Emergency Dentist in Phoenix, AZ
Most practices only see scheduled patients during regular hours. Some are willing to fit you in the same day if they have an opening in the schedule. At Smile Fitness Dental Center, we have a team dedicated to handling your dental emergencies 6 days a week. This is all they do! They bring an unmatched level of expertise to each situation. From severe toothaches to fractured teeth, our emergency dentist in Phoenix and dental team swing into action the moment you call.
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
Here are some of the most common emergency situations we see and some helpful first aid tips for each scenario:
- Knocked out tooth (evulsed tooth): Retrieve the tooth and hold it only by the crown. Gently rinse it free of any dirt or debris with warm water. Do not attempt to remove any soft tissue that may be attached to the root. If you cannot place the tooth back in the socket, carefully place it into a small container of milk or saliva. Contact our office immediately.
- Toothache: Gently but firmly floss around the tooth to dislodge any food or debris from the area that may be causing the pain. Rinse your mouth with cool or cold water. An over the counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or aspirin may be taken to address discomfort until you are able to see us.
- Cracked tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm water gently and apply a cold compress to the area to keep swelling to a minimum.
- Broken tooth: A cold compress can be used on the outside of the mouth to reduce swelling and discomfort.
If you are bleeding for more than 15 minutes and cannot get it to stop with firm pressure to the area, contact our office or your nearest emergency room right away. The same is applicable to a potentially broken jaw. To ensure that you reach us as quickly as possible, save the telephone number to our office in your mobile phone’s contact list: (623) 849-0477!
Your Trusted Phoenix Emergency Dentists
We recognize accidents do not happen according to a plan. Our team looks forward to helping you get back to smiling as soon as possible. Knowing that you have an experienced and reliable emergency dentist in your corner anytime the unthinkable occurs is an invaluable reassurance. If you’d like to learn more about our emergency dental services, please don’t hesitate to contact us today to speak to our team. We’re committed to your health, safety, and satisfaction and we believe that our values are evident in all that we do.
Emergency Dentistry FAQs
Dental emergencies happen at the most inconvenient times. In stressful situations like these, it’s important to act quickly and efficiently to ease your pain and prevent any further damage from occurring. However, with all the chaos going on around you, it can be hard to think clearly. That’s why Smile Fitness Dental Center has your back. For new patients, we’re even offering a $1 exam and complete X-rays! For your convenience, we’ve compiled some common questions we get from our patients in dental dilemmas below.
How can I ease the pain from a dental emergency?
If you’re experiencing oral pain caused by a toothache or sensitivity, most people turn to over-the-counter pain medication to help. Be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle. Also, avoid letting aspirin come into direct contact with your gums, because it could cause the area to burn. Some other ways you can relieve dental discomfort is to:
- Rinse with warm saltwater. Mix ½ teaspoon of table salt in every 8 ounces of water. Be sure to spit it out and gently floss around your sore tooth to remove anything that may be lodged.
- Applying a cold compress for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off on your cheek can help ease pain and bring down swelling caused by a chipped or knocked-out tooth.
- There are also over-the-counter anesthetics that contain benzocaine, which will numb your mouth until you reach the emergency dentist’s office. Keep in mind that these are only meant to be used for temporary pain relief.
When should I go to the emergency room?
If you have experienced severe trauma to your face that has caused swelling, lacerations, or a broken or fractured jaw, you’ll need to visit your local ER before you seek treatment from your emergency dentist. If you believe you have an untreated tooth infection that’s been lingering for a few weeks, this may also require urgent medical care.
Once you’ve gotten the medical attention you need, our team at Smile Fitness Dental Centers will provide you with necessary cosmetic or restorative services to get your smile up-and-running again.
How do I know if I need a tooth extraction?
Typically, tooth extractions are only suggested if the damaged tooth can’t be saved. If we’re able to preserve your natural tooth, we’ll suggest root canal therapy or a filling and dental crown. However, there are a few tell-tale signs that your tooth will need to be removed in order to preserve the rest of your mouth. If your tooth has sustained severe decay that can’t be treated with a root canal or you have an infection that your body can’t fight off due to a compromised immune system, it may need to be extracted.
Do emergency dentists offer sedation?
If you’re scared of the dentist or are experiencing intense pain, we offer multiple dental sedation techniques to help make you feel comfortable and relaxed. These include anti-anxiety medications taken prior to your appointment or nitrous oxide administered at the beginning of your treatment. We also have other amenities like headphones, so you can block out the background noise and focus on something other than your discomfort.