Emergency Dentist – Upper Arlington, OH 

When Dental Emergencies Strike, Call Us

Dental emergencies such as infections and broken teeth tend to happen when you’re not expecting them. As such, you should always have the phone number for Glamm Dentistry close at hand; that way, you can call us immediately if there’s something wrong with your smile. We can give you advice for managing your pain and preventing further damage over the phone, and we can make arrangements for our emergency dentist in Upper Arlington, OH to see you as soon as possible to provide treatment. The faster you act, the better chance you’ll have of saving your smile!

 

Why Choose Glamm Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Dental Sedation for Anxious Patients
  • High-Quality, Community-Based Dental Office
  • Dentist That Focuses on Health of Whole Body

 

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Woman receiving emergency dentistry treatment
  • Set an emergency appointment: Our team will arrange to see you at the earliest possible convenience, ideally on the same day as your call. Be sure to explain your symptoms to us in full detail so that we can get a clear picture of the nature of your emergency.
  • Comprehensive emergency exam: Glamm will take X-rays and examine your entire mouth to identify the source of the emergency and determine how extensive it is.
  • Review findings: Once we fully understand the nature of your emergency, we can create a potential treatment plan. We’ll explain our recommendations to you along with the costs involved and an estimated treatment timeline, allowing you to make an informed decision about your care.
  • Get the care you need: Our team can stop your pain, protect your smile from further damage, and restore your oral health with the help of a variety of dental services, from simple treatments like fillings to more complex solutions.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

There’s no one definition you can use to describe every dental emergency, so in some cases, you might be unsure whether you need urgent care or not. The list of common emergencies below should give you a good idea of what issues warrant an immediate call to our dental office. If you’re still in doubt, reach out anyway and explain your situation to our team; they can help you determine whether you’re experiencing a true dental emergency.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Dental team member showing dentistry patients dental insurance forms

How much will you end up paying for emergency dental care? In some cases, you might just need a prescription to fight infection while in other cases you might need to have a tooth removed and replaced. Our team will be transparent about why certain treatments are recommended so that you can be sure that you are only paying for care that you truly need. We’ll also help you explore different payment options that can make it easier for you to cover the cost of care without breaking your budget.

 

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman brushing teeth to prevent dental emergencies

There are several preventive measures you can take to help you avoid dental emergencies. For example, brushing and flossing every day and routinely visiting our dental office for cleanings can help protect your teeth from decay. You should also be aware of any daily habits like nail-biting that can wear down or crack tooth enamel and take steps to put a stop to them. If you play contact sports or grind your teeth at night, you should invest in a mouthguard to prevent dental damage.

 

Dental Emergency FAQs

Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?

You can probably correctly assume that if you’ve broken an arm or developed a serious fever that you should head to the closest emergency room for immediate care. However, it can be challenging to know where to go sometimes for urgent dental issues, and many patients question whether they should contact their dentist or get go to an ER.

Although the doctors at emergency centers are incredibly qualified, they don’t have the unique training, experience, or instruments to take care of specific tooth-related problems like your dentist does. It’s usually wiser to contact our Glamm Dentistry team for oral issues. That said, if you’ve sustained a life-threatening injury or have severe bleeding that won’t stop or slow, you should call 911 or go to the ER.

Will my toothache go away on its own?

If you’ve developed a mild or moderate toothache, it’s natural to want to give it some time to see if it will resolve itself. Unfortunately, your teeth don’t repair themselves, meaning the throbbing isn’t likely to fade without professional intervention. If a tender tooth does start feeling better, it often points to dead or damaged nerves inside that can no longer feel pain.

That means it’s best to call our office in Columbus to book an appointment as soon as you start feeling dental pain. We’ll examine your condition to identify the underlying cause and suggest appropriate treatments to address it before it worsens.

Do I need to visit for minor chips to teeth?

Minor damage might seem like a mere cosmetic concern or surface issue, but the truth is that once the structure of your enamel is compromised, you’re at an increased vulnerability to dental problems. Bacteria in your mouth can penetrate the cracks to cause decay, disease, or injuries.

Even if you don’t see major fractures, you can’t know for certain the extent of the harm done without the right imaging tools. Our team can take X-rays to see beneath the surface to assess your condition and provide treatments as needed. Often, dental bonding or veneers are enough to address minor issues, though you might need a dental crown to protect and restore a more severely broken tooth.

What is causing my jaw pain?

If your jaw feels sensitive, stiff, or sore, you might have developed a TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder. This occurs when the sliding disc joints that connect your jawbone to your skull become overworked or misaligned. The ensuing inflammation can cause aches, hinder your range of motion, and even lead to a locked jaw.

Our team can examine your condition to determine whether it’s caused by bruxism (chronic teeth grinding), overcrowded teeth, or some other concern. Then, we’ll work with you to devise an appropriate treatment plan, like wearing a nightguard at night or undergoing orthodontics to correct your bite.

More to Explore

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Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? Though you should typically get a toothache checked out by your dentist, not every situation is considered an emergency. You should head to your dentist’s office if you experience symptoms such as sharp/throbbing pain, severe discomfort that persists longer than a day, a small pimple-like bump on your gums, or signs of an infection (such as swelling, fatigue, or fever).

How you should handle a toothache: Until you can visit your dentist, floss around the tooth and rinse your mouth to see if you can dislodge any debris or troublesome particles. Using salt water can help relieve discomfort and eliminate bacteria. You can also take over-the-counter painkillers or place a cold compress on your cheek to minimize any swelling. If you notice a bump on your gums, do not try to pop it.

How we treat toothaches: Once you arrive at our office, our team will assess your condition and determine the best course of action. Most toothaches are due to decay or cavities, which can be addressed with antibiotics or tooth-colored fillings. If your gums are infected, we can offer gum disease treatment. If a tooth is severely damaged or infected beyond repair, we may need to extract it.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? A chipped tooth may not be life-threatening, but it can leave you exposed to bacteria and further damage if not treated. To avoid more serious issues, like an infection, you’ll want to get it fixed by your dentist sooner rather than later.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: You should rinse your mouth with clean water or salt water to wash away debris and disinfect the area. Gather any pieces of your tooth and bring them with you to your appointment in case your dentist can put them back together. While you wait for your visit, keep your tooth protected from damage and sensitivity by covering it with dental wax or even sugar-free gum.

How we treat chipped teeth: In many cases, our team can reattach any chipped-off pieces or repair the tooth itself with composite resin. The substance will be hardened after being sculpted so that it matches the rest of your pearly whites. However, if the damage is more visible like on a front tooth, you might consider veneers for a longer-lasting solution.

 Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Porcelain Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Even if you experience a small crack in your tooth, you’ll want to visit our office for treatment as soon as possible. This will help minimize any further damage and help protect the inner pulp from getting infected.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: You’ll want to keep your tooth protected until you arrive at your dental appointment. In addition to rinsing the area with water to remove any bacteria, you’ll need to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth or eating altogether so that you don’t disturb the tooth any further. Place an ice pack on the outside of your cheek to alleviate inflammation and take pain relievers to ease discomfort.

How we treat cracked teeth: Mild cracks or damage to your teeth can typically be fixed with composite resin. More severe damage may require us to protect your tooth by covering it with a dental crown. If the tooth is beyond repair, we’ll have to consider removing it completely to preserve the rest of your smile.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? There are several potential causes behind your symptoms; some are more urgent than others. It’s often the result of weakened enamel due to an overly acidic diet, aggressive over-brushing, tooth decay, gum disease, or an infection. We won’t know what we’re dealing with until we examine your mouth, so it’s better to call us sooner rather than later.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth: Contact us first and explain the situation so we can schedule an appropriate appointment time. Then, based on your circumstances, we might also provide at-home care tips, like switching to a desensitizing toothpaste or rinsing with warm salt water. Try to avoid eating overly spicy, acidic, sweet, hot, or cold foods that might exacerbate your condition.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth: The treatment for your sensitivity depends on the cause. If enamel is weakened, a topical fluoride treatment may help. Otherwise, you might require a filling, gum disease therapy, or other solution to address the underlying issue.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Losing an adult tooth isn’t considered normal, and it’s essential to be seen as quickly as possible, so please contact us immediately. The tooth is only viable for a short time after it’s been dislodged, and you must act fast if you hope to reimplant it.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: Locate the lost tooth, keeping in mind that it may still be in your mouth, so be cautious when swallowing. Gently rinse the tooth with water, but only touch the crown (tooth-shaped portion) and not the roots to keep the cells intact. Then, store it in a small container with saliva or milk to preserve it until you arrive for your appointment.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth: If the tooth is in relatively decent condition, we may be able to place it back in its socket to reintegrate over time. Otherwise, we’ll examine your condition and suggest an appropriate replacement based on our findings.

Learn More About Replacing Missing Teeth

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Typically, your dental filling or crown isn’t intended to last forever, so it’s not always urgent when one is lost. However, the underlying tooth is vulnerable to injury or infection if left unprotected for long, so you should contact us as soon as possible.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: Try to locate the lost restoration and bring it with you to your appointment. If you’ve lost a dental crown, you might be able to temporarily put it back in its place with a small amount of dental cement or a dollop of toothpaste, but this isn’t usually recommended for fillings.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns: If your dental crown was placed relatively recently and is still in good condition, we might be able to bond it back over your injured tooth. Otherwise, we’ll likely recommend replacing your filling or crown.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Metal-Free Dental Crowns

 

Broken Denture

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? You shouldn’t wear your broken dentures because doing so can potentially harm your gums, lips, insides of your cheeks, jaws, or remaining teeth.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: Whether it’s the base that’s been broken or the pontics (artificial teeth) it’s best to call us for an appointment. Many patients have hurt their restorations or their dental health by trying to fix dentures at home with household supplies, like superglue, that are not intended for oral use or ingestion.

How We Treat Broken Dentures: If the teeth have sustained minor aesthetic injuries like chips or cracks, Dr. Glamm might be able to fill them in with dental bonding. If the base has been damaged or doesn’t fit correctly, we’ll provide you with a new set of dentures.

Learn More About Cosmetic Dental Bonding

Learn More About Dentures

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? You should schedule an emergency appointment immediately if an adult tooth is loose or wiggling, also known as extruded or partially dislodged. They’re at risk of falling out altogether, which is never considered normal. You need professional intervention to address the underlying cause and save them.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: Contact our office and we’ll schedule a same-day appointment to examine your affected tooth. In the meantime, avoid biting or chewing anything with it, and don’t touch it with your fingers or other objects. You can clean your mouth by gently swishing it with warm salt water, but you shouldn’t brush or floss.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: If you have a loose dental implant, we might be able to strengthen your jaw with a bone graft to support it. For a natural tooth, we can supply a splint or other salvaging services to stabilize it so it can reintegrate with your jawbone. Otherwise, we might recommend an extraction and appropriate replacement method.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Dental Implants

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dentures & Partials

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? If the tender tissues inside your mouth have been lacerated or harmed, you might be bleeding or in pain. This is a more common occurrence among athletes or those who participate in team or close-contact sports.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water to eradicate germs and debris, then apply pressure with a clean washcloth or gauze. You can also apply a cold compress to that side of your face for temporary numbing relief.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Our team can stitch closed minor to moderate wounds. However, if you have bleeding that doesn’t slow or stop after applying pressure for 10 minutes, you’ll need to go straight to the nearest emergency room. Our team can provide a custom-fitted mouthguard to shield your smile to prevent repeat occurrences.

Learn More About Mouthguards

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Jaw pain can potentially impact your daily life, but it’s not necessarily an emergency. That said, if it becomes chronic or your symptoms grow significantly worse, you should schedule an appointment right away to prevent potentially progressive issues.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Call us, and we’ll walk you through appropriate care tips and schedule a time for you to visit. Usually, it’s safe to take over-the-counter pain meds like Tylenol or ibuprofen to address your discomfort. If you’ve sustained a life-threatening injury or have a broken, dislocated, or locked jaw, then it’s best to head to the nearest Emergency Room instead.

How We Treat Jaw Pain: We can provide oral appliances to create a layer of cushion between your upper and lower arches to alleviate clenching pressure on your TMJ (temporomandibular joints) connecting your jawbone to your skull. We can also relieve muscular tension with BOTOX injections and occlusal adjustments.

Learn More About TMJ Therapy

Learn More About Nightguards

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Although it’s tempting to try to remove stuck objects yourself, you might injure your teeth or gums if you use household items like tweezers, toothpicks, or utensils to dislodge debris. To avoid lacerating the tender tissues in your mouth or chipping or cracking your teeth, try gently flossing or rinsing your mouth with warm salt water. If that doesn’t work, contact us for an appointment, and our team will safely remove the items without harming your dental health.