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Fast, Effective Dental Care When You Need It
From painful toothaches that make it difficult to enjoy your favorite foods to accidental injuries that leave you with one or more missing teeth, dental emergencies can be anxiety-inducing. Regardless of what the situation is, priority number one is to get in touch with our team. That way, our emergency dentist in Farmington, Dr. Thomas G. Peters, can provide you with fast, effective dental care when you need it most.
The 11 Most Common Dental Emergencies
Toothaches
Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency?: Generally speaking, a toothache should be treated as a potential dental emergency until you can figure out what’s causing it. Sometimes the cause is as simple as something getting caught between your teeth, but more often than not it’s caused by decay or infection. If the pain is severe, lasts more than a day, occurs whenever you bite down on something, or is accompanied by a bump on the gums or any symptoms of infection (such as swelling), then you need to schedule an appointment immediately so that we can get to the root of the problem before it grows worse.
How You Should Handle a Toothache: Floss the area around the tooth and see if the pain stops after removing anything that was caught there. If not, you make take an over-the-counter painkiller such as ibuprofen. Do not take aspirin, though, as it can cause a burning sensation if it touches the tooth or the gums.
How We Treat Toothaches: The first thing we need to do is determine the issue that’s causing your toothache. Then we can figure out what kind of treatment is needed to restore your oral health. Fillings, crowns, gum disease therapy, root canal therapy, tooth extractions, and nightguards for bruxism are all common solutions for tooth pain.
Learn More About Tooth Colored Fillings
Learn More About Crowns
Learn More About Root Canal Therapy
Chipped Tooth
Chipped Teeth
Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?: A chipped tooth is usually less serious than a cracked tooth. It’s usually okay to wait a few days before having it treated. Nevertheless, you do want to have it examined as soon as you can; we need to figure out just how extensive the damage really is so that we can prevent further injury or infection.
How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth: If you still have the pieces of the tooth that were chipped off, gather them and store them in a clean container. Your next step should be to rinse your mouth out with water to get rid of any shards of the tooth that might still be there as well as bacteria that might put you at risk for an infection.
How We Treat Chipped Teeth:Minor dental damage can be repaired with composite resin, the material used for tooth-colored fillings. The material will be applied to the damaged area of the tooth and appropriately molded so that it blends right in. We can also repair and improve the appearance of chipped teeth with personalized veneers.
Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings
Learn More About Veneers
Cracked Tooth
Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency?: A small crack might not seem like a significant problem if it’s not causing any pain, but the slightest dental damage can expose the tooth to infection. It could also lead to even more severe damage in the near future. As such, you need to have a cracked tooth examined and treated as soon as possible.
How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth: The area around the tooth needs to be kept clean until you can get to our office. Rinse with water and avoid chewing with the injured side of your mouth. If there’s any pain or swelling, you can use an over-the-counter pain reliever or a cold compress as needed.
How We Treat Cracked Teeth:Cracked teeth can normally be fixed with a dental crown, which stops further damage and prevents bacteria from entering the tooth. Severely damaged teeth, however, sometimes need to be removed altogether and replaced with a bridge, partial denture, or dental implant. We will only recommend replacing a tooth when saving it is no longer an option.
Learn More About Crowns
Learn More About Dental Implants
Very Sensitive Teeth
Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? A sensitive tooth can be an indication of thinning enamel, a cavity, gum disease, or even a dental abscess, so you’ll want to consult your dentist about it as soon as possible. Be sure to notify us right away if you’re experiencing distracting, lingering, or sharp tooth sensitivity.
How you should handle sensitive teeth: After scheduling your appointment, be sure to avoid eating or drinking things that are too hot, cold, sour, spicy, or sweet. Clean your teeth properly and drink lukewarm water to stay hydrated. You can also take over-the-counter pain medications as instructed.
How we treat tooth sensitivity: Our team will assess your situation and determine the root of your tooth sensitivity. We’ll likely recommend treatments like tooth-colored fillings, nightguards for bruxism, periodontal therapy, and root canal therapy.
Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings
Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism
Learn More About Periodontal Therapy
Learn More About Root Canal Therapy
Knocked-Out Tooth
Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? A knocked-out tooth is considered a major dental emergency and will need to get treated immediately if you wish to save it. That’s why you’ll need to schedule an appointment and reach our office within 30-60 minutes for the best chance of preserving your tooth.
How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: Find your tooth and pick it up from the CROWN side, never the roots. Carefully rinse it with lukewarm water, but don’t scrub it or wash it with soap. Try gently placing it back in its socket if it’s still intact. If this isn’t possible, find a sealable container and store it in a saline solution or milk (NOT water). Placing it in water can damage the cells of the roots.
How we treat knocked-out teeth: If you visit us in time, we may be able to fix it by splinting it to a nearby healthy tooth to heal. But if the tooth is too damaged or can’t be reinserted, we’ll walk you through your tooth-replacement options, such as a dental bridge, partial denture, or dental implant.
Learn More About Dental Bridges
Learn More About Dentures
Learn More About Dental Implants
Lost Filling or Crown
Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? Fillings and dental crowns are designed to last forever, so if you notice one of yours fall out, make sure to contact us as soon as possible. Even if you feel no discomfort, you’ll want to get your restoration repaired or replaced soon to avoid further damage or decay.
How you should handle a lost filling or crown: If you find your lost restoration, rinse it clean and try putting it back in your mouth. You can use toothpaste, denture adhesive, dental wax, or even sugar-free gum to help keep it in place. If not, store it in a small container to bring with you to your appointment. Avoid chewing on the affected side of your mouth and drink plenty of water to clear out any harmful debris, bacteria, and plaque.
How we treat lost fillings or crowns: Should your filling or crown be in good condition, it might be possible to recement it in place. We’ll also want to determine how it fell off in the first place and address any issues that may have caused this, such as decay or damage. If we can’t fix it, then we’ll simply replace it with a new restoration.
Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings
Learn More About Dental Crowns
Broken Denture
Is a broken denture a dental emergency? A broken denture may not be life-threatening or painful. However, you rely on it every day to eat, speak, and smile. If you continue to wear your broken denture, you could experience damage to your gums, soft tissue, and remaining teeth in your mouth. You should reach out to us as soon as you get the opportunity to address this issue.
How to handle a broken denture: If your denture is broken, you shouldn’t try to repair it on your own. Household items, like superglue, can be harmful to your body and could damage your denture more. Instead, give us a call to let us know what’s going on.
How we treat broken dentures: The way we repair your denture depends on how badly it was damaged. If there are only minor chip sand cracks, composite resin may do the trick. If the damage is beyond repair, we might have to fit you with a new denture. This is also a great time to discuss other tooth replacement options, like dental implants, if you are interested.
Learn More About Dentures
Learn More About Dental Implants
Loose Permanent Tooth
Are loose permanent teeth a dental emergency? A loose tooth is an urgent dental emergency. This means that it is at risk of falling out, so you should give us a call as soon as you can to schedule a visit.
How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: As soon as you notice that your tooth is loose, let us know. You should avoid touching the tooth and eating foods that are hard or sticky. Don’t chew on the side of your mouth with the loose tooth and avoid that tooth when brushing and flossing. To keep the area clean, rinse your mouth with warm water.
How we treat loose permanent teeth: We will do everything in our power to save your tooth. However, if we can’t, we can discuss different tooth replacement options that are available.
Learn More About Dental Implants
Learn More About Gum Disease Therapy
Learn More About Sports Mouthguards
Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue
Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? Cutting your lip, gum, or tongue can be alarming – especially because it can bleed a lot. If you are worried about a wound to your mouth, give us a call. This way, we can give you further instructions based on your situation.
How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Rinse the area with water to remove debris. Using a clean washcloth, apply pressure to the area until the bleeding subsides. A cold compress can help to reduce discomfort and swelling.
How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: If the cut is small, we may be able to stitch it. However, if it is large or won’t stop bleeding, you should go to the emergency room. We’d be happy to take a look at your smile after you have been discharged.
Learn More About Sports Mouthguards
Jaw Pain
Is jaw pain a dental emergency? In most cases, jaw pain is not an urgent dental emergency. However, it can still be a struggle to deal with. If your pain becomes consistent or chronic, let us know so we can take steps to help.
How you should handle jaw pain: Over-the-counter pain relievers and ice packs are usually enough to ease the discomfort. However, if you think that your jaw could be broken or dislocated, you should head to the emergency room. We are happy to help with any concerns related to your smile after you have been discharged.
How we treat jaw pain: Wearing a custom nightguard for bruxism can help to reduce discomfort. If your wisdom teeth are the cause of your discomfort, we can work with you to have them extracted.
Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism
Something Stuck Between the Teeth
Toothpicks, tweezers, and other sharp items should not be used in the mouth. You could end up accidentally injuring your soft tissues or pushing debris further between the teeth. Instead, carefully floss around the teeth and rinse your mouth with water. If you are struggling to get the debris out on your own, give us a call so we can give you further instructions.
How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies are non-life-threatening injuries, like a knocked-out tooth or a lost dental restoration, that need to be treated by a skilled, experienced dentist right away. If for any reason you are unable to head straight to our emergency dental office in Farmington, here are a few tips for handling some of the most common ones:
Toothaches
From minor discomfort to severe pain, it is important to acknowledge your toothache, not ignore it. First, use some floss to gently dislodge any food particles or debris that could be the source of the irritation. Next, place a cold compress against the outside of your cheek, which will help reduce puffiness and temporarily numb the area. Otherwise, taking an OTC medication should help take away any soreness you are experiencing until you get to our practice.
Chipped/Broken Tooth
Priority number one is to gently rinse your mouth with some warm water and locate any large pieces of your tooth. Place the fragments into a plastic bag and use a piece of dental wax or sugar-free gum to cover any rough edges.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Time is of the essence when it comes to knocked-out teeth since you need to visit our office within an hour of the incident for the highest likelihood of a successful replant. Step one is to find the tooth, give it a quick rinse with clean water, and contact our team. From there, we can walk you through placing it back into the socket. If the tooth doesn’t gently slide in, then keep it on the inside of your cheek or in a container of your own saliva.
Lost Filling/Crown
Dental restorations are crafted from high-quality, extremely durable materials. However, they are by no means indestructible. If your filling or dental crown falls out, attempt to put it back on your tooth after rinsing it with some water. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and take OTC medication as needed to prevent discomfort.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
While not all dental emergencies are avoidable, the ones stemming from poor dental habits and a lackluster oral hygiene routine certainly are! To keep your teeth and gums in pristine condition, make sure to:
- Brush your teeth twice a day.
- Treat flossing as important as brushing.
- Visit our team every six months for a dental checkup and teeth cleaning.
- Quit poor dental habits, like using your teeth as tools, chewing on ice, and smoking.
- Wear a mouthguard if you play sports or grind your teeth.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
When the unexpected strikes, the last thing you need to be worried about is the cost of emergency dentistry in Farmington. There isn’t any reason to fret. Contrary to what you might have heard, emergency dental care is affordable. Our office offers the solutions you need to rehabilitate your oral health without draining your wallet, so you can get back to focusing on more important matters.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
Every dental emergency is unique. As a result, there isn’t a cookie-cutter treatment plan. We’ll evaluate the situation to create a personalized strategy and provide you with an estimate. We will explain the fees and the steps that are needed. You will know exactly what you’ll be paying for before we get started. Rest assured, you won’t be caught off guard by any unexpected costs. Although every plan differs, common solutions to resolve immediate oral health issues include:
- Root canal therapy
- Tooth extractions
- Dental crowns
- TMJ therapy
- And more!
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
You can’t always stop an urgent oral health situation from occurring, but there are several things you can do to lessen your risk of one. The best way to avoid an unplanned trip to your emergency dentist in Farmington starts with taking care of your smile. We recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day for 2 minutes each session. You’ll also want to clean between each tooth every day using high-quality dental floss. Don’t forget to visit our office at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup.
If you develop an oral health problem, like a cavity, don’t wait to have it treated. Prolonging the care that you need will allow the issue to worsen until it requires a more costly and invasive treatment, like a root canal.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
All dental insurance plans are different, but many policies offer coverage for 1 emergency visit per year. You can use your insurance benefits to offset the amount you need to pay out-of-pocket, such as for the consultation or imaging. After reaching your yearly deductible, you can use your annual allowance to pay 50% to 80% of the cost of the treatment. We know insurance can be confusing, but we’re here to help. We will work on your behalf with your insurance company to maximize your annual benefits to keep your care within your budget.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Besides using your dental insurance, our office offers several solutions to make paying for your treatment affordable, such as:
- Traditional Payments: We accept all forms of traditional payment, including cash, check, and most major credit cards.
- Third-Party Financing: You are given the funds you need based on your credit’s approval. You’ll repay the balance using a flexible plan that accommodates your financial responsibilities.
A member of our team will take the time to discuss your payment options to repair your smile without breaking the bank.
Emergency Dentistry FAQs
The last thing anyone ever expects to happen to them is an emergency. Dental emergencies are even less expected, which is why it’s so important to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. If you have questions about an urgent dental issue and you aren’t sure where to turn, feel free to look over our most frequently asked questions below or give us a call right away to speak with one of our team members.
What does throbbing tooth pain mean?
If you notice a throbbing pain or discomfort in your tooth, it’s likely that a dental infection is present and you need professional attention right away. In other cases, your tooth could be cracked and air or bacteria are passing through it. This is because the inner area of the tooth where the pulp is located is very sensitive. Alternatively, tooth decay could be present or you may be experiencing side effects caused by chronic teeth grinding and clenching. The next step you should take is calling our office to set up an appointment and confirm the cause of your dental issue.
Should I go to the emergency room first?
You may think that an emergency room can help you with your dental problem, however this is rarely the case. In fact, most hospitals are either too ill-equipped to handle a dental emergency or it’s illegal for them to do so because a licensed dentist is not available to perform the treatment you need. Instead, they are likely to prescribe you painkillers and meds to treat an infection if they believe one is present. The biggest concern is they won’t be able to treat the root cause of your dental issue in a majority of cases.
How long can I wait to see a dentist?
While no one plans for a dental emergency when it occurs, you should make time to see your dentist as soon as you can. After all, waiting to get seen will only increase the chances of your dental issue worsening. You could even lose the tooth depending on the type of emergency you’re dealing with. We recognize that your time is valuable, which is why we’ll do everything we can to get you seen as soon as possible.
Should I just have my tooth extracted?
When you are in severe dental discomfort, it may be tempting to just have the tooth removed outright. However, an extraction is genuinely considered to be a last resort for our team as there are many other treatments available that can both save your tooth and get you out of discomfort. It’s also the best way to prevent future dental problems down the road as cavities, gum disease, jaw pain, and future tooth loss are a greater risk when you’re missing teeth.
Does dental insurance offer coverage for emergencies?
Dental insurance generally provides coverage for emergency dental exams and visits, but the coverage can vary depending on the type of treatment you need to resolve your dental emergency. For example, dental crowns, fillings, root canal therapy, and tooth extractions can all have their own unique costs that you should confirm with your insurance provider ahead of time.
