensitivity:

Teeth sensitivity is characterized by a sudden jolt of pain when eating/drinking hot, cold, or sour food/drinks.

It is always an indication of nerve damage and should be seen by your dentist immediately.

Chronic Dryness of Mouth:

If you experience dry mouth too frequently and too long at a time, you should visit your dentist >ASAP. It could be a sign of an underlying condition.

For your dentist needs, there’s always Irresistible Smiles. Contact us today at (858) 755-8993 to set up an appointment!

The post 5 Symptoms That Should Make You Run to Your Dentist San Diego appeared first on Lovebites Dental.