There’s No Ideal Time for a Dental Emergency
At Auburn Family Dentistry, Dr. David Painter and his team understand that dental emergencies are always inconvenient. We want to see our patients thriving with excellent oral health and stunning smiles. That’s why we offer emergency dental care for our patients in Auburn and the surrounding areas of Waterloo, Kendallville, and Garrett, IN.
Learn how we’re prepared to help our patients through any dental emergency by exploring Dr. Painter’s guide.
What is Emergency Dentistry?
Emergency dentistry is treating a dental injury or disease on short notice when it’s causing the patient immediate pain or problems with their oral health. Dental emergencies are any dental trauma or condition that cannot wait for treatment. These conditions may include the following:
- Severe Tooth Pain: Severe tooth pain could signal an infection or other serious issue. Don’t ignore the pain — contact Auburn Family Dentistry to diagnose and treat the root of your tooth pain.
- Chipped or Broken Teeth: If you’ve chipped or broken a tooth, it’s crucial to find immediate treatment to prevent further damage and potential infection. Our Auburn, IN dentist can evaluate the damage and recommend the best course of treatment.
- Lost or Knocked-Out Tooth: If you’ve lost a tooth or had one knocked out, time is of the essence. Immediately getting treatment can increase the chances of saving the tooth.
- Lost Filling or Crown: If you’ve lost a filling or crown, it can be painful and leave your tooth exposed to further damage.
- Broken jaw: Experiencing a broken jaw requires immediate care. Call our office immediately if you suspect you have broken a jaw to find relief and care fast.
Emergency Dental Treatments at Auburn Family Dentistry
Root Canal Therapy
If you’re experiencing severe tooth pain or an infection, root canal therapy may be necessary to remove the infected or damaged tissue from the tooth and restore its health.
Tooth Extraction
Our team may recommend a tooth extraction to prevent further damage and pain when a tooth is severely damaged or cannot be saved.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns can restore chipped or broken teeth’s shape and function. They protect your natural teeth while restoring the look and feel of your tooth.
Dental Implants
Dental implants can permanently restore your smile and oral health after you’ve lost a tooth. Our team can evaluate your situation and recommend the best course of treatment.
Dental Bonding
If you’ve broken or damaged a tooth, you may not need an invasive procedure to restore your smile. Dental bonding helps patients correct minor cosmetic dental problems by restoring the shape of a tooth or filling a chip or crack.
What To Do In a Dental Emergency
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, act quickly to minimize damage and pain. Here are some steps you can take:
- Call Auburn Family Dentistry: The first step in any dental emergency is to call our office immediately. Our team can guide you on what to do next and ensure you get the care you need as soon as possible. If we aren’t available at the time of your call, call 911.
- Rinse Your Mouth: If you’re experiencing pain or bleeding, rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area and reduce inflammation.
- Apply Ice: If you’ve experienced trauma to your mouth or face, apply a cold compress to the area to reduce swelling and pain.
- Save Lost Teeth: If you’ve lost a tooth, try to save it if possible. Rinse the tooth with water and place it back in the socket if you can. If not, keep it in a cup of milk or saliva until you can get to our office.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re experiencing severe pain, bleeding, or swelling, your issue likely requires emergency dental care. The best way to learn whether you need emergency dental care is by calling your dentist’s office. If they’re unavailable, call 911 or an emergency room to find immediate treatment.
Emergency rooms are equipped to handle medical emergencies, such as heart attacks and broken bones, but may not have the necessary tools or training to address dental issues. Additionally, emergency room visits can be costly and time-consuming, whereas a dental visit may be more efficient and affordable.
However, there are some situations where a visit to the emergency room may be necessary. If you’re experiencing severe bleeding or swelling or have sustained a head injury, seek immediate medical attention.
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency and your regular dentist is unavailable, there are several steps you can take to manage the situation until you can receive professional care:
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Use temporary dental filling material or dental cement from a drugstore to cover lost or damaged until you can see a dentist.
- Rinse lost teeth with water and try to place them back in the socket. If you can’t replace them, keep the teeth in a cup of milk or saliva.
- Even if your regular dentist is unavailable, seek professional care immediately.
If you have a broken tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water, control any bleeding with gauze, apply a cold compress to reduce swelling, and try to save the broken piece of tooth.
Seek professional care as soon as possible, even if the tooth doesn’t appear to be causing significant pain, as broken teeth can lead to further complications if left untreated. Then, contact your dentist or a nearby emergency dental clinic to schedule an appointment.
Contact Us in a Dental Emergency
At Auburn Family Dentistry in Auburn, IN, we understand the importance of prompt and effective emergency dental care. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing top-quality care to our patients when they need it most. Whether you’re dealing with a severe toothache, a broken tooth, or any other dental emergency, we’re here to help.
Don’t wait — contact us right away at (260) 357-2380 or fill out our online contact form if you’re experiencing a dental emergency.