We’re only three months into 2020 and finding ourselves facing a serious situation as the pandemic known as COVID – 19 sweeps across the globe. It is extremely important to take the necessary preventative measures (such as washing your hands, limiting physical contact with each other and social distancing) and to stay on top of recent developments regarding this health crisis.
However, for those in need of dental care during this time, please be assured that GPS Dental will remain open and accepting emergency dental appointments.
As we are following the recommendations of the American Dental Association (ADA) during the COVID-19 outbreak, it is recommended that dentists across the country postpone all non-essential dental services until further notice.
Emergency Dental Appointments: Essential vs. Non-Essential Treatments
If you have visited our website or read any previous blog entries, you will know that there are three different types of dental services that we provide including, preventative, restorative, and cosmetic based procedures. While there is a certain degree of overlap between some of the procedures, to reduce any unnecessary health risks for both our patients and staff, we will only be offering essential treatments until further updates from the ADA.
Who will you call when you need an emergency dental appointment?
At GPS Dental we are prepared to assist our patients when a dental emergency occurs. When patients call in this type of scenario, we always do our best to accommodate same day emergency appointments.
Treatment and Prevention for a Dental Emergency
While we can’t prevent every tooth-related issue, knowing some prevention methods for dental emergencies can be very helpful. To help prevent injury:
- Never use your teeth to open packages or cut items – use scissors instead
- Avoid chewing extremely hard food items, such as candy, popcorn kernels, and ice
- When playing sports, wear a mouth guard
In-depth information on the types of dental emergencies and injuries according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Signs of a Dental Emergency
Our goal is to fix any dental emergency as soon as possible and get you back on your feet and out of pain. Accidents can happen, and quick action and knowledge of dental emergencies can easily save a tooth! Make sure to give us a call at GPS Dental as soon as you experience the signs of a dental emergency.
Learn more from this Dental Emergency FAQ.
Other Reasons for needing emergency dental care:
- Knocked Out Tooth
- Chipped or Broken Tooth
- Partially Dislodged Tooth
- Abscess
- Toothache
- Lost Filling
- Lost Crown
Related Article from WebMD: Handling Dental Emergencies
You may not be able to anticipate when a dental emergency will happen; however, you can rest assured that you will receive swift expert emergency care when you call our office.
While these signs are often correlated to a dental emergency, there are other signs and symptoms to also be aware of that aren’t as sudden or apparent. Symptoms such as prolonged pain, or a swollen jaw are major indicators that something isn’t right, even if they do seem more subtle.
- Prolonged toothache
- Jaw pain or swelling
- Sore gums
- Metal taste in the mouth
- Canker sore that will not heal
- Numb tooth
- Constant headaches
- Extreme tiredness
Related Articles:
Tooth Extractions: Reasons for Pulling Teeth
Colds, Flus, and Cavities: Is Your Medicine Hurting Your Teeth?
We’re All in This Together!
Although we will be temporarily suspending certain services, please remember that if you require any emergency dental procedures, you will be able to receive the care you need at our office. It is important that you receive the necessary care as oral health problems will worsen if left untreated.
You may not be able to anticipate when a dental emergency will happen; however, you can rest assured that you will receive swift expert emergency care when you call our office.
From all of us at GPS Dental, we would like to thank you all for your patience and understanding during this unprecedented situation. We will be keeping a close eye on the situation as it progresses.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office.
Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment.
