What is considered a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is considered when you're having pain, like a 10 out of 10, sharpshooting pain, swelling, pain that you just can't sleep at night.
When do I need to see an emergency dentist versus going to an emergency room or scheduling a regular dental appointment?
A true, true emergency to come into the dental office is when you have pain, 10 out of 10, keeping you up at night, you just can't function. An ER visit is required if you have so much swelling, you're having difficulty breathing, swallowing, you need to go to the ER. Unfortunately, we can't help you here. And a regular appointment would be if sometimes it hurts off and on, not every day, maybe here and there and not every time you eat and if you're definitely sleeping fine at night, then a regular appointment is to be considered.
What are common types of dental emergencies and what can be done for tooth pain and toothache?
Some common dental emergencies, number one would be tooth pain, toothache, come in to the office so we can take a diagnostic x-ray and see what's going on with your tooth.
What about abscess or swelling?
For abscess and swelling, most commonly what we do is we prescribe some type of antibiotic so we can get the swelling down and then we still need an x-ray so we can figure out what the treatment is for that tooth.
How do you handle wisdom tooth pain?
Wisdom tooth pain, we need to again get you in for an x-ray of the area, see if there's any type of infection, if there's infection, we will need to do antibiotics most likely and if it's really bad, high chance that the tooth will probably have to come out.
How about bleeding or inflamed gums?
Bleeding or inflamed gums, again get you in for an x-ray, everything basically requires an x-ray, check the gum health and come up with a treatment plan as to what would help you get that under control.
What about sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity, we would have to come in so we can look at your tooth, do an exam, do some diagnostic tests and see if you need a filling or possibly something else, so an x-ray again is required.
How do you deal with broken, fractured or cracked teeth?
Broken, fractured or cracked teeth, if the tooth is shown to be savable on the x-ray and with our tests, then high chance you need a crown at the very least.
What about broken fillings?
Broken fillings, if it's just a simple small chip that we can fix, we would happily do a filling again. Anything more, again the x-ray will show us if you need something more like a crown or more invasive treatment.
What about broken dentures?
Broken dentures, now these mostly have to go out of our office because we do not have an in-office lab here, but some simple breaks we are able to fix here temporarily, again it depends how it breaks. If you bring your denture in, we'll be able to tell you.
What about loose, lost, crowns, veneers or bridges?
Loose, lost, crowns, veneers or bridges, if the tooth is in good shape underneath the crown or veneer, and the veneer itself and the crown itself is in good shape, we should be able to put it back on with the cement we have in the office.
When do I need an emergency dental extraction?
One would be a wisdom tooth extraction if you're having pain, swelling, unable to sleep at night and you're having a lot of discomfort in that area, then the wisdom tooth would have to be removed. For simple extractions, if the tooth is broken or infected and not able to be saved, then we would need to remove the tooth. For surgical extractions, maybe the tooth is broken, right at the gum line and some of the gum tissue and bone may have to be removed. In order to access the tooth, we can remove the whole thing.
When is bone grafting required?
Bone grafting is required if a tooth is being removed, usually in the upper arch, like the top, and there's not a lot, we know a lot of infection has taken place, we know there's not going to be a lot of bone left after we remove the tooth, and if in the future you want an implant or something in that region, you want to bulk up the bone to make sure that you have enough bone to put something there after the tooth is removed and after the area is healed.
What are the painless anesthesia options?
Painless anesthesia options, we always want to make sure the patient is comfortable when they come here, especially when you've been in pain. We'll definitely get you an antibiotic if it's been something that's been going on for a long time and there's a lot of swelling. We always make sure to use topical numbing agent and we always make sure to use the smallest needle necessary to make sure you're comfortable and the doctors here are very skilled at making you feel as comfortable as possible, so we try to make sure that we already know you've been in pain for this long. We don't want this to be also a painful procedure. We do our best to accommodate that.
Why might you need an emergency root canal?
If you have a tooth that's been giving you a lot of pain and some swelling, the shooting pain that's not going away, you have a large cavity that's gone to the nerve, that would require a root canal. As long as the tooth is savable and it's not broken down to the gum line and nothing's really left, we want to save the tooth, so we would do a root canal to save that tooth.
Do you offer same-day care?
Yes, we do, as long as our schedule allows it. If we have time, we'll definitely get you in and try to do as much as we can at that visit.
Can I schedule late-hour appointments?
Yes, as long as our schedule accommodates that, we would be happy to see you.
Can I be seen on the weekends?
We are open one Sunday a month, and if you happen to be able to come in that Sunday, if your emergency falls within the week prior and we're open that next Sunday, then yes, we would be happy to get you in.
The majority of people visit their dentist regularly for exams, treatments, and operations. However, unexpected dental visits are extremely common.
Emergency dentistry is a specialized service provided by experienced dentists to deal with dental emergencies that strike without warning. If you have a major injury to your mouth or face that requires immediate medical attention, you should seek emergency dentistry services. You can always phone our Dentist in Laurel MD and describe your issue so that we can assess whether or not you have a dental emergency. If you require immediate attention, our dentist will schedule an appointment with you as soon as feasible.
Common Dental Emergencies
- Unexplainable toothache
Toothaches aren't simply a bother; they're also not something to take lightly. They're a warning sign from your body that something isn't quite right in your mouth. Find a certified emergency dentist to assist you in diagnosing and treating a sudden and unexplained toothache.
- Nerves that are exposed
Exposed nerves are painful, and waiting to visit your dentist can only make things worse. Seek emergency dental help as soon as possible to avoid infections, more nerve damage, or more extensive dental treatments in the future.
- Knocked out tooth
It can be pretty shocking to have a tooth knocked out of your mouth due to a strong collision! Your dentist may be able to save your tooth if you act quickly after a tooth has been knocked out. Pick up the tooth by the top, be careful not to touch the root and place it in a tiny container of milk and rush to the dentist to enhance your chances of saving your tooth.
- Missing filling
A missing filling is another potential dental emergency because, without it, your tooth might easily crack or chip. It may even expose the nerves of the tooth, resulting in a variety of additional dental problems that require rapid attention.
- Broken crown
When a dental crown cracks or falls off completely, your tooth is left exposed to infection and harm. You may be able to prevent a root canal, extraction, or other dental surgery by arranging an emergency dental appointment to replace the crown.
If you have severe mouth pain, significant gum bleeding, a misplaced tooth that is lodged in your gums, or a tooth that has been knocked out accidentally, you should see our dentist right away. Dental emergencies are extremely sensitive and should never be ignored.
To find out more about the dental services we offer at Montpelier Family Dentistry, Laurel, MD, call (301) 812-4599 or schedule an online consultation. You can also visit us at 14502 Greenview Dr #100, Laurel, MD, 20708.