There are few things less convenient than dental emergencies. They can easily throw a wrench in your schedule and lead to significant discomfort depending on the cause. If you’re enjoying contact sports with friends or biting into your favorite food during one moment, then gripping your mouth or tooth in discomfort the next, call our dental office for emergency dentistry in Mesa, AZ.
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When it comes to dental emergencies, it’s very rare that they will get better on their own. It’s also unlikely that you’ll be able to resolve it by yourself, which is why it’s incredibly important that you call our dental office as soon as they occur. Once you get in touch with our team at Dental Innovations, we’ll provide you with helpful advice on how to improve your situation before you arrive. Until then, here’s what you should do in the following dental emergencies.
Start by taking a 12- to 16-inch strand of dental floss and slide it between the tooth in question to remove any loose food debris. Then, if discomfort continues, take an over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen to reduce any inflammation you’re experiencing. Aspirin can cause a burning sensation if it touches oral tissue, so avoid this if possible. In the event decay is present, we will perform a cleaning and then either a crown or filling depending on the damage.
If you have any remaining pieces of your tooth, keep them and bring them to your emergency appointment. Avoid chewing food until you can get your tooth repaired. If the tooth is only cosmetically chipped and no pain is present, you may be able to wait until regular business hours. Apply a cold compress to your face if any swelling is present. This can be done for 10 minutes at a time and can be reapplied and removed for up to one hour.
Stay calm and try your best to find the tooth. If found, you can pick it up by the crown portion. Just make sure to avoid touching the root or removing any tissue still attached. You should gently rinse it with cold water to remove any dirt or debris. From there, you can temporarily place it back into your open socket to keep it preserved. If this does not work, keep it in a container of milk until you arrive at our dental office. If we cannot reimplant the tooth, we will discuss potential tooth replacement options.
You can temporarily reattach your restoration to your tooth using dental cement, denture adhesive, or sugar-free chewing gum if nothing else is available. More often than not, the restoration needs to be completely replaced to ensure protection of your damaged tooth.
While a dental emergency can be virtually impossible to predict, there are ways you can reduce your risk substantially. For example, our team recommends patients to:
Brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste for at least two minutes at a time
Floss at least once a day
Maintain biannual visits to our dental office for exams and cleanings
Avoid chewing extremely hard foods (hard candy, ice cubes) or on inedible objects, either as a nervous habit or in place of proper tools (pens, pencils, fingernails, packages, bottles)
Wear a nightguard if you suffer from teeth grinding and clenching
Wear a sportsguard when playing contact sports or participating in activities where the chance for impact is high
In order to confirm which treatment is needed for your emergency dental issue, we need to perform a detailed exam. From there, we can determine a more specific price tag for your care. Tooth decay can be resolved with a cleaning and restoration. However, if this tooth decay is severe and needs root canal therapy, your costs will be higher. Regardless of what your emergency may actually be, we ask that you call us to set up an appointment. We’ll discuss your financial options and make sure your dental discomfort is taken care of before you leave.
When most people are struck by a dental emergency, they’re shocked and confused. They often have several questions about what happens next. Your emergency dentist in Mesa wants you to remain calm and schedule an appointment with us as soon as you can. While you wait for your visit, it may ease your mind to read through this list of emergency-related questions that we get asked frequently at our practice.
If you’re not sure whether your situation counts as a dental emergency, it’s best to err on the side of caution and give us a call anyway. Over the phone, describe what happened, how you’re feeling, and any symptoms you’re experiencing. From there, we’ll tell you whether you need to book an appointment right away or if your problem can wait a few days or weeks. In most cases, severe pain, swelling, and bleeding all indicate a dental emergency.
If you were involved in a major accident that injured parts of your body other than your mouth, then you should absolutely head to the ER before you contact us. A visit to the ER is also in your best interest if your jaw was broken or dislocated, you have significant cuts on your face, or your facial injuries or swelling are making it hard to swallow or breathe. After the ER doctors tend to you, come see us so we can treat any dental damage.
For most other dental emergencies, you’re much better off calling your dentist in Mesa instead of the ER. While they may be able to treat your pain or infection, we’re able to get to the heart of specific dental issues.
Although policies differ, most dental insurance plans cover the cost of one emergency exam a year. Additionally, they might cover the care of certain restorative procedures at up to 50%-80%.
Our practice is in-network with a long list of dental insurance companies, such as Humana, Aetna, Cigna, and Delta Dental. We’ll be more than happy to look over your plan and find any coverage you may qualify for.
When you first arrive at our office with a dental emergency, our top priority will be relieving your pain and getting your smile’s health back on the right track. After we get that taken care of, we’ll gladly develop a personalized treatment plan to help your smile achieve its original beauty with further cosmetic and restorative treatments.
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Office Hours
Monday 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Tuesday 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Wednesday 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thursday 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Friday 7:00 am – 2:00 pm
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