If you have 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 as soon as possible to coordinate the proper dental care. This service is an essential part of general dentistry treatment. Receiving urgent dental care can prevent worse dental problems. Emergency dentistry in our Cary, NC, office can treat sudden oral health issues like dental trauma.
Emergency Dental 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
We are committed to dental excellence at Reedy Creek Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. Our dental office works with patients of all ages to improve the health of their smiles. We provide 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
- Soft tissue injury (cheeks, lips, tongue, gums)
- Dental filling replacement or repair
- Treatment for dental infections
- Emergency tooth extractions
- Treatment for chipped, fractured, or damaged teeth
How Can You Prevent a Dental Emergency?
In some cases, an emergency is a sudden accident. Sometimes, you can avoid a dental emergency with the proper precautions.
You must wear a custom mouthguard to protect your teeth and jaw if you play contact sports. Sports-related injuries are one of the leading causes of dental emergencies. Dr. Reece offers custom mouthguards to fit comfortably and securely over your teeth.
Bad habits like nail biting, chewing on ice, or using teeth to open objects can chip or crack teeth. If you stop these bad oral health habits, you can prevent tooth damage.
Taking other preventive steps can help maintain a healthy and functional smile. Caring for oral health and visiting the dentist for dental cleanings and exams can also reduce the risk of emergencies. Brushing and flossing keep your breath fresh and decrease the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. We recommend flossing before brushing, then brushing for two minutes twice daily.
We remove harmful bacteria that contribute to gum and tooth infections at regular dental appointments. Our office also regularly takes dental X-rays to find problems we can’t easily see. Early preventive dental care can reduce the risk of more complex dental problems, including emergencies.
Handling a Dental Emergency
Panic can be common if you’re experiencing a dental emergency. But you must try to stay calm to handle the situation as well as possible. Your actions right when an emergency happens can make all the difference in the outcome you’ll receive.
The first thing you should always do is to call our office. We want to ensure 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
Learn more about emergency dentistry in Cary, NC, with answers to these common questions:
What is a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is any dental problem that requires urgent dental care. This problem can severely impact your dental health if you do not receive immediate treatment. Common dental emergencies include severe or sudden pain, a knocked-out tooth, or a broken or lost 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 tooth roots, but do not scrub or remove the attached tissue. Store the tooth in a small container with your saliva. 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 result.
What do I do if I lose 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 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. 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 can range from superficial to something severe. If you have a small tooth chip and do not feel any pain, you do not have a dental emergency. However, a large tooth fracture can expose the tooth’s nerves, increasing tooth pain.
Right after you break a tooth, gently rinse your mouth in cool water. Then, apply gentle pressure on the tooth with a clean cloth. If a large piece of your tooth falls off, try to bring it to our office in a cup of saliva. Our office may reattach the piece or recommend a restoration to rebuild and protect your injured tooth.
Can I go to the emergency room for my dental emergency?
A licensed dentist can treat any dental emergency. However, if you have excessive bleeding, concussion, cuts to your face, or physical injuries, visit the ER. You’ll have to see a dentist to get the care you need after if you have tooth or gum problems.
Contact Our Office Today
Receive the dental care you need with preventive dentistry. Call for emergency dentistry in Cary, NC, at 919-646-6294. Schedule a dental visit online if you have a dental problem but do not need emergency care. Additionally, if you do not know if you have a dental emergency, call us and we will help.