An emergency dentist is a dental professional who specializes in providing care for urgent dental issues such as severe toothaches, cracked or knocked out teeth, and more. These professionals are trained to manage pain, address immediate concerns, and provide long-term treatment options for underlying problems that may be contributing to the issue.

Because dental emergencies often occur outside of normal business hours, these professionals offer extended and even 24/7 availability. They also have specialized equipment on hand to help with urgent situations, from digital X-rays for rapid diagnosis to tools for managing pain and anxiety with sedation services.

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The most important thing to remember when experiencing a dental emergency is to stay calm. A panicked reaction can make a situation worse and lead to a more serious outcome. Instead, try to relax and take a deep breath until you can reach out for assistance. During the interim, take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen as directed and rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to ease inflammation and prevent further harm until you can see an emergency dentist.

While ER doctors are well-trained to manage pain due to injuries, dental trauma is a little more unique and can be difficult to diagnose correctly. This can lead to improper pain management, longer delays in addressing the underlying cause of the problem, and more costly treatments down the line.

For example, a common complication of a tooth extraction called dry socket can be mistaken for an infection and treated with antibiotics—which can cause more damage to the healing site in the process. This is a good reason to seek the help of an emergency dentist who can better assess and treat the underlying problem, rather than just manage your symptoms.