Emergency Dentistry

What is a dental emergency?

There are several types of dental emergencies. Dental emergencies can consist of a sudden and severe toothache, an accident that chips or cracks a tooth, a damaged or loose restoration or a lost or damaged tooth. About 22 percent of people have experienced dental or oral pain in the last six months, to know if your situation is an emergency, ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you in severe pain or experiencing severe swelling?
• Do you have a painful toothache that will not subside?
• Do you have a loose or knocked out tooth?
• Do you have swelling in your cheeks or face in combination with a toothache?
• Are you experiencing extreme tooth sensitivity?
• Are you bleeding from the mouth that will not stop?
• Is your jaw injured?

In general, any dental problem that needs immediate treatment to stop bleeding, alleviate severe pain, or save a tooth is considered an emergency. This consideration also applies to severe infections that can be life-threatening and constitute contacting your dental office.

What is not a dental emergency?

If the problem can be taken care of yourself for a few days without seeing your dentists, it likely isn’t a dental emergency. For example, a chipped or cracked tooth is only an emergency if the fracture is painful or has left you with trauma inside your mouth, or, if you have lost a tooth or filling, you can wait a few days to see your dentist.

What’s the best way to handle a dental emergency?

The best thing to do in a dental emergency is to contact your dentist, unless it is extremely severe then you should go to the emergency room.

Depending on the dental emergency you are experiencing, there may be some things you can do to help to ease your pain and help the situation. Some efforts include:

• Dissolve a teaspoon of salt into a mug of warm water and use it as mouthwash
• If your tooth is knocked out, place it in a glass of milk until you can see your dentist
• Try flossing to eliminate any gum pressure
• Use a cold compress on the swelling or painful area
• Swish with Hydrogen Peroxide to kill bacteria
• Take over-the-counter pain medication to alleviate pain

How much does a dental emergency visit cost?

We aim to provide high-quality dental care that’s affordable for our patients in Sioux City, IA and Elk Point, SD. Emergency dentistry has a standard price, which is listed below. Out of pocket cost for any procedure depends on your insurance coverage at the time of the procedure.

• Emergency Exam: $109

Certain PPO plans may cover 100%

What should I do if I have a toothache?

Rinse your mouth with warm water and gently floss to remove any food caught between your teeth. If the pain persists, contact our office.

How can I manage a chipped or broken tooth?

Save any pieces of the tooth if possible. Rinse your mouth and the pieces with warm water. If there’s bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a piece of gauze. To reduce swelling and pain, apply a cold pack to the outside of the mouth, and visit one of our offices as soon as possible.