Alexandria, VA
Emergency Dentistry
Emergency Dentistry
When someone is suffering from severe pain or other serious dental issues, emergency dental care may be needed. Although many people experiencing oral issues can wait to schedule a regular appointment with their dentist, some situations require immediate treatment. Emergency dental care is necessary in certain acute situations and can stop severe pain, prevent chronic issues, and even save an individual's life.
Emergency dental services treat the teeth, gums, jaw, acute injury and illness to restore function and aesthetics while preventing complications. Dental Services may include a broken tooth, oral bleeding, or severe pain. A knocked-out tooth also qualifies as an emergency. If you experience any new or worsening symptoms, it is best to seek care right away. Emergency dental services are available at Alexandria Old Town Dental in Alexandria and the surrounding area. When you or a family member has a dental emergency, seek help immediately. Medical care can often help patients avoid complications such as infection and difficulty speaking or eating. Call us at
(703) 763-1078
to explore your options.
What Is A Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies may include a broken tooth, oral bleeding, or severe pain. A knocked-out tooth also qualifies as an emergency. If you experience any new or worsening symptoms, it is best to seek care right away. Call your dentist for an urgent appointment. If you are not able to reach your dentist, consider visiting the emergency room.
Common Dental Emergencies
Emergency dental care is appropriate when a person breaks, cracks, or chips a tooth because of an impact or fall, loses a tooth because of an impact or fall, or experiences severe pain because of a decayed or infected tooth.
Some damage or trauma to teeth may be an emergency that requires immediate restorative dental care. This could include replacing a filling, installing a temporary crown, or performing a root canal. An emergency dentist may be able to give you emergency advice over the phone. For example, if an adult tooth is knocked out of place, put it in milk and then get to a dentist as soon as possible.
When To Visit an Emergency Dentist
Not all oral problems require emergency dental care, so patients must examine their situation before making an appointment. Most minor issues can wait a few days for a scheduled appointment. However, there are several reasons to seek emergency dental care:
Restorative Emergencies
Accidents can occur at any time, and in the event of a missing or chipped tooth, it is best to seek immediate care. Restorative emergencies require dental care to preserve teeth. Dentists can then replace teeth to restore the patient’s smile.
Lost Fillings
When patients lose cavity fillings or crowns, the opening is susceptible to infection. Replacing lost crowns and fillings eliminates pain and reduces the chance of infection setting in. Waiting to receive this treatment could elevate patients’ pain.
Severe Gum Pain
Patients should visit the dentist if minor tooth, jaw, or gum pain lasts more than two days. However, those who are in extreme pain should visit the dentist immediately. Pain that persists despite taking over-the-counter medications, such as Aleve®, Tylenol®, or Advil®, could indicate a serious infection or gum disease.
Tooth Abscess
Tooth abscesses are caused by pockets of pus that develop underneath teeth. In addition to being extremely painful, a tooth abscess can lead to a life-threatening infection if left untreated. Seeking immediate care allows dentists to drain the pus that causes the pain before the problem becomes more severe
Emergency Dentistry FAQs
How Can I Avoid A Dental Emergency?
Protect your teeth and gums when playing sports by using a mouthguard made to fit your mouth precisely. Do not chew hard items such as candy and ice that can damage teeth. Do not use your teeth as tools (to open a package, for example), which can also cause breakage and injury. Keep a first aid kit with gauze and acetaminophen in case of a dental injury.
Is Tooth Sensitivity A Dental Emergency?
If you experience pain or sensitivity when the teeth are exposed to heat, cold, or pressure, a cavity could be the cause. This symptom is also common among those who have recently had a dental procedure. However, it does not constitute an emergency unless the pain becomes severe.
What Type Of Pain Signals A Dental Emergency?
Sharp pain that occurs when you bite down often indicates a broken or damaged tooth. If pain occurs in the gum area within 30 seconds or so of eating hot or cold food, this could indicate damage or infection to the pulp of the tooth. Both of these situations require immediate dental care.
Should I Seek Emergency Dental Care For A Small Crack Or Chip?
Minor damage to the teeth is often painless and is not necessarily an emergency. Chips and cracks that affect only the tooth's enamel can often be filled, polished, and smoothed. However, you should see the dentist right away to prevent further damage. A crack or break in the tooth becomes more urgent when the root is exposed, which can cause severe pain.
What If I Have A Loose Or Knocked-Out Tooth?
A loose permanent tooth is a dental emergency. If left untreated, the tooth could fall out entirely. Gently push the tooth back into alignment and see a dentist right away for reattachment.
If you lose a permanent tooth, rinse it in clean water. Next, try to gently reinsert the tooth into the gum. Hold the tooth in place with a finger or by biting down. If you can not reinsert the tooth, tuck it between your cheek and gums. Then seek immediate medical care. If a dental provider acts quickly, they may be able to restore the tooth.
Are Dental Emergencies Life-Threatening?
Some dental emergencies may put your life at risk. Oral infections can spread into the bloodstream and travel to your heart or brain. If the infection is not treated, you may develop life-threatening complications. Always seek emergency care if you experience severe oral pain or a sudden high fever.
What Should I Do If I Experience Heavy Oral Bleeding?
If your gums or inner cheek are bleeding, find a clean cloth or sterile gauze. Apply steady pressure until the bleeding stops. If the bleeding lasts for more than a few minutes or if you took a blow to the head, seek emergency medical care. Make sure to report the injury to your dentist as soon as possible.
What Should I Do If My Teeth Are Damaged In An Accident?
After a serious accident, seek immediate medical care. Some injuries might not appear right away. Adrenaline can numb, and you may not notice that you have life-threatening injuries.
If you suffered a blow to the head, go to the nearest hospital or call emergency services. Afterwards, contact your dental provider. They can provide treatment for cracked, chipped, or lost teeth.
Chipped Teeth
If you chip a tooth, you may require immediate dental attention. A chipped tooth can happen when you least expect it—on vacation, during a business conference, or even if you trip and fall walking out of the dental office. You might also be able to wait until normal business hours for a dental evaluation. The only way to know how to proceed is to contact your dentist as soon as possible after chipping a tooth.
Chipping a tooth can feel devastating, particularly because it can dramatically impact one's outward appearance. It can be difficult to think straight and create a plan of action after chipping a tooth, especially when it is accompanied by pain. When someone has chipped a tooth, take a moment to first assess the situation. Ascertain to survey the extent of the damage, including any teeth that may have fallen out.
What Should I Do If I Chip My Tooth
After chipping a tooth, the most important thing to do is to first call a dentist. If the person is experiencing pain or bleeding after chipping a tooth, it is particularly paramount to contact the dentist immediately. Doing so can help avoid complications such as an infection, nerve damage, or increased pain.
After contacting the dentist, you should try to locate any tooth fragments. If a fragment is still in the mouth or it has fallen out, place it in a glass of cold milk. While this practice may seem strange, preserving the tooth fragment in milk can help salvage the tooth, making it possible for your dentist to reattach the fragment later. If the tooth fragment was accidentally swallowed, do not try to retrieve it.
If there is any bleeding associated with the chipped tooth, use a warm water mouth rinse to gently clean and soothe the area. Place gauze over the bleeding area and apply pressure to encourage clot formation. For pain associated with a chipped tooth, we advise taking an over-the-counter analgesic medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, provided that the patient can tolerate pain medications.
Cracked Teeth
A cracked tooth is a serious problem that requires immediate attention. If not properly treated, it may have adverse effects on one's health. Fortunately, root canals and crowns may help treat severe cases of cracked teeth.
There are five kinds of cracked teeth: craze lines, fractured cusps, cracks extending into the gum line, split teeth, and vertical root fractures. Each type of cracked tooth shows different symptoms. Craze lines have tiny, painless cracks in the teeth enamel, and they typically do not require any treatment. Fractured cusps usually occur around dental fillings without affecting the tooth's pulp, and they are generally painless. Usually, teeth with cracks that have reached the gum line require immediate extraction; however, they may still be salvageable if the crack has yet to reach the gum line.
Split teeth have cracks extending from the surface to below the gum line and can typically be separated into at least two segments. Such teeth generally cannot be saved as a whole. Teeth with vertical root fractures have cracks that begin from below the gum line and extend upwards. With all types of cracked teeth, patients may experience pain when chewing or biting, tooth sensitivity, swelling of the gum around the affected tooth, and intermittent pain.
When a Cracked Tooth Can Be Saved
When treating a cracked tooth, the dentist has many factors to consider. The location of the crack and the type of crack will determine the right treatment option. It is possible to treat a biting surface fracture with a crown, fitting it over the remains of the tooth and making it stronger.
A crack that goes below the gum line may need more extensive treatment, like a root canal. A root canal is when the dentist removes the infected or inflamed part of the pulp, cleans the rest of the space, and then fills and seals it with a special material. A crown is then fitted on the tooth to provide extra protection.
Thanks to advancements in dental techniques, a root canal is relatively free of discomfort. As long as the patient follows proper oral health care, most teeth with a root canal can last for decades. Our staff will walk the patient through all the treatment options to help them feel comfortable with the procedure.
Sometimes a cracked tooth can be saved using methods other than a root canal or crown. For example, it may be possible to fill or bond the tooth if the crack removed a small piece of tooth enamel. A veneer would offer another option if only the front part of the tooth were cracked. Patients should be sure to talk about all of their treatment options with our dentist during their assessment appointment.
When a Tooth Is Beyond Repair
When a tooth gets cracked, our staff will do all they can to save it. Sometimes, a crown or root canal is not enough to preserve a tooth, and extraction becomes necessary to prevent infection and further decay. Fractures can also happen below the gum line, which can be harder to fix without removing the tooth.
If possible, the patient should try to save the tooth instead of having it removed. However, if tooth removal is necessary, dental implants can effectively replace the missing tooth. Patients will want to discuss any alternative options with our dentist when assessed for a root canal treatment.
Chipped and Cracked Teeth FAQs
How Common Are Chipped Teeth?
It is very common to experience a chipped tooth. The most common type of dental injury is a chipped tooth. Luckily, there are many things you can do to avoid a chipped tooth, such as making sure you do not use your teeth to open non-food items and wearing a mouth guard during contact sports.
How Do Chipped Teeth Most Commonly Occur?
The most common way teeth chip is through injury. However, they can occur from other situations besides accidents and are often a result of weakened tooth enamel. Biting down on hard foods or objects can chip a tooth easily when the teeth are not as strong as they once were. We recommend using a mouthguard when playing sports and while sleeping to avoid injury or chipping a tooth from grinding or clenching.
Why Does My Chipped Tooth Hurt?
If your chipped tooth hurts, it may be because the injury extends past the surface of your tooth. If the chip continues through the enamel and dentin layers of your tooth and exposes the inner part of the tooth known as the tooth pulp, you can experience pain. Make sure to follow up with your dentist as soon as you can.
How Do I Take Care Of A Chipped Tooth Once It Has Been Repaired?
Depending on how the chipped tooth was repaired, the patient may require different levels of tooth maintenance to preserve its integrity. Immediately following the repair procedure, we will give the patient-specific instructions about how to care for the tooth in the aftermath. These general maintenance principles apply across all chipped teeth that have been repaired:
- Exercise proper oral care by gently brushing twice daily and flossing once daily.
- Use products that are specially formulated for sensitive teeth, such as toothpaste and mouthwash.
- Do not use teeth to open objects, and do not bite down on anything too hard.
- Get routine dental assessments (usually every six months) so that the health of the tooth can be monitored.
How Do I Know If I Have A Cracked Tooth?
A cracked tooth mimics the symptoms of many other dental issues. However, you may experience discomfort when you bite down or be sensitive to hot and cold foods. Do not ignore these symptoms. The sooner a cracked tooth is diagnosed and treated, the better.
What Can I do To Keep My Teeth From Cracking?
It is difficult to avoid cracked teeth; still, you can do some things to reduce your chances. Do not chew on hard objects like ice or pens, look into a mouthguard if you clench or grind your teeth, and wear a mouthguard while playing contact sports.
Could I Have Cracked Tooth Syndrome (CTS)?
Cracked tooth syndrome occurs when the crack on the tooth is not detected on an X-ray or resides under the gums. Since the crack is hard to see, many people may suffer for months before seeking help. Our doctors will utilize many different methods to help diagnose CTS.
What Does Aftercare For A Repaired Cracked Tooth Look Like?
Unlike in broken bones, the fractures in a cracked tooth will not heal. Some cracks may even continue to grow until they separate, leading to total tooth loss. Crowns protect the treated teeth, but even they are not foolproof. Fortunately, endodontic retreatment is possible if any treated teeth heal improperly or become reinfected due to external factors.
Knowing how to care for a repaired cracked tooth is arguably just as important as having it treated in the first place. With improper aftercare, patients may inadvertently worsen the pain and have the crack spread. Some pain or discomfort may follow most cracked tooth treatment options; however, this should be easily managed with painkillers (either prescribed or over-the-counter). Alexandria Old Town Dental also provides patients with post-treatment instructions to ensure the best results.
Tooth Extractions
Although it is best to preserve a natural tooth, there are times when a tooth extraction is necessary. Teeth may require extraction if they have suffered damage beyond repair, either through trauma or decay. Other factors that may necessitate tooth extraction include overcrowding, infection, and risk of infection. Typically, tooth extraction for overcrowding occurs when preparing the mouth for braces. Braces are meant to realign the teeth, meaning teeth must have adequate space to move around. A tooth extraction may also occur as part of the orthodontic process if there are teeth that do not have enough room to erupt through the gum.
Teeth may become infected when decay or damage extends to the pulp (the nerves and blood vessels at the center of the tooth). Root canal therapy is often enough to treat this problem. However, tooth infections may become severe enough to require extraction and prevent them from spreading any further. Patients who are immunocompromised may need to have teeth removed even if they are just at risk of infection.
Tooth Extraction FAQs
What to Know Before Tooth Extractions
Tooth extraction is generally a safe procedure. Additionally, our team will not recommend a treatment unless the benefits outweigh the risks. However, it is still important to be aware of potential complications. Typically, after a tooth extraction, a blood clot will form in the socket left behind. However, when this blood clot does not form or is prematurely dislodged, then the bone inside the socket may be exposed. This condition is known as "dry socket."
Symptoms include severe and radiating pain, visible bone, bad breath, and foul taste. We can treat this condition easily by putting a new, sedative dressing over the socket for a few days to allow a new clot to form. Additionally, patients should watch out for bleeding that lasts longer than 12 hours, chest pain, cough, nausea, severe fever and chills, shortness of breath, swelling and redness at the surgical site, and vomiting. If any of these symptoms occur, call our office immediately.
Tooth extraction is generally a safe procedure, but there is a small risk of harmful bacteria entering the bloodstream. It also puts gum tissue at a small risk of infection. As such, patients with any conditions that put them at high risk for developing a severe infection may need to take antibiotics before and after the extraction. Make sure to let Alexandria Old Town Dental know your complete medical history and any medications and supplements you are currently taking. It is also essential to let us know if you have congenital heart defects, artificial joints, damaged or man-made heart valves, an impaired immune system, liver disease, or a history of bacterial endocarditis.
Will I Need Any Other Appointments Following The Extraction Procedure?
In most cases, we like to schedule a follow-up appointment with all patients who have undergone an extraction. Whether the procedure was minor or severe, blood clots can dislodge without the patient realizing, and other complications may not exhibit signs. During the follow-up, we will check the extraction site, clean it thoroughly, and discuss possible tooth replacement options.
How Long Does The Pain Last After An Extraction?
Recovering from an extraction varies from patient to patient, but healing time generally lasts from one to two weeks. Pain stemming from the extraction site may be present for the first 48-72 hours, but patients should take their medications as prescribed to reduce pain and aid with healing. Patients experiencing pain that lasts longer than two weeks should immediately call us to schedule a follow-up appointment.
Do Tooth Extractions Hurt?
In most cases, the patient will receive general or local anesthesia to keep them comfortable during the procedure. Some teeth that require extraction have even lost some of their nerve signals. We will do everything in our power to keep your safety and comfort at the forefront of everything we do.
How Much Do Extractions Cost?
Each extraction procedure is different and will vary in cost. We encourage patients to speak with their insurance provider to better understand their plan and coverage. We can also work with patients to figure out a payment option that works best for them.
What Happens If I Have A Complication After An Extraction?
Most complications that arise after an extraction can be treated. In cases of dry socket, we can thoroughly flush out the infection and apply a medicated dressing to seal the hole. For other complications, there may be a treatment or surgery that follows to treat the condition and keep the oral cavity healthy.
What Do I Need To Do After I Have An Extraction?
It usually takes a few days to recover from a tooth extraction. Some minor pain and discomfort are not unusual, and they can generally be controlled with over-the-counter medications. Eating soft foods, refraining from tobacco use, and applying an ice pack can also help.
Following any extraction procedure, we provide patients with after-care instructions for a safe and fast recovery. The blood clot present after an extraction is intended to keep the site covered and prevent dry mouth or dry socket. Furthermore, the initial gauze placed after the extraction should be kept in the mouth for a few hours to help with forming the blood clot.
After the first few hours, the numbing agent will start wearing off. Patients are prescribed pain killers, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory medications to alleviate discomfort and help fight infection. It is important to avoid rinsing, spitting, sneezing, smoking, using straws, and blowing the nose until the extraction site has healed. The extraction site must remain clean at all times by changing the gauze and using a saltwater solution. Merely have the saltwater clean the site; do not rinse harshly.
Some swelling and residual bleeding 24 hours after a tooth extraction are normal and to be expected. However, you should call us immediately if you are experiencing severe pain and bleeding for more than four hours after the tooth extraction. You should also let us know if you are experiencing any signs of infection (such as fever and chills), nausea and vomiting, cough, shortness of breath, redness, swelling, chest pain, or excessive discharge from the treated area.
We may prescribe you painkillers to prevent infection. Take these as directed. Do not rinse or spit forcefully for 24 hours after the extraction, lest you dislodge the clot forming in the socket. Remember to follow any other direction we provide you.