You break a leg; you go to the emergency room. They are open 24/7 and can help you. But what happens when you break a tooth? Or experience severe tooth pain? If your first reaction is to go to the hospital ER, WAIT. In this blog, we’ll tell you why dental emergency consultations should be your first quest for help. What is considered a dental emergency? Let’s start by outlining the most common dental emergencies: If you experience a dental problem that’s life-threatening, such as a dislocated jaw or impaired breathing, call 911 or go to the emergency room. If your problem is not life-threatening, here’s the next step: Step 1. Call your dentist for a dental emergency consultation Even if your dental emergency happens outside your dentist’s business hours, call him or her. Most dentists have an automated message with instructions on what to do, like calling the dental office emergency number or contacting them through social media. With a dental emergency consultation, you will get advice from your trusted dentist who addresses your symptoms and the root cause of your problem. Your dentist may advise you to come in for an appointment ASAP, provide tips on how to relieve your symptoms, or recommend treatments to end the problem once and for all. Why you should avoid the ER for a dental emergency Most hospitals do not have dental staff on call and can only treat your symptoms with pain killers or antibiotics. You will likely still require a dental appointment to treat your emergency correctly. At-home steps for dental emergencies In some cases, the first step is to react to your dental emergency and then call your dentist, which is why we have laid out quick steps on what to do in a dental emergency. Following these steps and acting quickly may be the difference between saving your tooth or losing it. We recommend bookmarking this blog or sharing it on social media so you can always have it on hand – just in case! What do I do if I knocked out a tooth? What do I do if I break a tooth? The same goes if you chip or crack a tooth. What do I do if I have something stuck between my teeth? How do I treat a toothache or abscess? The last thing you should know! Most dental emergencies are preventable. These five tips will significantly decrease your chances of experiencing one: Need to call an emergency dentist? At Cosmo Dental, we have experienced dentists available to help you with your dental emergency. Our office is located in Quezon City (Eton Centris) and in Makati (Eton Tower Makati).