Amherst Dentist Treating Dental Emergencies During The COVID-19 Pandemic
If you are dealing with a dental emergency, the first call should always be to your dentist. But what happens if you experience a dental emergency during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic? Most dentist offices are closed by mandate due to the pandemic, however Douglas Hamill DDS is able to see patients for emergency dental care and provide treatment for dental emergencies throughout the pandemic. We take the utmost of care in scheduling patients for emergency treatment including wearing personal protective equipment and scheduling appointments one patient at a time to minimize any unnecessary interaction.
At Douglas Hamill DDS, we understand that dental emergencies can be scary and arise when you least expect it. That’s why we are making ourselves available to help Buffalo residents with any emergency dentistry issues they may be facing.
How To Determine If You Have A Dental Emergency?
Knowing whether or not you are experiencing a dental emergency is crucial, especially in these times of COVID-19. Since we are only designated to see patients with dental emergencies at this time, we cannot provide routine checkups or cleanings. However, some situations require immediate care from an emergency dentist to save your tooth or relieve your pain. If you are experiencing pain, swelling, have lost a tooth, have bleeding gums, or are showing signs of an infection, you should be seen right away. Contact our emergency dentist in Amherst, NY for treatment today! Of course if you believe your injuries are life threatening, call 911 and go to the emergency room as soon as possible.
Some examples of dental emergencies can also include things like dental implants and dentures, if they are affecting your ability to properly function or chew food. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to ensure it is truly necessary. Root canal therapy can also be considered emergent as if you put off the necessary treatment, infection can spread rapidly and accelerate your pain and discomfort.
Common Dental Emergency Issues
Gum Disease
Gum disease can set in when your gums start reacting to plaque buildup on the surface of the teeth. When gum disease emerges, you can expect your gums to become red and swollen, and they may begin to bleed easily. If this is not corrected, gum disease can lead to periodontitis, which occurs when the bone below or above the teeth starts to be affected. This is often irreversible if not caught soon enough and may require more invasive and aggressive treatment. To avoid this potential dental emergency, contact your dentist to ensure your gums are healthy.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, also known as periodontitis is a gingival disease that affects both the gums and the bone. The condition starts out as gingivitis, which is largely limited to inflammation of the gums. This disease can progress, becoming periodontitis, and beginning to dissolve the bone around the roots of the teeth. That’s the number one cause of people losing their teeth and they end up with dentures. If you notice inflammation of the gums, turning red and swollen, you should let your dentist know right away. An emergency dentist can help counteract and repair periodontal disease if it’s not too late.
Knocked-Out Teeth
When you have a tooth that has been knocked out, the first thing you should do is either put it in milk or stick it under your tongue. Rinsing and cleaning the tooth or keeping it separate from your mouth can prevent the tooth from eventually reintegrating back into the bone. Our office puts the knocked-out tooth in its original socket and bonds it to the adjacent teeth, sparing our patient the necessity of a root canal. Usually, teeth can be saved by following these steps but this would be considered a dental emergency and you should contact your dentist as soon as possible.
What Is Not A Dental Emergency?
While troublesome, the loss of a filling or crown is not considered a dental emergency unless of course you are experiencing oral pain as a result. Elective or cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, or fluoride treatments would not be considered a dental emergency at this time. We would still be happy to schedule you for an appointment in the near future, but it would not be considered a dental emergency requiring treatment from an emergency dentist.
Dr. Douglas Hamill has been serving the Amherst and Greater Western New York community for over 22 years. If you are in need of an emergency dentist in Buffalo, look no further. Contact us today so we can arrange an appointment and help you relieve your pain, and fix your tooth. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the first-responders and medical staff on the front lines of this pandemic. We hope to see all of our patients very soon to resume routine dental care and cosmetic treatments.
Until then, stay safe and be kind to each other. We will get through this together!
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