If you’ve chipped a tooth, snapped a wire, or lost a dental crown, the last thing you want to be doing is scrambling to find a good dentist. Scrolling through google reviews is not your top priority when you’re in pain. Add that you probably aren’t thinking straight, and it can start to feel overwhelming to try and get the care you need.
If you act deliberately and take things one step at a time, you should be able to see a professional in no time. If it’ll help you organize your thoughts, here’s a guide to what you should do to find a dentist if you’re having an emergency.
How to Find an Emergency Dentist
First of all, there aren’t any specialized emergency dentists—just about any dentist that’s accepting new patients will offer same-day emergency appointments for their clients, even if they haven’t been in before. If you already have a dentist you’re comfortable with, give them a call and they’ll probably be able to help you.
If you don’t have a regular dentist, just try and find someone who can see you as quickly as possible. This can be as simple as googling “dentist near me open now” and calling the first name on the list. If they aren’t accepting new clients, call the next dentist in line and repeat until you find someone who’ll see you.
What If It’s After Office Hours?
Of course, dentists aren’t always open. There’s a chance that your dental emergency happened after regular office hours, which means you might need a change of tactic.
If it’s late at night, try calling your dentist’s office anyway, as your dentist’s voicemail might list an emergency number where they can be reached. If it doesn’t, then make sure to leave a detailed message describing the nature of your problem. They’ll get back to you as soon as they reopen.
Thankfully, dentists are both willing and able to help you with whatever your dental emergency is, and once you make it to your appointment, they’ll make sure you aren’t in pain for any longer than you have to be.
About the Author
Whether he’s relieving a patient’s toothache, treating an oral health problem, or completely redesigning someone’s smile, Dr. Ellis Shwarts absolutely loves being able to change his patients’ lives for the better. He does this with an attention to detail that has earned him the trust and respect of each of his patients. Dr. Shwarts received his doctorate from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, and he’s been practicing dentistry for nearly a decade since. If you have any questions about dental emergencies, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (972) 525-9283.