Common Dental Emergencies We Evaluate
There are many dental emergencies we diagnose on a regular basis, including:
- Toothaches
- Broken, chipped or cracked tooth
- Loosened or knocked out tooth
- Infection in tooth or jaw
- Impacted or infected wisdom teeth
- Tooth extractions
- Broken, chipped, or lost restorations
If you want to learn more about a particular emergency, please call (585) 244-3337 for further information.
What Is A Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies require different types of care depending upon their type, location, and severity. It is crucial that proper diagnosis and evaluation be performed first before deciding what kind of treatment is necessary. We may need to ask you a few questions to determine what the next course of action would be. You can prepare for your call by taking note of the following:
- What symptoms are you experiencing? Try to be concise and think of your top three sensations.
- Is the area throbbing? Aching? Sharp pain?
- Can you identify anything that triggers the sensation? (for example: hot or cold temperatures, or the pressure of biting down)
- What is the location of your discomfort? (make note if it is on your left or right side and if it is upper or lower. )
- How long have you been experiencing discomfort? (there is a difference in chronic pain which has been going on for a while and acute pain, which is sudden, intense, and recent)
- If the issue is a broken tooth or a dislodged crown, try to describe briefly how old the restoration is and how it broke.
After reviewing some questions with you, our coordinators will schedule a brief emergency visit with you so that we can diagnose your issue and make a plan of action.
Certain traumas involving the face and mouth are too urgent to wait, these may be considered medical emergencies. If you experience the following, it is best to report to an emergency room ASAP:
- Jaw fractures
- Jaw dislocation
- Serious cuts/lacerations to face or mouth
- Infection or abscess that affects your breathing or swallowing
Any life threatening condition related to the mouth should be seen by emergency doctors.
Will I Receive Treatment On The Same Day?
On your emergency visit, we may need to take photos or an x-ray of the area to determine the severity of your issue (particularly if infection is suspected). We will perform tests to ensure that we know exactly which tooth is causing your discomfort. Because dental treatment requires time, equipment, and preparation, we do not always complete your treatment at the same time as your evaluation. We will make sure that you are temporarily covered, smoothed, or made comfortable until we can take our time to properly treat your tooth. This may involve referring to a specialist or re-appointing you for the appropriate amount of time. We want you to have the best possible treatment to ensure the longevity of your teeth!
Do not hesitate to call us to ask questions about dental emergencies and to determine if your issue is an emergency at (585) 244-3337.