Want to see more Local Arizona Dentists in your Google searches? Add us as a preferred source!
Ideally, you’ll never need emergency dental care. But if you do, we’re here for you! Our team at Dental Specialty Associates understands how stressful and scary it can be to experience sudden pain, swelling, or trauma to your teeth. That’s why we make it easy to find a gentle emergency dentist near you in Phoenix and Gilbert.
How do you know if an issue is a true dental emergency? When should you go to an emergency dentist, and when should you wait for a regular appointment? We talked to Dr. Brian Lilien, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon, to get answers to some of the most common questions about dental emergencies.
1. What counts as a dental emergency?
Any dental problem that needs immediate care to relieve pain or prevent serious risks to your health counts as an emergency. Not every dental issue needs same-day treatment, but some problems should never be ignored. You may need emergency dental care if you have:
- Severe tooth pain
- Swelling in the area of a damaged tooth
- A knocked-out or dislodged tooth
- A broken tooth
- A serious injury that involved the mouth or teeth
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop
- Signs of infection like pus, fever, or swelling in the face
If you’re ever in doubt, it’s better to be safe and call an emergency dentist near you. Prompt treatment can often save your tooth and stop more serious problems from developing!
2. How do I know if I need to find an emergency dentist near me or head to the ER?
Many people put off heading to the dental office because they’re worried about how much an emergency dental visit costs. However, some dental problems can become medical emergencies.
Dr. Lilien suggests, “A good rule of thumb is to see the dentist if you can’t control the pain, if there’s any swelling, a fever over 101, or if you’re having trouble swallowing.”
Here’s a simple breakdown of whether you should find an emergency dentist near you or seek urgent medical care:
- See an emergency dentist for toothaches, knocked-out, dislodged, or broken teeth, abscesses, lost fillings or crowns, and gum swelling.
- Go to the ER for dental problems that are causing trouble breathing, extreme swelling (especially if it affects your eye or throat), a broken jaw, signs of a concussion or brain injury, or severe bleeding that won’t stop.
As we mentioned earlier, if you’re ever unsure of what to do, please get in touch with our team! We’ll help you determine the best way to handle your specific situation. You can always call or text us about a dental emergency near Gilbert or Phoenix! Even if you’re away from home, our regular patients can always call on us to help over the phone until you can get back to us for care.
[CAN WE ADD CONTACT BUTTONS HERE?]
What will the ER do for a toothache?
Most hospital emergency rooms aren’t equipped to treat dental problems. The goal of going to the ER for emergency dental problems is to prevent injuries or infections from becoming life-threatening or risking your long-term health. For example, they may provide IV antibiotics for a severe infection, but they typically won’t fix the tooth.
After stabilizing your health, you’ll still need to see a dentist to repair your smile. That’s why it’s best to call an emergency dentist in Phoenix or Gilbert for urgent dental care unless your general health is at risk.
3. How long should I wait for a toothache to go away on its own?
We get it. No one wants to rush to the dentist if the pain might go away! Unfortunately, toothaches rarely get better without treatment. Even if the pain fades or goes away for a while, the root cause will almost always get worse.
“Pain or swelling might seem minor at first,” says Dr. Lilien, “and many patients hope it will just go away on its own. But these symptoms can be signs of a serious, even life threatening, infection.”
If your toothache lasts more than a day or two, or if you have any swelling, fever, or trouble chewing, don’t wait. Call our office to find out if you need emergency dentistry or to schedule an appointment to address the issue.
A quick note about tooth sensitivity
Not all tooth pain is serious. A tooth may become temporarily sensitive if you bite incorrectly, or if you’ve been grinding your teeth or recently whitened your teeth. If you’re experiencing sensitivity that’s mild and goes away quickly, it may be okay to wait until your next dental cleaning to ask our team about it.
However, pain when biting or chewing, intense sensitivity in a specific tooth, sensitivity to heat, and lingering or throbbing discomfort are all signs worth calling us about!
4. What should I do if I knock out a tooth?
Time is of the essence if a tooth is knocked out, dislodged, or partially displaced. Acting quickly can sometimes make the difference between saving your tooth or losing it! Here’s what to do:
- Pick up the tooth by the crown (the top part) and avoid touching the root.
- Rinse gently with room-temperature water without scrubbing or soap.
- Put the tooth in a clean container with a solution like Save-a-Tooth. Milk will also work, or you can spit into the container (or have whomever lost the tooth spit) to keep it in saliva.
- Call an emergency dentist near you immediately.
The sooner we can see you, the better the chances of saving the tooth. Ideally, you should see a dentist within 30 minutes to an hour of a tooth being knocked out. We offer emergency dental care in Phoenix and Gilbert, and always make room for urgent cases like this.
5. How can I relieve tooth pain at home until I can see an emergency dentist near me?
Tooth pain can make it hard to sleep, focus, or go about your daily routine. We understand how overwhelming this can be, and how important it is to get out of pain as quickly as possible.
“At home, you can take over-the-counter pain medication until you’re able to see us. But if that doesn’t relieve the pain, you need to either come in to see the dentist or go to the ER for treatment. Never try to just let it go.”
Here are a few things that may help:
- Over-the-counter pain relief like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Rinsing with warm salt water
- A cold compress on the outside of your cheek
- Avoid chewing on that side
Remember, even if your pain fades temporarily, it’s still important to schedule an appointment. If the pain is severe or doesn’t respond to pain relievers, call us right away. If you have an infection, we may be able to call in a prescription for antibiotics, which can help reduce your pain until you can get treatment.
Need an Emergency Dentist in Arizona? We’re Here When You Need Us.
If you’re searching for an emergency dentist near Phoenix or Gilbert, we’re here to help. At Dental Specialty Associates of Arizona, we provide fast, compassionate care for everything from toothaches to knocked-out teeth. Same-day appointments may be available, and we’ll do everything we can to get you out of pain and back to feeling like yourself again.
Call us today if you’re dealing with a dental emergency, or even if you’re not sure whether it counts. Our friendly team can walk you through next steps and make sure you get the care you need.
