If you are experiencing a dental emergency, call Reedy Creek Family and Cosmetic Dentistry at 919.646.6294. We will help you schedule a visit to our Raleigh, North Carolina dental office to coordinate the proper dental care as soon as possible. This service is an important part of our general dentistry treatment services.
Common types of dental emergencies that Dr. Emily Ann Reece and her team treat can include:
- A chipped or fractured tooth
- Dental infection or abscess
- A knocked-out permanent tooth
- Severe toothache
- A lost or damaged dental restoration
- Mouth trauma after an accident
Emergency Dental Services
At Reedy Creek Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we are committed to dental excellence. We work with patients of all ages to improve the health of their smiles. Our dental office offers a full range of emergency dental services to address dental problems with efficient solutions. Depending on your needs, we may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
- Full-service dental implants
- Dental crown replacement or repair
- Dental filling replacement or repair
- Treatment for dental infections
- Emergency tooth extractions
- Treatment for chipped, fractured, or damaged teeth
Dental Emergency Prevention
In some cases, dental emergencies can be avoidable. For patients who participate in contact sports, it is essential that they wear custom mouthguards to protect their teeth and jaw. Sports-related injuries are one of the leading causes of dental emergencies. Dr. Reece offers custom mouthguards that are designed to fit comfortably and securely over your teeth.
Taking preventive steps to preserve your oral health is also important to maintaining a healthy and functional smile. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting the dentist regularly are effective ways to reduce your risk of dental emergencies.
Handling a Dental Emergency
It can be common to panic if you’re experiencing a dental emergency. But it’s important that you try to stay calm so that you can handle the situation as well as possible. The actions that you do right when an emergency happens can make all of the difference in the outcome you’ll receive.
The first thing you should always do is to call our office. We want to make sure that we can get you seen as soon as possible. Emergency rooms are not able to take care of cases that involve teeth. After this, take steps to handle the situation as best you can. Take care of any bleeding, retrieve missing teeth or dental appliances, and identify the source of your pain.
Emergency Dental FAQs
What’s considered a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is any dental problem that needs to be seen immediately and will have severe impacts if it isn’t seen immediately. This includes severe or sudden pain, a knocked out tooth, or a broken or knocked out dental restoration.
What do I do if I have a knocked-out tooth?
If possible, retrieve the tooth and hold it by the crown. Gently rinse the root in water if it is dirty, but do not scrub or remove the attached tissue. Store the tooth in a small container with your own saliva or milk. Knocked-out teeth have the highest survival rate if they return to the socket within one hour. If we cannot reattach the tooth, we recommend a dental implant. This restoration replaces the tooth at the root for a stable and permanent end result.
What do I do if I lost my dental filling or crown?
Do not use glue to replace the filling or crown. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease discomfort and schedule an appointment in our Raleigh office. We can provide you with a new filling or crown.
What do I do if I have a toothache?
Rinse your mouth with warm water or floss to remove any food that may be lodged between your teeth. If you have swelling, apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek to alleviate discomfort. Do not put painkillers directly against the gums or aching tooth as this can damage the gum tissue. Contact our Raleigh, NC dental office for treatment so that we can determine the cause of your pain and find a solution.
What do I do if I have a broken tooth?
A broken or chipped tooth ranges from something superficial to something severe. If it’s a small chip and you don’t feel any pain, it’s not an emergency. If a large portion of your tooth is broken off, nerves are exposed and pain is present. It’s hard to eat and talk when you have exposed nerves. You want to get the pain taken care of as soon as possible.
Can I go to the emergency room for my dental emergency?
No, any dental emergency can only be taken care of by a licensed dentist. If there’s damage to your cheek or cuts on your face, these can be handled by an ER doctor. But if there are any issues with the teeth or gums, you’ll have to see a dentist to get the care you need.