Dental surgery or hospital?

Amid the panic of a dental emergency, it can be hard to focus clearly on the best course of action. Most people are inclined to head straight to the nearest A&E if they are injured in any way, this is undoubtedly better than sitting at home doing nothing, but it’s not always in the patient’s best interest to take a dental problem to a nurse or doctor. Some injuries are so specific in nature that hospital staff can do little to help without a dental professional, but it’s occasionally difficult to tell the difference between an emergency that requires a trip to the hospital, and one that needs more specialist treatment.

It’s also worth noting that a large percentage of the population are unaware of emergency clinics in their area – most people don’t plan ahead for unforeseen incidents like dental problems, and even if they do know where they are, they often don’t know when they are open. In an emergency, lots of people might be queuing up at the hospital when they could be receiving treatment at a twenty-four hour dental clinic in half the time. The Pearl Dental Clinic in London runs one such clinic, its open every day of the year, even Christmas!

How do I know if I should go to the hospital or the dental clinic?

Symptoms of a dental emergency vary from person to person, and depend heavily on what type of accident has occurred. Typical symptoms that point to a dental emergency are; swelling of the jaw and face, pain in the teeth or gums, lacerations to the soft tissue – lips, tongue, cheek, and gums – but there are a wide variety of other problems that can be treated at a dental clinic as well. Here are several other circumstances which aren’t considered life threatening, but would require immediate attention from a dental professional.

Broken or cracked tooth – A nurse or doctor should be able to stem bleeding and relieve swelling, but they won’t be able to rebuild chips or cracks, and they won’t attempt complex surgeries like extractions, that’s what dentists are for.

Knocked-out teeth – It’s possible that along with knocking out your tooth, you have sustained other serious injuries that might need medical attention, but reattaching the tooth won’t be at the top of the list if you have a head wound. Emergency dentists may be able to fix your tooth back in its socket if you can get to the surgery quick enough.

Abscesses – Badly infected tissue might warrant a trip to the hospital, particularly if you are feeling dizzy or nauseous, but most abscesses are best dealt with by a dental professional. They are more experienced at draining the swelling correctly and recognising further reaching damage beneath the surface. Small abscesses following surgical treatment or infection are usually quite simple to treat.

If your health is in immediate danger, it’s vital that you seek help as soon as possible. Here are some circumstances where you should forego a dental appointment and go straight to A&E;

Jaw fractures – This could exhibit itself as toothache or headache, but could lead to long-term discomfort if it’s not corrected. If you have received a heavy blow to the face and your jaw hurts, an x-ray is required to see where the pain is coming from. This might seem like a dental problem, but the jaw can be complicated to deal with, if you need major surgery, a dentist won’t be able to help you.

Jaw dislocations – Some oral surgeons may be qualified to help with locked or dislocated jaws, but your first consultation should really be with a doctor if you’re having this type of problem.

Serious lacerations – Any heavy bleeding constitutes a medical emergency rather than a dental one, you may need stitches or further surgery if the situation is serious. Loss of blood can’t be dealt with properly at a dental clinic, so it’s better to go to the hospital in case your condition deteriorates.

Abscesses – It’s not always clear to the average person how badly their teeth are infected until they go to the dentist, but large, swollen abscesses that may be preventing you from breathing properly should be considered a serious threat to your health. Even if the swelling doesn’t appear to be in a bad state, if you notice dizziness, fever, or waves of nausea, get to the hospital as soon as possible, these are signs of blood poisoning and severe infection, something the dentist won’t be equipped to deal with if it becomes life-threatening.

What should I do if I can’t get in contact with my dentist?

Your regular dentist will most likely operate within normal working hours – perhaps a bit later so that people can attend appointments after they finish work – but you can always get in touch with an emergency clinic if you’re worried about something and it’s out of office hours. You won’t be able to consult with your normal dentist, but a reputable twenty-four hour clinic will only work with qualified individuals, who will be just as helpful and effective. If you’re not sure where to find your nearest emergency clinic, try calling the office you are registered with, they may have some information on the answer machine that can point you in the right direction or check the Internet for nearby surgeries and their contact details.

If you’re not sure what type of emergency you are experiencing, and you can’t get to any type of dentist at all, it might be a good idea to go to A&E and seek a medical opinion. It’s possible that they may be able to patch you up and make you comfortable until you can get more specialist help.