Emergency Dentistry

25% off normal fees with membership plan

Emergency dentistry can treat a range of issues
Emergency dentists offer more flexible scheduling
Emergency dentists often help with more than emergencies
Emergency dentists focus on patient comfort
Emergency dentists usually take patients on either a first-come, first-serve basis or, as emergency triage dictates
Following a regular oral hygiene routine can help prevent many dental emergencies before they occur

Dental emergencies can happen at any time and can disrupt your daily life. It is important to know what to do when faced with an emergency. A dental emergency can be any condition or injury that affects the teeth, gums, jaw or soft tissues of the oral cavity that require prompt treatment. If you are experiencing any of the following issues a broken tooth, knocked out tooth, chipped or broken tooth, lost filling or crown, severe toothache, fractured jaw, cut lip or tongue, etc., you need to contact our emergency dentist immediately. While some dental emergencies are unavoidable, you can minimize your risk by choosing to take great care of your teeth at home. Following a regular oral hygiene routine with daily brushing and flossing, as well as regular dental visits every six months, can help prevent many dental problems before they develop.

Prevent Dental Emergencies With Proper Care

The best way to prevent an emergency is to practice good oral hygiene habits at home, including brushing and flossing daily and getting regular professional cleanings and exams. Dental insurance benefits can be used at routine checkups to help prevent or catch early signs of cavities, gum disease, or other degenerative conditions that require extensive care to restore oral health. Regular visits also allow your dental team to monitor your teeth for changes that could signal a problem brewing. In addition to practicing good hygiene, you can also avoid certain activities that may open you up to the risk of sustaining a dental emergency. These include chewing on ice and other hard foods, using teeth as tools to open packages, and participating in contact sports such as football and hockey. Such activities increase the risk of a broken or lost tooth due to impact trauma. While injuries can occur at any time, they are more common during competitive sporting events. To prevent dental emergencies while playing sports, ask your dentist for a mouthguard.

Contact our dentist in case of an emergency

It’s normal to panic in an emergency, but do your best to keep a level head and follow these steps so we can help you! First, call our office as soon as you’re able and let us know that you’re having an emergency. Even if you’re not sure if it’s a true emergency or not, it’s much better to contact your dental office and let them know what’s going on so they can give you instructions on what to do until they can get to you and treat you properly. If the emergency cannot be handled over the phone, we will likely ask you to come in so we can take a look and treat the issue right away.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an “emergency”?

We classify a dental emergency as any situation where a patient is experiencing pain and/or bleeding that is causing him or her to be unable to function normally or seek professional treatment. A patient experiencing these symptoms doesn’t need to wait until normal business hours to be treated. The sooner your dentist can treat his or her condition, the more likely it is that the patient will recover without complications and will be able to return to his or her regular routine quickly.

What are the common dental emergencies?

Toothache – this is typically the most common reason people call their dentist and ask to be seen right away for emergency care. Having a severe toothache can be a sign of an infection that will only get worse over time. It’s best to get treated as soon as possible so that you don’t experience increased pain and damage to your tooth.
Broken tooth – if your tooth cracks or your filling falls out, you may need to see your emergency dentist right away. If left untreated, the crack in your tooth can worsen over time, which can result in the need for more expensive treatment or even loss of the tooth.
Knocked-out tooth – it’s important to see an emergency dentist right away if you knock out one of your teeth. The sooner you’re able to get to a dental office, the better chance you have of being able to save your knocked-out tooth. If you wait too long to see the dentist, you have a higher chance of getting an infection and increasing the chances that you will lose the tooth.
Dental abscess – an abscess is an infection that occurs around the root of a tooth. It’s important to have your abscess treated by a professional as soon as possible so that the infection doesn’t spread to other parts of your body. If you have symptoms of an abscess, including fevers, chills, swollen glands, or facial swelling, you should contact a dentist near you as soon as possible for treatment.

How to prevent dental emergencies?

Keep in mind that most dental emergencies are preventable. In many cases, you can prevent a problem or injury by wearing a mouthguard during sports or a retainer at night. It’s important to maintain a proper oral care routine at home as well and visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and exams. These are key to keeping your teeth and gums healthy and reducing your risk for emergency treatment.

What should I do if I have a severe toothache?

If you have an emergency, you need to come in to see the dentist as soon as possible. Sometimes we’ll need to take a look and determine if you need a root canal or if your tooth needs extraction. We can then discuss your options for restorative care, such as a dental crown or a dental implant. We also may need to prescribe an antibiotic to treat an infection. If your tooth is knocked out, you can rinse the tooth with water and store it in milk until you can come in to see us. Otherwise, call us right away to schedule an appointment.

What if my emergency occurs outside of office hours?

If your emergency occurs after hours, you can always call our office, and the after-hours answering service will contact the doctor on call for you. If you are an existing patient of record with us, we can also schedule you for a same-day appointment during regular business hours.
Emergency appointments are reserved for serious cases that can’t wait until the next business day for treatment.

Financing Options At Bishop Family Dental

Avail quality dental care affordably and conveniently

We accept payments as cash, checks, or cards
We accept all major dental insurance at our dental office
We offer CareCredit financing and membership discount plans to make our dental services affordable to our patients.