Should Indianapolis residents go to the ER for a dental emergency?

If you or a family member in the Indianapolis area experience a dental emergency, your first reaction may be to go the nearest hospital Emergency Department. That is an appropriate course of action in some cases, and in other situations a call to your dentist might be beneficial. Dr. Matthew Church of Washington Street Dentistry offers this guidance.

When to make a trip to the Emergency Room

Please don’t delay. Get to the ER quickly if:

• You have uncontrolled bleeding.
• You believe your jaw may be fractured or dislocated.
• There is significant injury to soft tissues.
• There was sudden, forceful impact to the head or neck.
• You have unbearable pain.
• You have difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• An abscess has caused severe facial swelling with or without fever.
• You have a serious, chronic illness or compromised immune system.

The ER experience

The Emergency Room is absolutely the right place to get prompt medical care in situations that could be life-threatening. However, it is good to be emotionally prepared for the experience. The ER team is called upon to treat all sorts of patients with all kinds of conditions, quickly and professionally. You may not receive a lot of personal attention, aside from medical care. In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an average ER wait time in the United State of 30 minutes, and about 90 minutes for treatment. The American Dental Association cites an average ER cost for dental emergencies of $749.

When to call Washington Street Dentistry

Urgent dental situations that are NOT life threatening include:

• Cracked or fractured tooth.
• Dislodged tooth.
• Pain from tooth decay.
• Pain or swelling from an abscess that is bearable and not accompanied by fever.
• Lost filling.
• Broken or disrupted dental restoration or orthodontic appliance.

Dr. Church provides immediate instruction by telephone – what to do, how to preserve dentition, and how to address discomfort. Then he sees you promptly, usually same day, to begin treatment. The Washington Street Dentistry facility has the right equipment to handle dental emergencies, and we offer payment options to alleviate the financial stress of an unexpected dental bill.

Become Dr. Church’s newest patient by calling (317) 333-6788 today, to schedule an initial appointment. You’ll be in good hands at Washington Street Dentistry in Indianapolis, should a dental emergency occur.

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