I don’t know what’s wrong with my tooth or if it’s a dental emergency or not. Also, I don’t have a lot of money. Can I charge the business who’s responsible for my problem for the emergency appointment if it’s necessary? Here’s what happened. I was at a bar. Some people got into a fight. I was near them but not part of the fight. Yet, somehow the bouncer picked me to bounce. He grabbed me. I told him it wasn’t me, but he punched me anyway. I left with a bloody lip but didn’t think anything of it after that until this morning. I noticed one of my teeth, where I was punched, is turning a graying color. Is this a dental emergency? Can I charge the bar for it?

Benji

Dear Benji,

If it’s an issue of the color alone right now, but no pain, you don’t have to see an emergency dentist right away. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need treatment. You will need to see a dentist and get a root canal treatment and dental crown.

The coloring of your tooth means that it has either died or is in the process of dying because the pulp of your tooth was damaged. That will become a breeding ground for bacteria and blow up into an infection at some point. Then it will be an emergency. You don’t want it to get that far. Dental infections are dangerous and people still, even in the 21st century, die from them.

When to See an Emergency Dentist

Any time you’re in pain, you need to be seen right away. Pain is very often a sign of an infection. It’s our body’s way of saying, “Help! Please notice me. Somethings wrong.”

Another reason to get seen right away is if you have a broken or knocked out tooth. Especially with a knocked out tooth, time is of the essence. Your best chance of saving the tooth is if you get there within 30 minutes. If you ever face this, here are some tips to up your chances of successfully restoring the tooth:

• Call the emergency dentist immediately and let them know what happened so they can be ready to get you in right away.
• Hold the knocked out tooth only by the visible tooth part, what is called the crown (the part you brush). Try not to touch the roots at all.
• Keep the tooth moist. If possible, place it in a cup of milk. If that’s not immediately available, put the missing tooth between your teeth and your gums.

Who Pays for Your Emergency Dental Visit

The emergency dentist cannot charge someone else for your services when you get there, unless the venue admits responsibility and agrees to pay. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay and then try to recoup your money from the bar. Hopefully, they’ll take responsibility. If not, you may have to take them to small claims court to get your money back.

Whatever they do, please don’t put off treatment. It’s much cheaper to repair a damaged tooth, than to lose a tooth because you didn’t get the treatment you needed in a timely manner. Then you’re also talking about the cost of expensive tooth replacements, such as dental implants.

Even if you take them to court, the court will expect you to get treatment right away. They won’t charge the defendant for work that resulted from you not getting the treatment you needed.

I’m very sorry you’re going through this. Hopefully, you can work it out with the bar without the need for court.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Warren Krutchick.