Do you know where to go to treat a dental emergency? Recent studies show that an astonishing number of people spend unnecessary time and money taking their dental emergencies to the ER instead of their dentist. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we should all be doing our best to stay healthy and practice social distancing, so it’s more important than ever to know where to turn if your smile needs urgent care. Here are four reasons to skip the ER and seek emergency dentistry if you need help during the COVID-19 quarantine.
1.) You’re Less Likely to Get Sick with COVID-19
The number one way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to practice social distancing. Emergency medical staff are working tirelessly to keep their practices clean, but ERs are currently more crowded than ever. Some of these patients are there seeking care for their COVID-19 symptoms. Meanwhile, your dentist is solely treating dental emergencies. Receiving treatment in a less-trafficked area lowers your risk of exposure to the coronavirus.
2.) You’ll Probably Get Treatment Sooner
ERs seek to care for a wide variety of pressing health concerns, some of which need immediate professional attention. Since more serious, life-threatening emergencies will need to be tended to first, you may find yourself waiting a long time to get dental treatment at an ER. Far fewer people will be visiting dental practices, so your dentist will likely be able to see you much sooner than a busy ER doctor or nurse.
3.) You Won’t Be Contributing to Overcrowded ERs
Since COVID-19 is so easily spread, there has been a sizable influx of patients seeking urgent medical care. This increase alongside the regular volume of emergencies has led to a tremendous strain on the healthcare system. Taking your dental emergency to your dentist in stead of the ER frees up the valuable time, effort, and attention of medical staff who can help these other patients.
4.) You’ll Receive the Specialized Dental Care You Need
If your local ER doesn’t have an emergency dentist on staff, they may only be able to mitigate your pain until you can see your dentist. An emergency dentist has the specialized training and tools to perform a wide variety of procedures to repair your smile. They can quickly and comfortably address issues like:
- Bleeding in the mouth
- Broken or fractured teeth
- Partially or fully dislodged teeth
- Intensely painful toothaches
- Severe dental infections
Not sure if your situation counts as a dental emergency? Call your dentist anyway. Over the phone, they can help you assess your situation and what steps you need to take to get back to enjoying your happy, healthy, and pain-free smile.
About the Practice
At Beverly Farms Dental, our top priority has always been the safety of our patients, staff, and the entire community of Beverly, MA. In accordance with the recommendations set forth by the State of Massachusetts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have made the decision to temporarily postpone all non-emergency appointments. However, Dr. Robert Blake and Dr. Lauren Gadberg are still available to provide urgent dental care for those who need it. They have taken the necessary measures to make sure their practice is as clean and healthy as possible. If you need emergency dental care, don’t hesitate to contact them via their website or at (978) 927-3515.