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, one of your kids gets a tooth knocked out while playing ball on a Saturday afternoon.

If you or a family member experience a dental emergency, our first bit of advice is not to panic. Call us at (423) 855-1400 with any dental emergency, and one of our team will advise you on just how urgent your situation is. We can also provide you with instructions for what to do until you can get in for an appointment.

Call your Chattanooga, TN emergency dentist at Bridge Dental Care if you find yourself in an urgent situation—or if you are simply overdue for a checkup and cleaning. You can also visit our dental office on Saturdays!

 

How do I know if my 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 loosened or knocked-out tooth. The sooner you get treatment, the better the chances your tooth can be saved.
  • You have painful swelling in your mouth, cheek, or jaw.
  • Your mouth is bleeding uncontrollably.
  • You have suffered a blow to your jaw or mouth and are experiencing severe pain. Even if the pain isn’t severe, it’s a good idea to have a full examination by the dentist to ensure there is no damage below the gum line that isn’t immediately apparent.

All of these are signs that you must seek treatment immediately. If you call us, we can advise you about what to do until we can get you in. When you do come in, Dr. Primesh Modi will take care of your immediate needs with palliative care, and then he can talk to you about treatment and make a follow-up appointment, as needed.

What are some examples of non-urgent emergencies?

Although uncomfortable, the following situation usually does not constitute an immediate appointment:

  • A crown or filling has come out
  • Food is stuck between your teeth and flossing and brushing can’t get rid of it
  • Your tooth hurts, but it is more annoying than painful

Give us a call if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, and we will get you scheduled for the next available opening.

Is a lost crown or filling a dental emergency?

A lost crown or filling needs to be replaced by your Chattanooga, TN emergency dentist as soon as possible. If you’re not in pain, we’ll arrange to see you right away. If not, you still need treatment as quickly as possible to protect the exposed tooth from any further damage. We will need to create a new filling, but if we see you soon enough, we can probably recement the crown back in place.

The exception would be a case where your crown came off because of underlying decay. In this situation, we would need to treat the problem first and see if the crown is still usable.

I knocked out a tooth! What should I do?

A knocked out (avulsed) tooth is the most urgent of all dental emergencies. There’s a small window of a couple of hours in which we have any chance of reinserting the tooth successfully back in its socket.

Call us first to let us know what’s going on. If your accident involved injury to your jaw or face, or if you experience excessive bleeding, we will have you call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Otherwise, we’ll have you come to our office immediately and give you instructions that include 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, water, or saliva
  • You can also try holding the tooth in the pocket between your cheek and gums until you can get to our office
  • Have someone drive you safely to our office

Do you perform emergency root canals?

The pain of an infected root canal can be unbearable, and Dr. Modi does not want you to suffer a moment longer than necessary. If you are in pain, please call Bridge Dental Care right away. We are open six days a week, and we always leave extra room in our schedule, so there’s a good chance we can see your right away.

If we find you need an emergency root canal at our Chattanooga, TN dental office, you can be confident that you are in the best possible hands. Dr. Modi will provide the treatment you need to relieve your pain and protect your oral health.

How can I relieve a toothache until I see you?

Even a minor toothache can upset your life, and our priority is to get you the relief you need as quickly as possible. Until you get to our office for emergency dental treatment in Chattanooga, TN dental office, you can try the following:

  • Take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen
  • Place a cold compress on and off your cheek at 20-minute intervals
  • Swish warm salt water around in your mouth for 30 seconds

Is there a way to prevent dental emergencies?

You can’t prevent all emergencies, of course. But you may not realize that the number one way to avoid most dental emergencies is by visiting your Chattanooga, TN dentist twice each year for examinations and cleanings. These check-in appointments will ensure that 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 that is susceptible to infection, we can perform a scheduled root canal rather than waiting until you are in pain.

When you see your dentist regularly, most dental issues can be detected and addressed while they are small and easy to fix—before they become emergencies.

What if I have a dental emergency after hours?

Bridge Dental Care is open six days a week, so we can usually accommodate most emergencies during daytime hours. However, emergencies don’t keep regular hours, and Dr. Modi wants to make sure you get the relief you need as quickly as possible.

If it is after hours, call our main dental office number and follow the instructions for after-hours emergencies. Dr. Modi or a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible to find out what the problem is and how urgent your emergency is.

Depending on the circumstances, he may be able to call in a prescription for an antibiotic to provide you with relief until we can see you the next day.