The best first-step you could take is to call your local emergency dentist as soon as possible. Our team will work quickly to schedule an appointment the same day you call for emergency dentistry in Vancouver City, so you won’t need to sit in discomfort wondering how bad the damage actually is. We’ll also provide you with over-the-phone first-aid guidance to minimize any additional harm to your mouth.
Same-Day Appointments for Emergency Patients
Experienced & Trusted Local Dentist
IV Dental Sedation Available
In the time between when the emergency happens and when you reach our dental office for treatment, it’s important to follow our first-aid steps to help minimize any pain you’re feeling and prevent any additional damage to your mouth. Below, we’ve included some additional helpful tips on how to handle the most common dental emergencies that we see.
Toothaches are often a sign of infections that are hidden deep beneath the enamel of your tooth, in the inner chamber. To help with the pain, you can take over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen or place a cold compress on the outside of your mouth for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, for up to an hour.
If you’re able to retrieve the broken-off portion of your tooth from the ground, be sure to do so and rinse it off under some water. Bring it with you to your appointment. If the damage has created a jagged edge, you can place a piece of orthodontic wax over your tooth to shield your oral tissues from irritation.
Find your knocked-out tooth, being sure to only handle it by the biting surface, and gently rinse it off with some water. To keep it viable, store it in a sealable container filled with milk or a saltwater mixture and get to our dental office within an hour of the accident.
If you’re able to find your lost restoration, pick it up and rinse any debris off. You can temporarily place it back on your tooth using a dab of toothpaste or denture adhesive. However, it’s important to remember that you should get it professionally repaired or replaced to prevent an infection from developing.
The way the teeth fit together and function affects the jaw muscles and joints. When these get over-stimulated or work in disharmony, they often cause pain which can affect the head and neck, causing uncomfortable symptoms like headaches. Oftentimes, there appears to also be an earache when the problem is in the temporomandibular joint. We have technology and treatments which can help relieve these problems, which you can learn more about by clicking the link below.
Even though it’s impossible to completely avoid experiencing a dental emergency, there are some ways you can drastically reduce your risk of them occurring, including:
Visit us every six months for your checkups and cleanings.
Maintain a good at-home oral hygiene routine.
Protect your teeth from nightly grinding or if you play contact sports.
Maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet.
Don’t use your teeth to open bottles or rip off price tags from clothes.
Don’t forget to floss your teeth!
To determine the cost of your emergency treatment, we’ll need to first examine your mouth and diagnose the underlying issue that’s causing you pain. From here, we can determine what type of treatment would provide you with lasting protection and relief. We’ll walk you through all of your treatment options as well as discuss financing and dental insurance coverage with you before we move forward with any procedure. That way, you’ll never feel like you’re left in the dark.
We regularly conduct root canal therapy for patients who have infected or severely damaged teeth that are causing them pain or discomfort. Although this treatment has a notorious reputation of being painful, we’ll inject a local anesthetic into the area we’ll be treated before beginning, so you won’t feel an ounce of discomfort. Root canals allow us to preserve your natural tooth structure, and many of our patients who receive this treatment are able to continue comfortably using their treated teeth for the rest of their lives.
We understand that there’s no substitution quite like your natural teeth, which is why we’ll do everything within our power to save them if they’re damaged or infected. Unfortunately, in some situations where an issue could spread and affect your surrounding teeth, we may recommend removing the damaged tooth. The good news is that you won’t have to live with a gap in your smile, because we can replace it with a dental implant, bridge, or other restoration as soon as possible!
Curious about dental emergencies? You’re in the right place! For any specific concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our emergency dentist in Vancouver City. Until then, we’ve included the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about emergency dentistry below. Read on to satisfy your curiosity!
Generally, toothaches do not go away on their own, which is why you should contact us to schedule an appointment right away. This issue will usually only get worse with time, leading to more pain as well as dental care. We’ll find the root of the problem, treating it to prevent more serious issues down the road. In some cases, gum irritation (pain around a tooth) can go away on its own, however it’s still a good idea to visit our office to rule out any severe conditions.
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
The first step is to keep your head elevated during sleep – this prevents blood from rushing to your head and making your toothache more intense. Take over the counter pain medication as needed and do your best to avoid foods that are cold, hard, or acidic right before sleep. Additionally, you can use a cold compress or ice pack to manage pain and prevent swelling.
Most ER rooms do not have the equipment and personnel to address dental problems. However, there are some dental emergencies that require a visit to an urgent care facility right away, including: jaw fractures or dislocations, serious facial wounds, and anything that affects your breathing. For almost any other dental emergency, you should go to a dentist. We have everything necessary to get you out of pain and back to smiling.
If you chip a tooth, you should always call us to schedule an appointment. Even small chips can turn into more significant damage with time, which is why this issue should be addressed soon. Even if you do not experience any pain, you won’t know if the inner, more sensitive portion of your tooth is exposed until a dentist examines the affected area. Without any pain in a chipped tooth, you can probably wait a day or two before going to our office.
If you break your dentures, you’ll need to visit a professional to get them repaired or replaced. Usually, the entire denture must be replaced if it’s broken in half. Call us right away if you notice any damage to your denture. Trying to fix your prosthesis on your own can result in even more damage, and it can put your oral health at risk. If you have a spare denture, you can use it until you get a replacement. But don’t let your backup prosthesis become the one that you wear regularly.
