In the event of a dental emergency, call our office at 910-335-4392.
Dr. Lauren Francis is an emergency dentist who helps patients solve oral health problems in her Hampstead, NC dental office. She also welcomes brand new patients to visit Seaside Family & Cosmetic Dentistry if they have a sudden dental emergency. Knowing the signs of a dental emergency and calling our office quickly can help prevent your dental problems from worsening.
With immediate general dental treatment, our team can save permanent teeth, prevent tooth or gum infections, and restore damaged crowns, dentures, bridges, and more.
Treating Common Dental Emergencies
Our experienced dental team helps new and existing patients during dental emergencies. Some of the most common dental emergencies that patients face include, but are not limited to:
- Toothaches: If you have sudden tooth pain, take over-the-counter pain medication and apply a cold compress to the side of your face to stop swelling. Call our office if the pain worsens or does not go away. Toothaches may be caused by tooth decay, an infection, or an abscess. These serious problems require care as soon as possible.
- Knocked-out tooth: Have you just knocked out a permanent tooth? Pick your tooth up by the crown and avoid touching the root. Gently rinse the tooth and place it in a cup of saliva to preserve it for transport to our office. If preserved this way, we may be able to restore it.
- Broken or damaged teeth: If you have just chipped, broken, or fractured your tooth, call our office for repairs. Breaks in the tooth enamel can expose the nerves to bacteria, which can cause infection. Infected teeth will require root canal treatment or extraction if the infection is severe.
- Damaged or broken dental restorations: Call our dental office if you have a damaged or broken dental bridge, tooth crown, or denture. Our team can restore or replace your restoration. Dull, ineffective, or old restorations can be replaced with more stable solutions.
- Bleeding gums: Do your gums bleed after you brush or floss your teeth? You may have gum inflammation or gingivitis. Gum inflammation is not an emergency, but persistent or severe bleeding is abnormal. Contact our office, especially if you are recovering from a recent dental procedure. Our team can stop the bleeding and find the root cause of the problem.
What to Expect When You Arrive
When you call, we’ll ask about your symptoms and get you in as quickly as possible. At our office, we’ll take digital X-rays to see what’s happening below the surface. Dr. Francis or Dr. Fuller will examine the area, explain what they found, and walk you through your options.
If we can treat the problem the same day, we will. If you need a follow-up visit, we’ll schedule it before you leave. You’ll know what’s happening at every step.
Patient Review
Emergency Dentistry FAQs
What’s considered a dental emergency?
You’re having a dental emergency when it’s something that needs immediate treatment. That can be a variety of things, including sudden pain, bleeding, or saving a tooth. If it needs to be taken care of as soon as possible, that’s when it’s considered a full emergency.
Can I go to the emergency room for a dental emergency?
The only person that’s trained to take on a dental emergency is a licensed dentist unless you experience:
- Severe facial swelling
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- High fever
- Jaw fracture
Those need medical care first. For tooth pain, broken teeth, or knocked-out teeth, a dentist is the right call.
Why do I need to handle a dental emergency quickly?
The quicker an emergency is handled, the more likely you are to save your teeth and/or other areas of your mouth. Some emergencies get worse by the hour. A knocked-out tooth has the best chance of being saved if it’s back in place within 60 minutes. An untreated infection can spread to your jaw or bloodstream. The sooner we see you, the simpler the treatment and the better the outcome.
What’s the best way to handle my pain?
Over-the-counter pain relievers and ice packs help with most pain and swelling. Orajel or a similar topical numbing gel can help with tooth pain. Managing the pain doesn’t fix the problem, though. It just buys you time until we can treat the cause.
Is the treatment worse than my dental problem?
No. The pain you’re feeling is the problem, and treatment is what relieves it. We numb the area before any procedure, and we go at your pace. Most patients feel relief within hours of treatment.
What should I do if my child’s baby tooth gets knocked out?
Baby teeth fall out naturally, but it’s a different story if one gets knocked out before it’s ready. Try to salvage the tooth and bring it with you to your appointment. Our dentist will have to evaluate the situation to determine the best course of action. Use gauze or cloth to help with the bleeding.
What should I do if an object gets stuck in between my teeth?
Don’t use anything sharp to try and remove the object. They can cause more damage to your teeth and gums. Use dental floss to gently try and dislodge it. Don’t use excessive force. If you can’t get it out, our specialized tools and experience can assist you.
Is tooth sensitivity a dental emergency?
It may not be an immediate emergency, but sudden tooth sensitivity is usually the sign of a deeper problem. Sometimes worn enamel, receding gums, or a tooth infection can make your teeth sensitive. Schedule an appointment with us so that we can find the cause and treat it appropriately.
Call Our Hampstead Dental Office For Same-Day Care Today
Have you just knocked out a permanent tooth? Are you experiencing excessive bleeding after a dental procedure? Contact Seaside Family and Cosmetic Dentistry immediately for emergency dental care at 910-335-4392.
If you don’t have a dental emergency but have concerns about your smile, schedule an appointment with our team on our website. We provide emergency care for Porters Neck, Topsail Beach, Bayshore, Ogden, and Wilmington.