I had a problem while my dentist was on vacation. He did have a colleague that was supposed to be seeing us in case of emergencies, but apparently, there was a miscommunication and he could not fit me in. I ended up doing an internet search for an emergency dentist. They fit me in that day, did some tests to see what the problem was, and got me out of pain. They gave me a choice between coming back to them for the root canal treatment I needed in a couple of days or waiting for my dentist. They said they’d prescribe the right amount of antibiotics for either decision. I found them to be efficient, compassionate, and effective. In fact, I sort of want to switch to that practice completely. Before I make the leap, are there things that emergency dentists cannot do that I would need a general dentist for?
Amelia
Dear Amelia,
One important thing to note is that emergency dentists are general dentists. They can do anything any other general dentist does, which would include things such as cleanings, fillings, and dental crowns. Beyond that, it really depends on the dentist and where their interests and additional training resides.
For example, if you are someone who wants cosmetic dentistry done, such as porcelain veneers, you would need to find a dentist who has invested in post-doctoral training in cosmetic work. There isn’t actually a cosmetic dental specialty, so you have to do some research and be willing to ask them what training they received. Teeth whitening, while it is simple enough to be performed by any dentist but may not be offered by any dentist.
Other times, you may have more extensive needs like dental implants or TMJ disorder. For these, you will want a dentist who has done the training necessary for those procedures.
What this boils down to is if you like this dentist, go to this dentist for all your general dental needs. If anything specialized comes up, they can recommend to you a dentist just for those needs. It is not uncommon for people to have a family doctor, then maybe a heart specialist or an endocrinologist. This is the same in dentistry. Go to the dentist who meets the majority of your needs and when you need something special, the two of you can work together to find the right dentist just for that procedure.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.