An emergency dentist is a specialist equipped to provide immediate care for oral trauma or severe infections. In this article, we describe our top 6 emergency dental treatments.

Our Top 6 Emergency Dental Treatments

Among others, our top 6 emergency dental treatments include:

Resetting a Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth can be saved and reset in its socket if you receive treatment within the first 30 to 60 minutes after the accident, before the tooth dries out and dies. To reset the knocked-out tooth, your dentist will place it back in its socket and stabilize it with a splint (a small wire bonded to the surrounding teeth). Typically, it takes about 8 weeks for the tooth to become stable again, followed by up to 6 months to heal completely.

For the procedure to be successful, you must prevent the tooth from drying out while you are waiting to see your dentist. Do not rub your tooth with a cloth, napkin, or tissue, and do not clean it with water and soap. Instead, put it in a clean container filled with water or saliva, or carefully keep it in your mouth, between the cheek and the gum.

Restoring a Chipped Tooth

Chips or cracks in the tooth can be restored with dental bonding or dental veneers when the inner dentin is not exposed. When dentin is exposed, the tooth is likely to be treated with root canal therapy and then restored with a dental crown.

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is a surgical procedure that is typically performed if:

The tooth is severely decayed and cannot be saved with alternative treatments, and the infection can spread to the surrounding teeth, gum tissue, and jawbone, or cause an abscess.
The tooth is broken at the gumline and can not be repaired with root canal therapy and a crown.

Tooth extraction is always performed under local anesthesia and is typically quick and painless, providing immediate relief.

Signs that you require emergency tooth extraction due to infection include:

Severe pain (often described as unbearable)
Severe swelling of the gum tissue around the infected tooth or swelling in the face and jaw
Pus around the infected tooth or cysts on the gums

Dental Restoration Repair

Emergency dental restoration repair aims to stabilize and repair damaged dental appliances (e.g., a filling, crown, veneer, bridge, or implant component). An emergency repair is required for broken dental restorations, as food debris and bacteria can access the tooth’s inner pulp, leading to infection.

In some cases, your dentist may first place a temporary restoration to protect the tooth and relieve discomfort until a new permanent restoration is made. In other cases, the existing restoration can be fixed and resealed.

Orthodontic Appliances Repair

Emergency repair of orthodontic devices (such as braces) is needed when they cause pain, injury, or delay treatment. Common examples of broken orthodontic appliances that require emergency repair include:

Broken wires that harm the soft tissue in the mouth
Loose or broken brackets
Loose band

Antibiotic Treatment

Oral antibiotics can be prescribed to treat infections of the mouth. However, in cases of severe tooth decay, this method is typically combined with other treatments, such as root canal therapy or tooth extraction.

Get an Emergency Dental Treatment at The Smile Artists LA

If you require emergency treatment, do not hesitate to contact an experienced dentist at The Smile Artists LA. At our office, we provide a wide range of emergency procedures to help our clients preserve their oral health. We are looking forward to your visit.