Our services

Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies happen in an instant. When they do, if you are one of our patients, just call us. We are here for you!

What Is a Dental Emergency?

In a dental emergency, you need dental care very quickly to avoid severe pain, swelling or the loss of a tooth.

What to Expect

  • One 30-minute or longer appointment

Why Would I Need Emergency Dental Services?

First, let’s define what is not a dental emergency. Usually, a cavity (tooth decay), tooth pain, a minor chipped tooth, a loose or lost dental crown, or gum disease are not emergencies. Generally, you can wait until your dental office opens and schedule the next available dental appointment.

Emergencies involve things like getting a tooth knocked out, a significantly broken or cracked tooth, severe dental pain, bleeding from the mouth, or a broken jaw. An abscessed tooth or serious (potentially life-threatening) infection in your mouth that causes swelling in your gums or face/jawline can be emergencies, too.

The Dental Emergency Process

When you are a patient of a specific dental practice that provides emergency care, you have access to your dentist when you have a significant dental problem. You never know when you may need a dentist who will move appointments, stay late, or even meet you after hours to protect your oral health.

You call your dentist and get a quick medical consultation over the phone. Your dentist may call in a prescription for pain relievers to your pharmacy. Or they may give you instructions about home remedies for your condition until you can come in the next day if it can wait.

In other situations, the dentist may ask you to go to the emergency room right away, after evaluating your emergency. Or, if you need urgent dental care to save a tooth or stop a serious infection or bleeding situation, your dentist may ask you to meet at their office immediately.

What the dentist does for you when you get there depends on which emergency you are experiencing. You’ll likely have a 15-minute dental examination and x-rays. Then the dentist gives you a specific treatment plan.

  • Permanent tooth knocked out— Your dentist may give you instructions on how to protect the tooth (in a small cup) and transport it to the office right away (ideally within 30 minutes). Whether the dentist can save the tooth depends on immediate treatment.
  • Severe pain or a broken tooth— Your dentist may be able to provide you with an emergency tooth filling or a temporary crown to get you out of pain. You may even need an emergency root canal.
  • Broken jaw—Your dentist may tell you what you need to do to avoid further injury.
  • Dental abscess—Your dentist may give you antibiotics and other treatments to avoid allowing the infection to spread.
  • Spontaneously bleeding gums—This could be a sign of a serious health issue, so your dentist needs to examine you right away.