Dental emergencies can occur at any place or time, and immediate treatment is often essential to reducing pain, limiting damage, and/or preventing future complications. At North Scottsdale Dental Studio, our experienced dentists can assist you or your family member in a dental emergency, even outside of regular office hours. We are fully aware of the importance of timely evaluation and treatment in the event of an emergency, and our team can either treat urgent cases right away or refer you to someone in the area who can provide assistance as soon as possible.
- Dental Emergency Overview
- Dental Emergency Tips
- Dental Emergency Where To Go
- Dental Emergency Prevention
- Dental Emergency Cost
What Is A Dental Emergency?
The term “dental emergency” can be used to describe a variety of oral issues, including:
- Intense tooth or gum pain
- Blunt trauma to the mouth
- Teeth that have been loosened or knocked out
- Broken and/or severely damaged teeth
- Extreme pain relating to the jawbone
- An infection and/or tooth abscess
- Acute tooth sensitivities to hot and/or cold temperatures
- Bleeding in the gums that will not cease
These are just a few of the many instances that can be characterized as a dental emergency. If you or a loved one is experiencing a dental emergency of any sort, please do not delay in calling our office at (480) 582-1358.
Tips for Specific Dental Emergencies
Below, we have provided tips you can follow for a number of the dental emergencies listed above. Please note that these instructions are not meant to be solutions to the respective issues; they are recommendations for what you can do as you prepare to visit one of our dentists for urgent care.
- Significant Tooth or Gum Pain – Swish warm water around your mouth and apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth in the area of the discomfort.
- Gums That Won’t Stop Bleeding – Rinse with warm saltwater and apply light pressure to the bleeding area with a moist gauze pad.
- Knocked-Out Tooth – If you can locate the dislodged tooth, rinse it using water only. Never try to reinsert the tooth into its former position, as doing so may lead to increased pain, further damage, or even infection. Instead, place the tooth in a plastic bag (or other safe container) and bring it with you to our office.
- Chipped, Broken, or Damaged Tooth – Swish warm salt water around the mouth, and if any bleeding is present, apply gentle pressure with a gauze pad to the affected area. A cold compress can also be applied to the outside of the mouth to help alleviate discomfort and/or limit swelling.
- Intense Jaw Pain – Apply a cold compress to the area of discomfort and try to limit jaw motion.
Where Should I Go for a Dental Emergency?
If you have a life-threatening emergency, going to the emergency room is always the best option. If the dental emergency you are dealing with can wait or does not need to be treated immediately, you can call our office to schedule a timely appointment with one of our dentists. Our team will do our best to schedule an urgent dental appointment, helping you get the timely treatment you need. If you are unsure whether your dental emergency can wait, and you believe you need immediate care, going to the ER may be the safest option.
How Can I Prevent a Dental Emergency?
While some dental emergencies may seem unavoidable, there are ways to lower your risk of dealing with these painful situations. Many emergencies deal with blunt force trauma to the mouth and face during physical activities, such as sports or exercising. Wearing a mouthguard during these activities where physical contact can be expected is a great way to reduce the risk of serious damage occurring to your mouth.
In addition, avoid using your teeth as a tool to open various objects. Oftentimes, people can cause damage to their teeth by attempting to open bottles, packages, bags, or other containers. While they may seem easy to open with the help of your teeth, doing so can result in fractures and chips.
Another important way you can protect your teeth and potentially avoid dental emergencies is to implement good oral care practices. Attending your regularly scheduled dental checkups as well as brushing and flossing can go a long way in keeping your mouth healthy and damage-free.
How Much Does an Emergency Dental Visit Cost?
The cost of dental emergencies will depend on a variety of factors and circumstances. There is no real way of knowing how serious a potential emergency can cost without first reviewing the damage to the teeth and the amount of work needed to remedy the situation.
Remember, immediate care is often vital to treating dental emergencies and limiting pain, further damage, and/or future complications. For assistance with your dental emergency, call (480) 582-1358.