Dental emergencies are an important part of our practice. Breaking a tooth or experiencing a toothache can be very stressful. When your needs are urgent, we try to see you within hours rather than days. Dental emergencies involving swelling should be addressed promptly since infections may spread to other areas. In some cases, dental abscesses can result in serious health complications.

When costs are a factor in choosing treatment, many patients choose extractions over tooth-saving procedures. There are pros and cons to every choice. Tooth extraction often starts a process that results in the need for some sort of denture. Total cost for an emergency extraction can vary from $200-$300. For patients that have the option to save the tooth, emergency root canal treatments can range from $650-$900.

What should you do? First, rinse off the tooth. Avoid touching the root and do not scrub. Try to put the tooth back into the socket and hold it in place. If that is not possible, place the tooth in milk and get to a dentist as soon as possible.

Teeth oftentimes break as a result of tooth decay. Other times a traumatic blow to the tooth will cause a fracture. Sometimes teeth fracture at an angle and the broken part remains loose. Pain can occur because the pulp (nerve) is irreversibly injured. In other cases, a loose fragment may result in painful gum inflammation.

Fractured teeth can sometimes be restored with good cosmetic and functional results. Many times root canal treatment is necessary. Root canal treatment is simply the process of cleaning and filling the inside canals or channels that used to house the pulp. During root canal treatment, all work is done inside of the tooth. No cutting or treatment is done to the surrounding jaw tissue.

Some patients only come to the dentist when something hurts. After an emergency episode, it is advisable to check the remaining teeth and intervene where problems are beginning. Failure to follow up with some type of exam and preventative procedures can leave the door open to more emergency episodes. It is always wise to have follow up care after a dental emergency.