Emergency Dentistry

What is emergency dentistry?

Emergency dentistry is a branch of dentistry that focuses on fixing sudden, major problems with your teeth — and fast. At Hillcrest Family Dentistry, the team provides emergency dental care after accidents and unexpected complications. They make themselves available for cases that need to be seen immediately and can give you a temporary fix with pain relief until there is a better time for extensive work.

Dental emergencies can happen at any time, any place. They can arise from injuries and accidents that are easy to pinpoint or from a dental complication that develops over time. No matter the cause, dental emergencies require immediate attention, and not having access to a dentist can cause additional stress and complications.

How do I know if I need emergency dentistry services?

Some dental emergencies are very obvious emergencies: There might be bleeding, tooth loss, broken bones, and other traumatic injuries involved. Other times, it isn’t so cut-and-dried. Some examples of complications that need emergency dental care are:

Cracked or broken teeth

Teeth that are cracked or broken can lead to extreme tooth pain, especially if they expose the root. If you don’t get treatment quickly, you could get a tooth infection.

Swollen jaw

If you suffer an injury to your jaw and notice swelling, extreme pain, or the inability to open and close your mouth, you must seek immediate attention for your injury.

Symptoms of tooth inflammation

Symptoms like extreme pain while biting down or darkly discolored gums could indicate the need for an emergency root canal.

Broken prosthetics

If a crown, bridge, or other prosthetic device breaks, you must call Hillcrest Family Dentistry as soon as possible to discuss your next steps. They replace your prosthetic as soon as possible to protect your teeth and gums.

What happens if I have a dental emergency outside of office hours?

Emergencies are unpredictable, and what are you supposed to do if one occurs outside of normal business hours? The team at Hillcrest Family Dentistry provides after-hours emergency services. There is always a dentist on call, 24 hours a day, to answer your questions and provide emergency care if your injury is urgent.

Even if a full solution isn’t possible at the time of your injury, the team puts you in the best possible position as you wait for a full repair.

If you suffer an injury to your mouth or jaw, or if you feel unexplained pain around a tooth, don’t hesitate to call Hillcrest Family Dentistry at any time or book the next available appointment online.