At Babylon Dental Care, we understand that there is some confusion about what constitutes a dental emergency in the time of COVID-19. Our offices are open for dental emergencies, and we want you to know that we are here for you if you are experiencing an emergency.
According to the American Dental Association, a dental emergency is one that is life-threatening and demands immediate attention from a medical professional. This could be because of excessive bleeding, uncontrollable swelling that impedes a patient’s ability to breathe, and broken facial bones that could hinder breathing.
Types of Dental Emergencies
The ADA also defines urgent dental care as “the management of conditions that require immediate attention to relieve severe pain and/or risk of infection and to alleviate the burden on hospital emergency departments.” When possible, dentists should provide care to their patients in their own offices so that hospitals can channel their resources directly to coronavirus patients.
Examples of urgent dental injuries are:
- Inflammation of tooth pulp, causing severe pain
- Pericoronitis, or inflammation of the tissue surrounding the wisdom teeth
- Pain and swelling caused by abscesses
- Soft tissue damage caused by broken or fractured teeth
- Biopsy
Generally, any situation in which the patient is bleeding excessively from their mouth, had a tooth knocked out, or is suffering from an abscessed tooth, qualifies as an emergency. Those patients should call our office immediately, and we will see you as soon as possible to treat your injuries.
Other signs of dental emergencies are:
- Loose teeth in adults
- Persistent tooth pain
- Broken or cracked tooth
- Bleeding and aching gums
- Persistent or unusually large canker sores
- Numb teeth
- Persistent fatigue
Radiographs, routine cleanings, dental procedures for aesthetic purposes, and extractions of non-harmful teeth are all non-emergency dental procedures. At this time, Babylon Dental Care is unable to see patients for these purposes.
Contact Babylon Dental Care
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to care for your teeth at home while regular cleanings and checkups are on hold. We are still available to serve clients in emergency situations, however, and we are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of each of our patients. Please give us a call at (631) 983-6665 or reach out online if you have a dental emergency.