Your Dental Emergency Questions, Answered! [Video Q&A]

Perhaps you’re dealing with aches and sensitivity in a bothersome tooth. Is it a dental emergency, or is it okay to put off an urgent visit?

Some dental issues, like fillings or crowns popping off, are minor. It’s usually fine to wait for a day or two for a less urgent visit. But if you’re showing signs of an infection or have experienced dental trauma, call our office and arrange a visit as soon as possible.

The most common emergencies Dr. Ellis sees involve cracked or infected teeth that expose the root and cause discomfort. If you’re unsure if your situation is urgent, give us a quick call at 208-745-2144. We’re happy to explain whether it’s safe to wait or if prompt care is best for your oral well-being.

Common Dental Emergencies

At West Wind Dental, we commonly schedule patients for dental emergencies. They tend to fall into two categories: infectious and traumatic dental emergencies.

Infectious dental emergencies often occur when bacteria enter the tooth, usually beginning with a cavity and progressing to the root. In other instances, bacteria in the gum tissue cause inflammation. In addition to the area feeling painful or sensitive, you might notice an abscess forming in the gums, which looks like a swollen bump near the tooth and feels tender.

With infectious dental emergencies, Dr. Ellis will likely send an antibiotic prescription over the phone to keep the infection at bay until he addresses the root of the problem in the office.

Another common culprit for an urgent dental visit is a traumatic dental emergency. They may result from a blow to the face, often sustained in sports or traffic accidents. These impacts could result in fractured or broken teeth. Sometimes, a tooth is completely knocked out of its socket. In this event, save the tooth in milk, not water, and bring it to your emergency visit.

After sustaining a dental injury, it’s just as important to see Dr. Ellis quickly, as the damaged teeth could become infected if left untreated.

Take Action To Address Your Dental Emergency

For both infectious and traumatic dental emergencies, Dr. Ellis will recommend the best course of action to repair the tooth’s structure and prevent further damage. He will perform a root canal if necessary and rebuild the tooth with a crown. If the tooth is too damaged or decayed to repair, he might need to extract it instead.

In some cases, you might need emergency care. If you have symptoms like a fever, breathing difficulties from swelling, or uncontrollable bleeding, go straight to the ER. These symptoms could be life-threatening if left unaddressed.

Emergency departments can stabilize you if you’re experiencing these symptoms, but a dentist will then need to fix the root cause. This fix often involves extracting a tooth or root canal.

Is a Lost Crown or Filling a Dental Emergency?

Sometimes, previous restorations like crowns and fillings debond from the tooth and fall out of your mouth. When is a lost crown or filling a dental emergency? Truthfully, it depends on how uncomfortable you are.

If you aren’t in any pain, our office might schedule you for the next day.

But if you’re in pain, aching, or sensitive, Dr. Ellis will prioritize earlier intervention. These symptoms indicate you might have an infection or need a root canal.

Another reason you might wonder if you need urgent care is when a crown pops off. If the crown is hollow on the inside, it’s fine to add a small amount of vaseline and gently press it back on the tooth. This is a quick repair until you have a chance to come to our office in the next day or two for a new crown.

But if there’s something inside the crown, then that’s actually part of your tooth. In that case, you’ll probably need additional treatment to fix it.

Not sure if you should set up an urgent visit? Feel free to call our office and explain your symptoms. We will recommend the best course of action. At West Wind Dental, we work around your busy schedule to handle your dental emergency as soon as possible. Dr. Ellis has even treated patients as early as 5 a.m.! So take a moment to reach out and see how we can accommodate you.

Call Today for Urgent Treatment!

Are you experiencing a dental emergency? Common dental emergencies include infections that reach the tooth’s nerve, as well as traumatic injuries like knocked-out, cracked, or broken teeth. To treat dental emergencies, Dr. Ellis prescribes antibiotics as necessary and draws from his broad “dental toolbox” to repair decay and damage.

While a loose crown or filling may not need same-day treatment, we always recommend calling our office for professional guidance and to get an appointment on the books!

Dr. Ellis is happy to provide urgent treatment to help you feel comfortable. Call 208-745-2144, and he will see you as soon as possible. For non-urgent visits, you can also request a visit using our online form.