Some dental situations require emergency care. You may have a cracked tooth or you start feeling extreme localized pain in your mouth. Keep in mind that when you receive emergency dental care, you may be subject to extra fees charged by the facility. The type of treatment open to you will often be affected by the time of day that you call a dental office.
Step 1
Contact your dentist's office if the emergency occurs during the practice's office hours. In most cases, the dentist will be able to fit you in for an appointment during the day. You can also call your dentist after hours. The recording will likely tell you what number to call in the case of an emergency. You may be redirected to an answering service that will page the dentist or the dentist on call for him.
Step 2
Find a dental emergency clinic. Many areas have emergency clinics available that allow you to either walk in or call to set up an immediate appointment. Your dentist may be able to provide you with the contact information for such a facility in your area.
Step 3
Use a mobile emergency dental provider. Some businesses, such as Emergency Dental Service, have a mobile unit that can treat broken teeth, tooth pain and abscesses. You can log on their website to see if they service your area (see Resources).
Step 4
Go to the local emergency room. If the dental emergency is a result of an injury, an emergency room can triage and treat the problem. The emergency room will likely stop any bleeding and clean the area. You may be instructed to follow up with your dentist as soon as possible.
