Sarasota Emergency Dentist

what is a dental emergency?

Some dental emergencies are more obvious than others, such as a knocked-out (avulsed) tooth, or a tooth that has been damaged in an oral injury. However, some are less obvious:

• Serious, persistent toothaches
• A crown or filling that has been pulled out while eating
• Excessive bleeding
• A tooth that has been chipped or cracked for any reason

As a rule of thumb, we consider a dental emergency to be any oral issue that is causing you serious pain, discomfort or bleeding, that you cannot treat on your own. If you’re experiencing an emergency, call us now at (941) 200-3723.

What Not To Do In A Dental Emergency

• Don’t wait to schedule your appointment – If we haven’t made it clear enough already, you need to get help from an emergency dentist right away. Contact us as soon as you notice your emergency.
• Don’t visit the emergency room – Unless you are experiencing uncontrolled bleeding, have a severely swollen face and gums, or have suffered a serious, direct injury to the jaw, face, head, or teeth, visiting the emergency room is usually not a good idea. Dental injuries are not usually life-threatening. Use your best judgment to decide whether or not to visit the ER.
• Don’t use aspirin to treat pain if you’re bleeding – Aspirin thins the blood, and can prevent proper clotting. An alternative like naproxen or acetaminophen should be used if bleeding is present.

What to Do If Your Tooth Was Knocked Out

• Recover your tooth and place it back in its socket. If this is not possible, put your tooth in a bag of cold milk.
• Contact Sarasota Bay Dental immediately to let us know that you’re coming in for an emergency appointment.
• Treat pain, bleeding and swelling with clean gauze or cotton balls and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Don’t use aspirin, because it’s a blood thinner and can prevent clotting.
• Ice packs can be applied externally to the mouth for relief from pain and swelling.
• Get professional dental care within 1-2 hours of experiencing an oral injury.

We Offer same day appointments

At Sarasota Bay Dental, we offer same-day appointments and we always have slots available to treat walk-in emergency patients. If at all possible, we request that you give us a call at (941) 200-3723 before you come in to tell us about your situation and allow Dr. Miller to prepare accordingly. If this is not possible, come by as soon as you can and we will do our best to help you right away.

The Importance Of Immediate dental Care

When you experience any kind of dental emergency, you need to get treatment from a qualified emergency dentist like Dr. Miller of Sarasota Bay Dental right away. There are a few reasons that fast emergency care is so important, and we’ve outlined just a few of them below.

• Save your tooth – First, immediate dental care is required to save your tooth. If you have lost a tooth, for example, it must be replaced within 1-2 hours for it to properly re-attach to your gums. If you wait longer than 1-2 hours, there is a good chance that the tooth will be rejected, and it will not be possible to re-implant it.
• Treat pain and discomfort – A loose tooth, impacted tooth, or even a toothache can be absolutely excruciating, and interrupt your day-to-day life. There is no way for you to treat these issues on your own. Using ice and cold compresses and over-the-counter pain medication, or treatments like Orajel are just temporary solutions. You need to see a dentist right away to treat your pain and discomfort.
• Ensure no further complications – If you pull out a filling or a crown, for example, and you do not have it replaced ASAP, you could be exposing your tooth to decay and further damage. The same is true of an issue like a chip or crack in your tooth. If you do not seek treatment right away, the damage could become worse, and your tooth could become infected. Getting same-day emergency care ensures you minimize your risk of these complications.
• Save money and time – The sooner you get emergency care, the more likely you will be able to save your tooth. This means you’ll save money and time, because you won’t have to come in for follow up appointments, or have a costly procedure like a dental implant or bridge to restore your smile.

Dental Care When You Need It Most

At Sarasota Bay Dental, we make it our highest priority to treat emergency patients and provide you with relief from pain and discomfort. Dr. Miller will give you the care you need to restore your smile and get back to your day-to-day life. If you are experiencing a serious dental issue, please give us a call right away at (941) 200-3723, or walk into our office at 2809 University Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34243.