Emergency Dentist – Abingdon, VA
Relieving Your Pain & Saving Your Smile
Most of us know that if a medical emergency strikes, you should call 911 for immediate help. But what should you do if you have a dental emergency, like a knocked-out tooth or an unbearable toothache? In these situations, we encourage you to call Amburgey Dental right away. Our team can quickly schedule an appointment to get you out of pain. If you find yourself with a sudden dental emergency, timely care is only a phone call away!
Why Choose Amburgey Dental for Emergency Dentistry?
- Dentist with Over 15 Years of Experience
- Fast Relief with Short Wait Times
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Call Us: Even if you’re not entirely sure whether your situation requires emergency care, we always recommend calling our office to speak with our front desk staff at Amburgey Dental. We can help by providing you with first aid guidance and informing you on whether we feel an emergency appointment is necessary.
- Come in for an Exam: When you arrive, our team will get to work by capturing any necessary X-rays, and Amburgey will conduct a thorough examination of the tooth or area of your mouth in question.
- Receive Treatment: Based on Dr. Amburgey’s exam, he will develop a treatment plan to help ease your pain and restore the health of your smile. If possible, our team may be able to complete it the same day as your exam. Or, we may schedule your procedure for a date in the near future.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
When you reach out to our office, a member of our team can provide basic tips on how to deal with your emergency until your appointment. That advice might look something like this:
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
Because there are many different types of dental emergencies, all of with varying levels of severity and required treatment, there is no fixed cost of emergency dental care. When you visit us with an urgent dental problem, our first priority will be getting you out of pain. From there, we can discuss treatment options, including pricing. For patients who are concerned about the cost, we accept all dental insurance plans and offer affordable third-party financing.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
The majority of dental emergencies are the result of small problems snowballing into larger ones over time. To prevent this from occurring, you should brush and floss every day and visit us regularly for checkups and cleanings. Protect your teeth from sudden injuries by wearing a mouthguard whenever you play sports, especially high-contact ones. Also, don’t use your teeth as tools to open packages or chew extremely hard objects such as ice, pen tips, fingernails, etc.
TMJ/TMD Treatment
Do you experience chronic jaw pain? If so, your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) that connect your jaw to your skull might be strained or injured. TMJ disorders don’t always rise to emergency levels, but they should be promptly addressed before the problem worsens. Our preferred approach is a custom-made occlusal splint that gently shifts the jaw’s resting position and prevents the upper and lower teeth from grinding against each other. We may also perform occlusal adjustments so that your teeth come together in the way they should.
Dental Emergency FAQs
How Long Can I Wait to See an Emergency Dentist?
We understand that no one wants to disrupt their day to schedule an appointment with their emergency dentist. However, the sooner you’re able to receive treatment, the better. Oral health problems tend to get worse the longer you put off seeing a dentist. For example, when you wait too long to treat an infection in your tooth, it can spread to the surrounding tissues and even cause systemic illness. Also, it may be impossible to replant a knocked-out tooth back in place after an hour or two has passed.
Whenever you call us regarding your emergency, please give us as many details about your situation as you can. We will let you know whether it’s safe to wait a day or two, or if you need to come in right away.
What Can I Do to Manage My Dental Pain?
Until your appointment, taking over-the-counter pain relievers may help to mitigate your discomfort. Just be sure to NOT place the pill directly on your gums; it may irritate the tissue and cause a burning sensation. You could also wrap an ice pack in a cloth towel and hold it to your cheek for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. You may be able to find topical oral pain relievers in the dental section at your local pharmacy.
Keep in mind that just because you are able to alleviate your pain doesn’t mean you shouldn’t schedule a visit with us. Pain is your body’s way of alerting you that something is wrong and needs medical attention.
How Can I Be Prepared for a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies can happen to anyone at any time. Preparing beforehand can make the situation easier to deal with. It can help to save our office’s number in your phone and make sure you have a dental first-aid kit ready. This kit (which can be stored in your kitchen cabinet, purse, glove compartment, desk drawer at work, etc.) should contain:
- Pain medication
- Gauze pads
- Latex-free gloves
- Small container with a tight, secure lid
Should I Go to an Emergency Room or an Emergency Dentist?
In most cases, you’re better off visiting us straight away if an emergency strikes. Most ER doctors aren’t equipped to treat specific dental problems; the most they might be able to do is prescribe painkillers or antibiotics. By contrast, Dr. Amburgey can handle most dental emergencies right away in our office.
The only exception would be if you’re suffering from serious facial injuries, swelling, or bleeding. In that case, we recommend getting urgent medical treatment before calling to find out whether any additional dental work is needed.
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