Pain relief and diagnosis
Your dentist examines the area, takes X-rays when needed and finds the source of the pain before recommending treatment.
Emergency dentist for tooth pain, injuries and infections
A dental emergency can be painful and stressful, and quick action often protects the tooth. Sonria Dentista serves families in Grand Prairie, Arlington, Commerce and Paris, Texas. Call the office you plan to visit and the team will tell you the next available time and what to do until then.
About Emergency Dentist
Emergency dental care focuses on problems that need prompt attention: severe toothaches, broken or knocked-out teeth, swelling, infections, lost fillings or crowns, and injuries to the mouth. Your dentist first finds the cause and relieves pain, then explains your options for treating the problem so it does not come back.
Common reasons to call an emergency dentist
- A severe or throbbing toothache that keeps you awake
- A tooth that is broken, cracked, chipped or knocked out
- Swelling in the gums or face, or a bump on the gum
- A lost filling or crown that leaves a sharp or sensitive tooth
- An injury to the mouth, teeth or lips
- A tooth that may need to be removed because it cannot be saved
Treatment options
Repairing the tooth
Depending on the damage, a tooth may be repaired with a filling, bonding, a crown or root canal therapy.
Treating infection
An abscess or infection is drained and its source is treated. Antibiotics may be prescribed when your dentist decides they are needed.
Emergency tooth extraction
If a tooth is too damaged or infected to save, removing it can stop the pain and the spread of infection.
Severe toothache
A strong or throbbing toothache often means decay or infection has reached the nerve, a tooth is cracked, or the gums are infected. The pain may come and go, but the problem usually gets worse without treatment.
- Rinse with warm salt water and gently floss to remove trapped food.
- Use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label.
- Do not put aspirin or other pills directly on the gum, because they can burn the tissue.
Broken or chipped tooth
Biting something hard, a fall or a sports injury can chip or break a tooth. Small chips may only be rough, while larger breaks can expose the inner tooth and cause pain.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any tooth pieces.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your face to limit swelling.
- Cover a sharp edge with sugarless gum or dental wax.
- Call the office so the tooth can be checked and protected.
Knocked-out adult tooth
A knocked-out permanent tooth is one of the most time-sensitive dental emergencies. The sooner it is treated, the better the chance of saving it.
- Pick the tooth up by the crown, the part you chew with, not the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or water for a few seconds. Do not scrub it.
- If you can, place it back in the socket and bite gently on clean gauze to hold it.
- If you cannot reinsert it, keep it in milk or inside your cheek and get dental care immediately.
- Do not put a knocked-out baby tooth back in. Call the office for advice.
Dental abscess and infection
An abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection in or around a tooth. Signs include throbbing pain, swelling, a pimple-like bump on the gum, a bad taste or fever. An abscess will not go away on its own and needs dental treatment.
- Rinse with warm salt water and call the office promptly.
- Do not try to pop or drain the bump yourself.
- Go to an emergency room if swelling spreads or you have trouble breathing or swallowing.
Emergency tooth extractions
When a tooth is too broken, decayed or infected to repair, your dentist may recommend removing it to stop the pain and keep infection from spreading. Your dentist explains why removal is recommended and talks with you about options for replacing the tooth later.
- The area is numbed with local anesthetic before the tooth is removed.
- You receive written aftercare instructions to help the area heal.
- Replacement options can include an implant, a bridge or a partial denture.
Lost filling or crown
A lost filling or crown can leave the tooth sensitive, sharp or easier to break. It is not usually an emergency room problem, but the tooth should be seen soon.
- Keep the crown if you have it and bring it to your visit.
- Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth.
- Do not use household glue to reattach a crown.
When to go to the emergency room
Some symptoms need hospital care right away rather than a dental office visit.
- Facial swelling that spreads to your eye, jaw or neck
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- A high fever with dental pain or swelling
- Bleeding from the mouth that will not stop with firm pressure
- A jaw injury where the jaw may be broken or will not close normally
What to expect
- 1
Call the office
Describe what happened. The team will tell you the next available time and how to manage symptoms until your visit.
- 2
Exam and X-rays
Your dentist checks the tooth, gums and bite and takes X-rays when needed to find the cause.
- 3
Relieve the urgent problem
The first priority is easing pain, controlling infection and protecting the tooth.
- 4
Plan follow-up care
You receive a plan for any follow-up treatment, such as a crown, root canal or tooth replacement.
Benefits
- Finds and treats the cause of the pain, not just the symptom
- Prompt care can improve the chance of saving a tooth
- Helps stop infection from spreading
- Spanish-speaking front desk and dental assistants
Risks and limitations
- Some problems need more than one visit, such as a root canal followed by a crown.
- Pain relievers and antibiotics can ease symptoms but do not fix the underlying dental problem.
- A tooth that has been badly damaged or infected for a long time may not be savable.
- Life-threatening symptoms such as trouble breathing need an emergency room, not a dental office.
Recovery and aftercare
- Follow the home care instructions your dentist gives you after treatment.
- Take any prescribed medicine exactly as directed and finish antibiotics if they were prescribed.
- Keep follow-up appointments so the repair or healing can be checked.
- Call the office if pain, swelling or fever gets worse after treatment.
Offices offering Emergency Dentist
Call the office you plan to visit to confirm scheduling and availability.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a dental emergency?
Severe tooth pain, swelling, a broken or knocked-out tooth, bleeding that will not stop, an infection or an injury to the mouth are all reasons to call right away.
What should I do before my appointment?
Rinse gently with warm salt water, use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label. Do not put aspirin on the gums.
When should I go to the emergency room instead?
Call 911 or go to an emergency room for facial swelling that spreads to your eye, jaw or neck, trouble breathing or swallowing, a high fever, bleeding that will not stop, or a jaw injury that may be broken.
Can an emergency visit end in an extraction?
Sometimes. Your dentist tries to save the tooth when possible and explains whether removal is the better option before anything is done.
Related services
Severe Toothache
Strong or lingering tooth pain is a sign that something needs attention.
Broken or Chipped Tooth
Chipped, cracked or broken teeth can often be repaired, and quick care gives you the most options.
Dental Abscess & Infection
An abscess is a pocket of infection that needs dental treatment and will not clear up on its own.
Tooth Extractions
When a tooth cannot be saved, a careful extraction protects your health and prepares you for what comes next.
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¡Hablamos Español! Spanish-speaking front desk and dental assistants at every office.
¡Hablamos Español!Spanish-speaking front desk & dental assistants