All emergency situations, dental or medical in nature, should be given appropriate and prompt attention. The problem is, many people do not exactly know how to differentiate an emergency situation from a non-emergency one. What’s more confusing is that patients suffering from dental emergencies go straight to hospital emergency rooms where medical patients also report to. This scenario creates greater traffic, confusion, and unnecessary workload for doctors and other hospital staff. How do we handle dental emergencies? Where should we go, to an emergency dental clinic or the nearest hospital?
Emergency dental clinic or hospital: Why go directly to hospitals?
The American Dental Association (ADA) found out that hospital visits of patients aged 18-50 have increased by almost 50%, from 1.1 million visits in 2010 to a whopping 2.1 million in 2011. These numbers show that more and more dental patients would rather seek dental attention in hospitals than an emergency dental clinic. But why?
ADA noted that dental benefits from Medicare and other private health insurance companies not only in Australia but other parts of the world are limited. They found out that dental patients with limited to no dental health insurance or financial constraints would prefer getting treated for free in hospitals than to shell out money for a private emergency dental clinic.
Emergency dental clinic or hospital: Hospital-worthy emergency situations
These unnecessary hospital visits contribute to patient congestion and prolonged waiting times for patients with urgent medical health conditions. Routine dental problems, such as tooth extractions, can be dealt with in an emergency dental clinic instead of hospitals. But what dental emergency situations deserve to be treated in hospitals?
Unforeseen events such as accidents involving the face and mouth that could cause potential damage not only to the dental cavity but also the jaw, facial bones, and brain warrant a dental emergency hospital consultation. Doctors can treat and diagnose medical problems using their laboratory machines and instruments that could save a patient’s life. The dentist may then address the dental issues of the stabilised patient afterward.
If a severe toothache is the main reason why patients go directly to hospitals instead of an emergency dental clinic, knowing the cause of the pain is more important than relief. Since most hospitals do not have a dentist on deck, they resolve to prescribing pain medications and antibiotics without knowing the cause of the pain. So, once the prescribed medication runs out, and the pain still exists, the patient will go back to square one – the hospital’s emergency room.
Dentists and other dental personnel at an emergency dental clinic would first and foremost determine the cause of the pain. They may recommend undergoing several dental procedures to alleviate the symptoms and prescribe medicines as well. Following this process ensures efficient and accurate management of the pain.
Emergency dental clinic: Why is it preferred for dental emergencies?
An emergency dental office is always a more appropriate choice when dealing with dental emergencies. Most hospitals in Australia don’t have the amenities, services, or dental personnel to provide comprehensive dental care. An emergency dental clinic can give you that and more. You can be sure that a professional who is trained and experienced in dealing with all dental emergencies takes care of your dental emergency situation, and he does not make any shortcuts or provide temporary solutions.