Dealing with a dental emergency in your own home is stressful enough as it is. Add in the panic of not having a nearby, trusted emergency dentist because you’re out of town or overseas, and your stress levels will likely be through the roof. The most important tip for dealing with these urgent situations, no matter where you are, is to remain calm. Read on to learn the best way to deal with oral emergencies while you’re traveling to reduce your risk of worsening dental problems or permanent damage.
Determine the Severity of the Situation
Even though a chipped tooth or dental sensitivity may feel like drastic changes to your baseline comfortability in the moment, they might not necessarily require emergency care. The best way to determine the severity of your dental problem is to account for all of your symptoms. Ask yourself whether your tooth sensitivity comes and goes or how much of your actual tooth chipped off.
If you want a professional’s opinion, you can still contact a local emergency dentist to see if they can offer some guidance. However, in cases where your discomfort isn’t persistent or the damage is minimal, you may be able to wait until you get back into town to see your primary dentist.
Find a Local Emergency Dentist
If you’re experiencing a persistent and severe toothache or have knocked-out a permanent tooth, time is of the essence. In this case, try to find a local emergency dentist to protect your smile from further threats and address your discomfort. Some problems, like severe infections, are likely to only get worse the longer you put off treating them.
Visit Your Trusted Emergency Dentist When You Get Home
If you have to visit an emergency dentist while you’re traveling, be sure to schedule a follow-up with your regular dentist to make sure that the problem is sufficiently treated. In some cases, you may require additional services, like if you got a root canal while you were out of town, your general dentist may need to strengthen and protect the tooth with a dental crown. Doing this can also give you peace of mind that someone you trust and have a long-standing relationship with has determined that the problem is solved, and it won’t come back to haunt you down the road.
Always Come Prepared
If you’re going out of town and know that you’ll be partaking in physical activities, like snowboarding or skiing, or that you deal with chronic dental problems, it never hurts to look up an emergency dentist in the location you’ll be staying. That way, if you find yourself in a bind, you’ll have their number, name, and address, so you can quickly attend to your situation, ensuring it has a minimal impact on your trip. You can even ask your general dentist if they have a colleague in the area that you’re visiting that they trust and would recommend!
About the Practice
At Wehrkamp Dentistry, our team is led by two highly skilled and compassionate dentists: Dr. Scott Wehrkamp and Dr. Mauri Heesch. Each of them has years of experience beneath their belts and are happy to accommodate patients in any way possible, especially when they’re experiencing dental emergencies. We proudly offer same-day emergency appointments and accept dental insurance. For questions or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call 605-582-6522.