Emergency Dental Care

What is a dental emergency?

A dental emergency is any oral health problem that requires immediate treatment. Even though your teeth and gums are incredibly tough, infections, accidents, and injuries happen. Receiving care for a dental emergency within a reasonably prompt time of your initial symptoms could mean the difference between preserving your smile or the need for an extraction.

What is considered a dental emergency?

The team at The Center for High Tech Dentistry provides emergency care for a variety of oral health problems, including:

• Toothaches
• Broken, chipped, or fractured teeth
• Knocked-out teeth
• Oral abscesses
• Damaged or lost dental restorations
• Pulp damage
• Cuts and lacerations that won’t stop bleeding*
• Broken jaws*

You might also benefit from emergency dentistry if you have a toothpick or another object lodged between your teeth.

What steps should I take if I suffer a dental emergency?

If you suffer a dental emergency, it’s important to stay calm and act quickly. 

If you lose or damage a dental restoration, like a crown or bridge, carefully pick up the pieces, rinse them off in tap water, and place them in a plastic bag. Once you secure the restoration, call the team at The Center for High Tech Dentistry right away.

If you lose a permanent tooth due to a sports or work injury, gently pick it up by the crown and rinse it off. Try to put the tooth back in its socket, but if it wobbles around and might come out and be swallowed, place it in a glass of milk. 

Call the team at The Center for High Tech Dentistry and explain the events leading up to your injury. The staff can provide tips to limit pain, swelling, and bleeding on your way to the office. 

What if I experience a serious dental emergency?

The team at The Center for High Tech Dentistry can treat most dental emergencies directly in the office. If you need further treatment or the insight of a specialist, the team can refer you to qualified professionals in the area.

How can I lower my risk of a dental emergency?

If you want to lower your risk of a dental emergency, it’s important to practice good oral hygiene. The team at The Center for High Tech Dentistry recommends brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting the office twice a year for an oral exam and professional cleaning.

If you play sports or lead a physically active lifestyle, wear a mouthguard to prevent chips, cracks, or other damage. Wear a nightguard if you grind your teeth or clench your jaws while sleeping. The Center for High Tech Dentistry routinely makes sports mouthguards for patients in contact sports and bruxism/clenching mouthguards to protect the teeth, gums, and patients with TMJ who grind or clench their teeth.

Try to avoid bad habits, too, including nail-biting, opening objects with your teeth, or biting down on objects like ice cubes.

To receive treatment for a dental emergency, contact The Center for High Tech Dentistry. Book online to schedule an appointment, call the office, or walk-in during normal business hours.

* These emergencies are best seen immediately by an oral surgeon or hospital emergency room doctor. If severe, call 911.