Emergency Dentist in Sarasota, FL

What is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency can be any number of instances that require the patient to call or go into the dentist office immediately. Dr. Michael considers a true dental emergency pain caused by the tooth, jaw or surrounding gums or cheeks. He also considers a missing, broken or lost tooth in the smile an emergency. Although Dr. Michael and patients agree that both are dental emergencies, it is important to clarify that some dental emergencies may be life threatening. In the case that you are experiencing swelling, difficulty breathing, or you feel you life is danger, call 911. See below for some other examples of Sarasota dental emergencies.

Sinus Discomfort

Sinus discomfort that is persistent and cannot be relieved with traditional sinus treatments may be caused by one or more infected maxillary teeth—some of which are located near the maxillary sinus. Infections in maxillary teeth may spread to the maxillary sinus to cause symptoms, including headache, nasal discharge, and fever. If you are experiencing chronic sinus discomfort and other root causes have been ruled out by your general practitioner, visit Sarasota Dentistry for an examination and immediate treatment of the affected teeth.

Orthodontic Pain/Injuries

Minor injuries that occur from loose wires and brackets on braces and other orthodontic appliances can usually be treated right away at home, and are not considered true dental emergencies. However, Sarasota Dentistry offers emergency treatment for people with orthodontic appliances who have sustained trauma or injury to the teeth, gums, face, or mouth, or who have severe, unmanageable pain, discomfort, infection, or swelling in any of these areas.

Sudden Sensitivity

Sensitivity that suddenly occurs in one or more teeth may indicate a loose or broken filling, a cracked tooth, or an infection. Signs of an infection include fever, persistent pain, and facial swelling. If you experience sudden tooth sensitivity regardless of whether you’ve been having ongoing dental problems or recently had a dental procedure, contact Sarasota Dentistry immediately for emergency dental care.

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Common Dental Emergencies

Some common dental emergencies are:

A knocked out tooth
Broken or cracked tooth
Bleeding that will not stop
Abscessed Tooth

In each case it is best that you contact your dentist (or Sarasota Dentistry) if in Sarasota, FL. You will get an appointment immediately and Dr. Michael will diagnose and treat the dental emergency appropriately. For a knocked out tooth, rinse the tooth completely and try to set the tooth back into place. If the tooth will not set, try biting gently on a wet paper towel or tea bag. If the tooth still will not set keep it wet by placing it underneath your tongue or in a container of milk. If you have cracked or broken a tooth, rinse the tooth with warm water and apply a cold press to the area to reduce swelling. If a tooth was cracked or broken and is cutting the tongue or inner cheek, rinse the cut area with warm water then place a damp paper towel or gauze over the tooth to continue from cutting the area any further. Some examples of other common dental emergencies are fillings and crowns that dislodge and fall out of place. If your fillings and crowns have fallen out of place or become dislodged, call your dentist right away to get the filling or crown replaced. While you’re waiting for the replacement refrain from chewing or placing any sugars/food over the area.

Dental Emergency Sarasota

Abscessed Tooth and Inflamed Pulp Dental Emergency

Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth also requires emergency dental care, depending on the severity and pain that persist. What is an Abscessed tooth? An abscessed tooth is an infection of the middle of the tooth that spreads to the root and exiting the bottom of the root into the jaw bone. Abscessed teeth occur when tooth decay and cavities go untreated and reach the chamber of the tooth. They may also be caused from previous trauma to the tooth, a crack in the tooth or a virus that attacks the nerve of the tooth. The first signs of an abscessed tooth are a toothache and pain when biting down or chewing. Swelling of the jaw, and excessive toothache throbbing are also symptoms. Once an abscessed tooth has released the infection through the bottom of the root it is common for the surrounding gum area to sprout hard inflamed blisters that will accumulate and release puss. A dentist can bore out the decay and flush the root with a root canal treatment which will rid the area of the abscess.

Dental Issues that Are Not Emergencies

Although the issues above are dental emergencies, there are other dental complications such as a chipped tooth, a minor toothache, and food or objects stuck in-between the teeth or gums. These can lead to dental emergencies, but it is best to first call your dentist and get an examination to determine the appropriate treatment. Dr. Michael may or may not treat your condition at the exam, it depends on what treatment is necessary.

A chipped tooth can cause cuts within the mouth creating excessive bleeding, but if no cutting is occurring then an appointment can be made.
A minor toothache could potentially be the first signs of something bigger, its best to call the dentist for an examination to determine if the ache is something to be concerned about. Some self-remedies such as using Sensodyne tooth paste for a couple of weeks can be tried prior to making the call. That is not generally recommended because if the ache is coming from a cracked tooth, waiting may increase the chance of losing the tooth.
For food stuck in the gum or in-between teeth, try gently flossing the stuck food and do not use any sharp or pointy. If the food is still stuck, call your dentist for help and find out if there is a different solution or a dental visit is needed.

For any dental emergencies, call Sarasota Dentistry at 941.929.7645. Dr. Michael will make every effort to get you out of pain as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Do If You Have a Dental Emergency

If you have a dental emergency, your first step should be to call our offices at Sarasota Dentistry. Our team is happy to help you with any care that we can offer. Dental emergencies typically involved chipped or lost teeth, nerve exposure, and any instances in which you have significant pain.
If you have extensive bleeding or there is damage to the soft tissues in your mouth, the bone, or you have burns, please visit a local emergency room as your first step. Our team is able to with most other types of dental emergencies.

Where Can I Get Emergency Dental Treatment?

Emergency dental treatment is available at Sarasota Dentistry. You can call us at 941-929-7645 to get help. If you believe you are experiencing a dental emergency, Dr. Michael will talk to you about the incident to determine if it is a true emergency or if you can come in for an appointment as soon as possible. Our team is available to talk to you about what's happening so we can help you make the right decision about the care you need.

If you are experiencing any type of life-threatening incident, it's best to visit the emergency room or call 911 first. This is important if you are having trouble breathing or you have swelling. If you are in any danger, call 911 first.

How Do I Get an Emergency Dentist Appointment?

In situations where you feel you need to come in for an emergency appointment, call Sarasota Dentistry at 941-929-7645. Our team can answer all of your questions at that time. You can come to the office during normal operating hours for emergency help as well. We would recommend calling our office as a first step. If you and Dr. Michael agree that the incident is a true dental emergency, we will do our best to accommodate you and get you the care you need. Keep in mind that we cannot handle breathing and swelling problems – for those, please visit your local emergency room or call 911.

If you have a knocked out tooth, a broken or cracked tooth, or you have an abscessed tooth, we recommend calling our team to discuss your emergency needs. We also recommend emergency care if you have bleeding that will not stop.

What Should You do if You Have a Weekend Dental Emergency?

When experiencing a dental emergency over the weekend, your first step should be to assess the situation and severity of your emergency. Our team will work with you to ensure you have access to care as soon as possible. However, over the weekend, our offices are not open. In this situation, we encourage you to visit the local emergency room for any situation that involves significant pain or bleeding.

Whenever possible, Dr. Michael will try to make time for an immediate appointment. However, every situation is different. It’s important for you to call our offices first to learn more about our availability during the weekend. You can do that by calling 941-929-7645. If you cannot wait for an appointment, your local emergency room may be able to help you with some of the care you need until you can come in to see us.

How Much Does Emergency Dental Treatment Cost?

Every situation is different and it’s important for you to get the care you need. When you call us to discuss your dental emergency, we can provide you with more information about what the potential costs for treatment will be. This really depends on the type of situation that needs to be dealt with at the time of the incident. In some cases, we may be able to fix the problem with minor care, but in others, you may need more invasive care. Our team is happy to help answer all of your questions as soon as we can assess the situation.

When you call us for an emergency dental appointment, we can verify the cost of that appointment and provide basic information about the cost of the care we offer.

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