Emergency Dentistry in Chattanooga, TN
Dental emergencies happen to the best of us and usually at the most inopportune times. You might be enjoying a family dinner, and suddenly, a filling pops out or a tooth breaks.
Call your Chattanooga, TN, emergency dentist at Bridge Dental Care if you are in an urgent situation—or are simply overdue for a checkup and cleaning. You can also visit our dental office on Saturdays by appointment!
- How do I know if my dental emergency is urgent?
- What are some examples of non-urgent oral health concerns?
- Is a lost crown or filling a dental emergency?
- I knocked out a tooth! What should I do?
- Do you perform emergency root canals?
- How can I relieve a toothache until I see you?
- Is there a way to prevent dental emergencies?
How do I know if my dental emergency is urgent?
Several situations require an immediate call to your dentist, and these include the following:
- You have a toothache that has gone from uncomfortable to unbearable.
- You have experienced trauma and have a loose or knocked-out tooth.
- You have painful swelling in your mouth, cheek, or jaw.
- You have suffered a blow to your jaw or mouth and are experiencing pain.
All of these are signs you should contact your emergency dentist.
What are some examples of non-urgent oral health concerns?
Although uncomfortable, the following situations usually do not constitute an immediate appointment:
- A crown or filling has come out.
- Food is stuck between your teeth, and flossing and brushing can't eliminate it.
- You have a minor tooth chip.
Call us if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, and we will schedule you for the next opening.
I knocked out a tooth! What should I do?
A knocked-out (avulsed) tooth is a dental emergency. We have only a tiny window of time to reset the tooth into the gum and save it. Call us first to let us know what's going on.
If your accident involved injury to your jaw or face, or if you're experiencing excessive bleeding, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
As you await your appointment, please do the following:
- Hold the tooth by the crown
- Don't touch the root or any tissue that's still attached
- Keeping the root moist is critical, so place the tooth in a container of milk or saliva
- You can also try holding the tooth in the pocket between your cheek and gums until you can get to our office
- Make an appointment with a dentist ASAP
Is there a way to prevent dental emergencies?
You can't prevent all dental emergencies, of course. But the number one way to avoid most dental emergencies is by visiting your Chattanooga, TN, dentist twice yearly for examinations and teeth cleanings. These appointments ensure your dentist can identify situations before they become an emergency.
If we find a damaged filling during your routine dental exam, we can fix it before it falls out. Or, if you have a tooth susceptible to infection, then it is imperative to have it addressed ASAP.
When you see your dentist regularly, most dental issues can be detected and addressed while minor and easy to fix—before they become emergencies.
Contact your Chattanooga & East Brainerd Emergency Dentist at Bridge Dental Care to book your emergency appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental x-rays provide the doctor with images of decay or tarter build-up between the teeth that cannot be seen by simply looking in the mouth. X-rays also identify infection and bone loss.
In short, yes. We recommend you contact your Chattanooga emergency dentist immediately for an appointment. Swelling is typically an indication of an infection, which is often accompanied by pain. Leaving an active infection in your mouth not only puts you at risk for tooth loss, but also impacts the health of your body.
A toothache and swelling may indicate the need for root canal treatment. A common misconception about root canal therapy is that it is a painful procedure. In reality, root canal treatment almost instantly reduces pain in the tooth, jaw, and face, by removing the infection and bacteria and diseased tissue deep within the tooth. While it is common for your tooth to feel sensitive for a few days after the body’s natural healing process takes over, you should feel like yourself again in a few days to a week.
Any time you feel pain, it is your body’s way of alerting you of trouble that you should not ignore! If you do not yet have a dentist in the Chattanooga area, we welcome you to our practice. Bridge Dental Care works with many major insurance companies and offers financing options to eliminate the stress of budgeting your dental emergency and getting treatment when you need it most.
Often, the pain due to a toothache or infection starts small and increases with time. If you have a toothache, swelling, or a broken tooth, it’s a good idea to give your Chattanooga emergency dentist a call. Dr. Primesh Modi is experienced in treating many common dental emergencies:
- Broken tooth
- Infection and swelling
- Knocked-out or dislodged tooth
- Broken crown, filling, or dental bridge
- Object lodged in the gums
- Sports trauma
- Car accidents
At Bridge Dental Care, we welcome dental emergencies and prioritize treatment – often treating painful dental emergencies on the same day to provide relief and get you back to your busy schedule.
How Quickly Can I get an Emergency Appointment in Chattanooga?
In some cases, we can put off a dental emergency appointment until the next convenient time. Situations like a broken crown or filling could wait a day or two, but we don’t recommend that you go any longer than that before visiting our Chattanooga dental office for an exam. Leaving a tooth exposed could lead to decay, advanced fractures, split teeth, pain, or even a root canal infection that requires more complex treatment or even an extraction.
Schedule a Emergency Dental Appointment
We understand that dental emergencies can feel painful. Our gentle dental team is here when you need us most. Give us a call if you notice changes to your oral health.
At Bridge Dental Care, your Chattanooga emergency dentist, Dr. Primesh Modi, understands that families are often busy, and fitting dental appointments – including emergency dental visits – into hectic schedules is essential to get needed dental care.
If you have a dental emergency, especially involving tooth, face, or jaw pain, we advise you to contact us immediately. Typically, if you call early enough in the day, we can provide a same-day dental emergency appointment. Dr. Modi even has some Saturday appointments for those unexpected dental emergencies on the weekend, which unfortunately happens quite often.
Our office hours are:
Monday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Saturday By Appointment Only
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Primesh Modi
Dr. Primesh Modi was born in Houston, TX but grew up in Chattanooga. After graduating from Notre Dame High School here in Chattanooga, Dr. Modi continued his education at the University of Memphis, earning his BS in Computer Engineering Technology in 2005 and a BS in Biology in 2007.
Dr. Modi experienced a great deal of dental care during the first part of his life and discovered that he had a passion for providing outstanding care to others. It was clear to him that his next step would be dental school, and he ...
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