Emergency Dentistry Tempe AZ
At Tempe Family Dental Clinic, we want all our of patients to have comfortable and convenient experience, whether your situation is routine or of a more urgent nature. If you experience a dental problem that causes you undue stress or discomfort, we urge you to call us as soon as you can, and we will set up an appointment to correct the problem as quickly as possible.
Painful dental emergencies can happen at any time, disrupting your plans and ruining your day. If you have a dental crisis, call our Tempe, Arizona dental office at 480-838-3103 to make an appointment with one of our dentists. We look forward to correcting the situation, so you can get back to your life.
A toothache it is usually a sign that your tooth has become infected, from either decay or other damage, such as a cracked or broken tooth. The pain may come and go, or it may be constant. In many cases, we will treat a toothache with a next-available appointment (within a few days). During this appointment, we will take x-rays and examine your mouth to determine the nature and extent of the damage. In most cases, a restoration, such as a filling or root canal, will correct the problem and alleviate your discomfort.
If your toothache is severe, however, we can set up an emergency appointment to treat you more quickly and alleviate your pain. The best way to determine whether your toothache is “severe” is to look at the way it has affected you in the past 24 hours. Has the toothache interfered with your ability to sleep at night? How has it changed your eating habits? Can you attend to your duties at work and care for your family? If your pain disrupts your everyday routines, we consider this an emergency and will treat you as quickly as we can.
If you experience bleeding, bite down on a clean wet cloth or a sterile gauze pad to stop the bleeding. You can also apply an ice pack to your cheek to reduce pain or swelling.
If you have damaged a tooth or crown while eating or during an accident, we will arrange an appointment to restore your tooth as soon as possible. Unless your pain is severe, these situations can be resolved with a next-available appointment and do not fall into the emergency category.
If you have broken a tooth and have piece(s) of the tooth in your possession, put them in a small zipper bag for safekeeping and bring them to your appointment. Teeth frequently crack and break when there is underlying decay, but they can also break from the intense pressure of biting down suddenly on a foreign body in your food (such as a nut shell or unpopped popcorn kernel).
Fillings may dislodge when they are near the end of their life cycle; composite fillings last about 8 years, and amalgams last about 12. If your filling is fairly old, a sticky piece of candy may pull it out of place, and a new filling will be needed.
If you have a crown that has come loose, do your best to avoid using the tooth. Occasionally, the crown can be gently replaced with a bit of toothpaste or over-the-counter dental adhesive (available at pharmacies) but call us as soon as the problem begins, so we can assess your situation and determine the urgency of your situation. Temporary crowns very commonly break and dislodge; if this happens to you, call us so we can determine when the permanent crown will be ready and whether a replacement temporary will be needed.
If you are experiencing dental pain, be it mild or severe, there are several things you can do at home to minimize your discomfort.
If you have a dental crisis, call our Tempe, Arizona dental office at 480-838-3103 to make a same-day appointment with one of our dentists.Our emergency office is located in Tempe off the 101 and Guadalupe on McClintock Drive.
Painful dental emergencies can happen at any time, disrupting your plans and ruining your day. If you have a dental crisis, call our Tempe, Arizona dental office at 480-838-3103 to make an appointment with one of our dentists. We look forward to correcting the situation, so you can get back to your life.
Toothaches
Unlike the rest of our bodies, our teeth do not heal themselves. When we break a bone or pull a muscle we experience discomfort, to be sure, but we also know that time and rest will heal most minor maladies. Teeth cannot fix themselves, so it's critical to remember that any dental pain indicates you will need to see a dentist to correct the problem, sooner or later.A toothache it is usually a sign that your tooth has become infected, from either decay or other damage, such as a cracked or broken tooth. The pain may come and go, or it may be constant. In many cases, we will treat a toothache with a next-available appointment (within a few days). During this appointment, we will take x-rays and examine your mouth to determine the nature and extent of the damage. In most cases, a restoration, such as a filling or root canal, will correct the problem and alleviate your discomfort.
If your toothache is severe, however, we can set up an emergency appointment to treat you more quickly and alleviate your pain. The best way to determine whether your toothache is “severe” is to look at the way it has affected you in the past 24 hours. Has the toothache interfered with your ability to sleep at night? How has it changed your eating habits? Can you attend to your duties at work and care for your family? If your pain disrupts your everyday routines, we consider this an emergency and will treat you as quickly as we can.
A Knocked Out Tooth
If you have had a tooth come out, due to an accident or facial trauma, call us immediately and we will see you as soon as possible. Put the tooth in a small cup of milk (or saliva) and do not clean it, or the hole in your gums. It is sometimes possible to re-place a lost tooth in an empty socket, where it may set and heal by itself. In most cases, however, a lost tooth requires a replacement, such as a dental implant or dental bridge.If you experience bleeding, bite down on a clean wet cloth or a sterile gauze pad to stop the bleeding. You can also apply an ice pack to your cheek to reduce pain or swelling.
Broken Teeth/Crowns and Loose Fillings
If you have damaged a tooth or crown while eating or during an accident, we will arrange an appointment to restore your tooth as soon as possible. Unless your pain is severe, these situations can be resolved with a next-available appointment and do not fall into the emergency category.If you have broken a tooth and have piece(s) of the tooth in your possession, put them in a small zipper bag for safekeeping and bring them to your appointment. Teeth frequently crack and break when there is underlying decay, but they can also break from the intense pressure of biting down suddenly on a foreign body in your food (such as a nut shell or unpopped popcorn kernel).
Fillings may dislodge when they are near the end of their life cycle; composite fillings last about 8 years, and amalgams last about 12. If your filling is fairly old, a sticky piece of candy may pull it out of place, and a new filling will be needed.
If you have a crown that has come loose, do your best to avoid using the tooth. Occasionally, the crown can be gently replaced with a bit of toothpaste or over-the-counter dental adhesive (available at pharmacies) but call us as soon as the problem begins, so we can assess your situation and determine the urgency of your situation. Temporary crowns very commonly break and dislodge; if this happens to you, call us so we can determine when the permanent crown will be ready and whether a replacement temporary will be needed.
Home Care
If you are experiencing dental pain, be it mild or severe, there are several things you can do at home to minimize your discomfort.- Ice - An ice pack can reduce pain and swelling. Hold it only against your cheek—never apply ice directly to your teeth or gums.
- OTC Painkillers – Medications like ibuprofen (Advil) and acetominaphen (Tylenol) can relieve mild pain and reducing swelling. Follow product directions for dosage, and alternate medications, if needed. In addition to pills, a topical anesthetic called eugenol can be purchased at most pharmacies and provides instant relief for many toothaches. Our patients claim one application can last for many hours.
- Chew With Caution – Stick to soft foods as much as possible and avoid and hard or sticky foods entirely. Do not try to chew only on one side of your mouth, as this can lead to soreness in your jaw.
If you have a dental crisis, call our Tempe, Arizona dental office at 480-838-3103 to make a same-day appointment with one of our dentists.Our emergency office is located in Tempe off the 101 and Guadalupe on McClintock Drive.
