Emergency Dentistry – Chardon, OH

Common Dental Emergencies

When you have dental pain and aren’t sure what to do, please give us a call. A team member will be happy to tell you what you should do next before your visit.

In the event that you think a bone is broken or there is bleeding that does not stop even after applying pressure for 10 minutes, go to the emergency room immediately. Once you’ve been cleared to leave the hospital, give us a call then.

Toothaches

Floss your teeth to remove any food particles that are present. If pain continues, take ibuprofen. Avoid aspirin as this can lead to a burning sensation in the gums and even teeth. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Toothaches rarely go away on their own, so call our dental office when you notice pain!

Chipped/ Broken Tooth

Locate any lost pieces of teeth or dental restorations and have them with you when you arrive at our dental office. If swelling or pain is present, apply a cold compress to your cheek. Press a clean rag or gauze pad to the damaged area if bleeding is present.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Stay calm and try to find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown portion only. Do not touch the root (or pointed end). Gently rinse the tooth with warm water of any dirt or debris, making sure to leave any tissue still attached. Place the tooth back into your open socket, ensuring it’s facing the right direction. Close your mouth as gently as possible to keep it in place. You can also place the tooth in milk or saltwater for up to one hour.

Lost Filling/Crown

When a dental filling falls out, it generally needs to be replaced. The tooth can still be covered with dental wax or cement to ensure bacteria does not reach it. A dental crown can be temporarily reseated with over the counter dental cement, but you’ll most likely need to have it replaced.

Preventing Dental Emergencies

Not all dental emergencies can be avoided, but most of them can be when you take a few preventive steps. For example, Dr. Nick recommends that you:

• Brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste
• Floss daily
• Stay on top of biannual checkups and cleanings
• Never use your teeth as a tool
• Avoid eating very hard or tough foods that can crack teeth
• Use a mouthguard when playing sports or if you have bruxism

Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies

The treatment you receive could vary (as well as the cost) depending on what type of dental emergency you are experiencing. While some patients may only need a dental filling to restore teeth, root canal therapy and a custom dental crown could be needed to treat an infection as well as restore a tooth. Based on your circumstances, you could pay more or less to resolve your issue. With that said, the worst thing you can do is skip treatment when you need it. Hilltop Family Dental is always prepared to build a treatment plan that helps you and fits within your budget.

Root Canals

Root canals tend to get a bad reputation, but the fact is they are the best procedure for saving teeth significantly damaged by decay or injury. Not only can we relieve the pain that’s present in your tooth, but we can save a tooth that would otherwise need extraction, a treatment that we consider a last resort. Root canal therapy is performed when the tooth’s inner area (or the pulp) has become infected, causing a severe toothache. Through a root canal, we can provide relief, all while ensuring you are comfortable during every phase of the procedure.

Tooth Extractions

One of our top priorities is saving natural teeth however we can, but sometimes that isn’t possible when they are severely damaged. If this is the case, we may remove them to protect your oral health and overall wellbeing. Teeth are typically removed when:

• They are too damaged to be covered with crowns
• Gum disease has compromised the supporting bone tissue
• They simply will not fall out or they are blocking adult teeth from erupting (specifically baby teeth)
• Additional room must be made so a denture can be placed or orthodontic treatment can begin