Emergency Dentist – Salt Lake City, UT

Get Your Dental Emergency Treated Fast!

Woman in pain before emergency dentistry

It can be difficult to know what constitutes a dental emergency at first glance. However, according to Dr. Teeple and Dr. Walker, dental emergencies tend to fall into two categories. The first includes toothaches, which could be a sign of decay or an oral infection. The alternative is physical trauma, typically due to a bad fall or sporting injury. Our dental office is equipped to handle both, regardless of your age. If you or your youngest is suffering from a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to contact our dental office as soon as possible to schedule a visit with our emergency dentist in Salt Lake City, UT!

 

Why Choose Sugar House Smiles for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Emergency Visits
  • In-House Implant Surgery
  • Sedation Dentistry Available

 

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Woman holding cheek in pain before emergency dentistry treatment

Even if you aren’t sure if you’re having a dental emergency, you should always call our dental office for help. This way, you can schedule an emergency appointment and get additional advice to manage your situation prior to your visit from our caring emergency dentist in Sugar House. Until then, here’s what you should do for the following emergencies.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies come in all shapes and sizes, so if you’re unsure how to handle the smallest issue or one that is intense and complex, we would like to offer guidance on what you can do while at home. Below are just a few of the most common dental injuries. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Man and woman brushing teeth to prevent dental emergencies

For the most part, dental emergencies are avoidable by practicing daily oral care. This includes brushing twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste and flossing daily to remove plaque from teeth. Additionally, you’ll want to visit our dental office once every six months for a checkup and cleaning. Checkups help Dr. Teeple and Dr. Walker catch issues before they become emergencies, while cleanings work to remove tartar and plaque from hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. If you participate in contact sports, you should always wear a protective sports guard.

 

The Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies

Smiling man and woman talking to dentist

The way in which your issue is handled largely depends on the severity of your emergency. In some cases, antibiotics are all that is needed to treat an oral infection. However, if this infection is more severe and decay is also present, then root canal therapy may be performed. A chipped tooth may only require minor buffing to look more uniform, while a severely chipped or cracked tooth may require full-blown extraction to prevent an infection. The best way to determine the cost of your treatment is to visit our dental office for a more thorough examination. Once completed, we can provide a more reliable estimate for your treatment!

 

Emergency Dentistry Frequently Asked Questions

Many patients can be shocked when a dental emergency occurs because they have questions about what happens next. Dr. Teeple and Dr. Walker have heard certain questions enough that they wants their patients to know the answers before even stepping foot into the dental office. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of the most frequently asked questions about emergency dentistry along with their helpful and useful answers for your safety and convenience.

How Do I Know I Have a Dental Emergency?

If you’re wondering whether or not you have an emergency, just remember that if you have pain in your mouth that is affecting your day to day, you should probably come see us. Any prolonged pain, bleeding, swelling, sores, or abscesses that you notice is considered an emergency and should be addressed. Additionally, injury or trauma to the face are considered a dental injury that we can treat unless it is life threatening. In that case, we recommend that you go to the hospital right away.

Any changes that you notice in your mouth should be addressed, but it’s especially important to seek care for dental emergencies. Unlike most medical conditions that improve with time, dental problems tend to get worse with delayed treatment.

If I Have a Tooth Knocked Out, Can it Be Saved?

If your tooth gets knocked out, there is still a chance of saving it! The quicker that you can get to our dental office, the better. Once your tooth is knocked-out and you’ve rinsed it, try to put it back in your socket. If this isn’t possible, you can place it in milk until you can come in to see us. If you’re able to come in to see our emergency dentist in Sugar House within a couple hours of the incident, you’ll have a high likelihood that it can be successfully replanted. If you or your kids play contact sports, or are involved in other high-risk activities like mountain biking or skiing, ask us about our “Save-A-Tooth” emergency kits.

Does My Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Unfortunately, it’s hard to know whether or not your insurance covers your dental emergency without examining your mouth first. Some emergencies can be treated with a simple antibiotic regimen, while others may require more extensive dental restorations. Either way, our friendly and helpful team will do their best to give you quality care that is also affordable. Additionally, for those without dental insurance, we offer financing options to give you the care that you need and deserve.

What is a Root Canal?

Root canals are one of the most common procedures that we perform for patients with toothaches. While they have a bad reputation, root canals are actually designed to get patients out of pain rather than put them in it. If you need a root canal, we will remove all of your damaged, decayed, or infected dental tissue, and then fill your tooth with a material called gutta-percha. After, we will seal it with a crown or filling, depending on the size of the affected area. Root canals tend to have an association with discomfort, but the only pain you’ll feel is a little sensitivity after your procedure that will go away in a few days.

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Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? From minor to severe issues, there are many reasons why you may experience a toothache. Your situation qualifies as a dental emergency if you experience any of the following:

  • Severe pain that lasts more than 24 hours
  • Sharp pain when biting down
  • Extreme sensitivity that lasts more than 30 seconds
  • A small bump has developed near the painful tooth
  • The painful tooth looks darker than the surrounding teeth
  • Signs of a serious infection (i.e., swelling, fever, fatigue)

How you should handle a toothache: Confirm that no food debris is caught in between your teeth using dental floss. Carefully rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to ease inflammation and kill harmful bacteria. You can also use a cold compress to relieve any discomfort. If pain persists or is severe, take over-the-counter painkillers and get to our office.

How we treat toothaches: Our team will need to perform an oral examination to identify the underlying reason for your emergency. Depending on the cause, antibiotics or root canal therapy may be needed. In some cases, services like fillings, crowns, prescription mouthwash, and gum disease treatment may be necessary.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Not necessarily. You can usually wait a few days to seek treatment. However, you should still visit your dentist as soon as possible to prevent further damage and infection.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Save any pieces of the tooth that you can. To avoid accidentally cutting the inside of your mouth, place dental wax on your tooth for temporary protection. Gently rinse your mouth with water to clear away bacteria and lingering shards of your tooth.

How we treat chipped teeth: When you visit our office, you will likely need a dental crown to cover the damaged portion of your tooth. There are some instances where a chipped tooth can easily be fixed with custom-shaded composite resin. If you’ve chipped a highly visible tooth, you may want to consider getting a veneer.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Porcelain Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Yes! Even a small crack in the enamel can put your tooth at risk of further infection and damage. Make sure you contact our office and schedule an emergency appointment, especially if you’re experiencing pain or sensitivity after sustaining a blow to the face.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Carefully rinse your mouth with water to wash away any harmful bacteria. If needed, you can use a cold compress or take over-the-counter pain medication to ease discomfort. While waiting for your appointment, avoid eating or chewing on the injured side of your mouth.

How we treat cracked teeth: Most cases of cracked teeth are addressed with custom-made dental crowns. If the damage is minor, we may be able to repair your tooth with composite resin. On the other hand, a tooth that is damaged beyond repair may need to be extracted. In that event, you’d have to explore your tooth-replacement options (i.e., dental bridges and implants).

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Dental Implants

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency?

Tooth sensitivity can be tricky because there are multiple causes. While a cavity can trigger a sensitive response, excessive wear and tear on teeth can also result in discomfort. This symptom shouldn’t be ignored, but in some circumstances, you may be able to wait until your next checkup appointment to address it with us.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth

Closely monitor your tooth sensitivity. Does it only occur when you have something cold, hot, or sugary? Is it getting more intense with time? Is it affecting just one tooth or multiple teeth? If you find that your discomfort is worsening or impairing your ability to function, you should contact us for an emergency visit.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth 

Treatment for this issue will depend on the cause. For those with tooth decay, we can remove the cavity and restore the tooth with a filling or dental crown. Keep in mind that root canal therapy may be required for more extensive decay. Otherwise, we can strengthen your tooth enamel with a fluoride treatment or even composite resin.

Learn More about Fluoride Treatment

Learn More about Root Canal Therapy

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Having a tooth knocked out entirely is one of the most urgent dental emergencies you can experience! Not only can it be extremely painful, but there is only a limited time that the tooth can be saved. For the best odds of successfully re-implanting the natural tooth, you need to come to our office within an hour of your injury.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth

After locating the tooth, pick it up by the crown portion. Avoid touching or removing any tissue still attached to the root. Once you’ve gently rinsed the tooth of any dirt or debris, rinse your mouth out with warm water and attempt to place the tooth back into your socket. If not possible, place the tooth in milk and get to our office within the hour. The sooner you arrive, the better your chances are of reimplanting the tooth.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth 

Unless you’ve already done so, we will carefully put your tooth where it belongs within the arch. We may use an oral appliance called a splint to hold it steady until the connective tissues can reattach and stabilize the tooth again. If we are unable to save the tooth, we can talk about your choices for replacement, specifically a dental implant or bridge.

Learn More about Dental Implants

Learn More about Dental Bridges

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency?

A tooth that has been restored with a filling or crown needs its restoration for protection. Without it, the tooth is exposed and vulnerable to infection. As a result, it is considered a dental emergency if a tooth loses its filling or crown.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown

If you still have the restoration, use dental cement or denture adhesive to temporarily reseat it. You can also apply clove oil to your tooth prior to placement to reduce discomfort, just make sure to rinse your mouth out with warm water beforehand. If you do not have the missing crown or filling, you can also use a piece of sugarless gum to cover the tooth until your emergency visit.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns 

Sometimes, if it is not too old or damaged, we may be able to reattach the restoration to the tooth. However, the best course of action is often to replace the filling or crown with a new one.

Learn More about Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More about Dental Crowns

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency?

Damaged dentures can harm the gums, soft tissue, jaw, and remaining teeth. While it is not life-threatening, this issue should be treated as a dental emergency. Give us a call at your earliest convenience to schedule an urgent visit.

How to handle a broken denture:

You shouldn’t wear a denture that is broken. If you continue to wear it, you could accidentally injure your smile or make the damage worse. Never try to repair a broken denture at home with super glue or other household items either, as they aren’t biocompatible and could make you sick.

How we treat broken dentures:

The treatment for your dentures will depend on how severe the damage is. Sometimes, we can use composite resin to fill in a small chip or crack. In other cases, the denture will need to be readjusted, repaired, or replaced. This is also a good opportunity for you to consider another tooth replacement option, like dental implants.

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Are loose permanent teeth a dental emergency?

Teeth can become loose over time or as a result of an injury. If your teeth are loose, then they are at risk of falling out, even if you aren’t in any pain. This is an urgent dental emergency and should be brought to our attention as soon as possible.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth:

Give our office a call as soon as possible. Avoid touching or moving your tooth, and don’t eat anything particularly hard or sticky. Don’t brush or floss at this time either. Instead, clean your mouth by swishing warm water around.

How we treat loose permanent teeth:

We will do everything we can to save your loose tooth with a dental splint or another treatment. If we can’t, we may need to extract it and discuss tooth replacement options, like a dental bridge or implant.

Learn More About Dental Implants

Learn More About Gum Disease Therapy

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency?

Cuts to the mouth can be alarming, as they can bleed quite a bit. They are most common in people who participate in contact sports. Usually, this type of issue can be resolved on your own at home, but a dentist can also help if needed.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue:

Start by cleaning the area with water to wash away food debris and bacteria. Apply pressure with a clean washcloth or a piece of gauze until the bleeding stops.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue:

If necessary, your dentist can stitch the wound and help to keep the area clean. If you can’t control the bleeding on your own, head to your local emergency room for help.

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency?

Jaw pain isn’t usually an urgent dental emergency, but it can interfere with your everyday life and lead to oral health issues over time. This is definitely something that you should bring up so we can take steps to reduce your discomfort.

How you should handle jaw pain:

Until you see us for an appointment, use over-the-counter pain relievers as directed to manage discomfort. Cold compresses can also help. However, if you think that you may have broken or dislocated your jaw, you should head to your local emergency room. We’d be happy to take a look at your smile afterward.

How we treat jaw pain:

Bruxism treatments with a custom-made nightguard can help to prevent jaw pain. If your wisdom teeth are what’s causing you pain, we can work with you to have them extracted. If you need to go to the ER first, we’d be happy to help fix any damaged teeth and address lost teeth once you have been discharged.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Most of the time, this problem can be resolved on your own at home. Rinse your mouth with water to soften the object. Carefully use floss to attempt to dislodge the debris. Never use a toothpick, tweezers, or another sharp object to try to get something out from between the teeth. You could end up accidentally damaging the soft tissues in your mouth. If you are still struggling to get it out on your own, give us a call so we can help.