Emergency Dentist — Northampton, MA

Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency?: Pain in your tooth should be considered an emergency if it’s severe, persists for more than a day, or is accompanied by symptoms of an infection such as swollen gum tissue. We recommend that you call our office right away; the sooner you can schedule an appointment, the sooner you can find relief and protect your smile from further harm.

How you should handle a toothache: Try flossing around the tooth in question. This will help get rid of any bits of food that might be causing your pain. If you’re still experiencing discomfort, you may take ibuprofen or a similar type of pain reliever. It may also be beneficial to rinse with salt water or apply a cold compress to any areas where swelling has occurred.

How we treat toothaches: The treatment for a toothache can vary depending on the underlying cause as well as the severity of the situation. Sometimes, a filling may be enough to resolve the issue. But in other cases, you might require a more complex service such as root canal treatment. We’ll do what we can to relieve your pain while also keeping your natural smile intact; however, we may need to extract your tooth if we find that it has reached the point of no return.

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?: A chipped tooth doesn’t necessarily require immediate attention; it’s typically okay to wait a few days to see the dentist for treatment. That being said, failing to address the problem could result in worse damage, so don’t delay seeking care for too long.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: When eating, remember not to bite or chew with the side of your mouth where the affected tooth is located. On top of that, if the chipped tooth has a sharp edge that could irritate your soft oral tissues, you can cover it with a piece of dental wax.

How we treat chipped teeth: Oftentimes, a chipped tooth can be repaired with a simple dental bonding procedure. We can also cover the damage with a veneer; this approach is often recommended for teeth that are visible when you smile. Our team can go over the available treatment options in more detail once we’ve taken a look at the tooth and determined just how extensive the damage is.

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency?: In general, a cracked tooth should always be treated as an urgent issue that requires immediate attention from a dental expert. Even seemingly minor cracks can have serious consequences if left alone for too long, such as leaving the tooth susceptible to infection.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: You don’t want to make the damage worse, so you should avoid using the affected tooth to bite or chew. On top of that, it’s important to keep the tooth as clean as possible; make a point of rinsing your mouth with water at regular intervals. Sometimes a cracked tooth can cause discomfort, so take ibuprofen or another kind of over-the-counter pain reliever if you need to.

How we treat cracked teeth: We’ll evaluate the damage and determine the best way to repair it. Small cracks can sometimes be fixed with dental bonding, but more extensive damage could require a dental crown. In the event that the tooth is simply too badly damaged to restore, our team can gently extract it.

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency?: Sensitive teeth are sometimes a side effect of advanced decay, gum recession, or another serious dental issue that requires swift treatment. We recommend that you call us right away for tooth sensitivity that is severe or lasts for multiple days in a row.

How you should handle sensitive teeth: Exposure to hot, cold, spicy, acidic, and sweet foods can aggravate sensitive teeth. Make a point of avoiding such foods for the time being, and remember to only drink lukewarm water. Depending on what other symptoms you’re experiencing, our team may give you additional first-aid advice when you call our office.

How we treat tooth sensitivity: We’ll identify the source of your tooth sensitivity and devise an appropriate treatment. For example, if you have a cavity, we can treat it with a filling. And if your teeth are becoming worn down due to bruxism (which causes you to grind your teeth at night), we can give you a nightguard to prevent further damage.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency?: A tooth that has been knocked out of your mouth won’t survive for very long. Thus, you have a very limited amount of time to try and have it reimplanted. To give yourself the best chance of saving your tooth, you should call us immediately and make arrangements to get to our office in less than an hour.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: When handling the tooth, remember to only touch the end that is used for chewing. Use water to rinse off any debris, but do not scrub the tooth, and don’t remove any tissues that might still be attached. It’s best to take steps to preserve the tooth for as long as possible. The ideal way to do this is to put the tooth back in its socket, but you can also place it in a container filled with milk or a saline solution.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: As long as the tooth is still viable, our team will take the necessary steps to save it. It’s often possible to reimplant it into the jaw so that it can bond with the surrounding tissue again. Not every tooth can be salvaged, however; in certain cases, it may be better to replace it with a dental implant, a dental bridge, or a partial denture.

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency?: A tooth that has lost a filling or crown won’t be at immediate risk, but it shouldn’t remain unprotected for too long. It’s normal for an older filling or crown to fall out of the mouth; if this happens to you, please call our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: Do not throw away the restoration. Instead, store it safely and bring it with you when you visit our office so that our team can take a look at it. If you have lost a dental crown, you may be able to temporarily reattach it to the tooth as long as it has not been too badly damaged; you can use over-the-counter dental cement or a dab of toothpaste as an adhesive.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: We may need to replace your restoration if it has been completely lost or if it’s too old to use anymore. However, a newer filling or crown that hasn’t suffered severe damage can often be reattached to the tooth.

Broken Denture

Loose Permanent Tooth

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Jaw Pain

Something Stuck Between the Teeth