Emergency Dentist Reno

Ready To Help You Deal with the Unexpected

Life is full of unexpected, unpredictable events – some of which come in the form of a dental emergency! These situations can be quite alarming, especially when they involve your or a loved one’s smile. However, the very last thing you should do is panic; help is readily available here at Smile Design Implant Centers! Our emergency dentists in Reno proudly offer same-day treatment for injured smiles, so if you or someone close to you has suffered a dental disaster, contact our office at once!

Why Choose Smile Design Implant Centers for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
  • Friendly and Accommodating Dental Team
  • Numerous Sedation Options for Anxious Patients

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Man looking concerned while talking on phone with emergency dentist in Reno

Dental emergencies do not get better on their own – in fact, the opposite often happens, and things progressively worsen without treatment! With that said, if you or someone you know suffers a dental emergency in Reno, here are three easy steps you can follow to get the help you need:

  • Call Our Office Promptly – Once you’ve realized you’re suffering a dental emergency, call our office and describe your symptoms. We’ll let you know if you need to come on that day, and also provide you with first-aid tips over the phone.
  • Attend Your Appointment – Once you’ve arrived at our dental office, we can quickly take you back and perform an emergency examination to see the extent of the damage and take X-rays if necessary. Rest assured, we’ll relieve any pain you might be feeling, too.
  • Receive the Care You Need – After we’ve taken a thorough look, we can begin planning your treatment. This might involve one or multiple different treatments, depending on your needs. However, we’re committed to ensuring you leave with a bright and pain-free smile on your face!

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Not every dental emergency causes outright pain; however, that doesn’t mean things aren’t serious! In fact, a lack of pain might be a sign of something more serious and sinister going on. You shouldn’t hesitate to call our Reno dental office and explain what happened; we’ll be able to provide you with some steps to take until you come in to see us. In the meantime, here’s a brief list of a few common dental emergencies that we can usually treat with ease:

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Toothaches  

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Toothaches shouldn’t be ignored. That said, they often don’t require same-day care either. Ultimately, the urgency of the situation depends largely on the symptoms you’re experiencing and how severe they are.

How You Should Handle a Toothache There are a few ways you can alleviate discomfort and protect your tooth from further harm until your appointment with us, including using warm saltwater to rinse periodically, placing a cold compress against the outside of your cheek, and not eating anything crunchy.

How We Treat Toothaches Ultimately, how we treat your toothache will depend on what’s causing it. If it’s a small cavity, then a tooth-colored filling may be the answer. If it’s a considerable crack, then a dental crown may be needed instead.

Chipped Teeth  

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Sometimes, same-day care isn’t needed. The best way to tell if you need to schedule an emergency appointment is by assessing the damage and your symptoms. If the chip is significant and you’re in a lot of pain, then don’t hesitate to call us.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth Rinsing your mouth with clean, room-temperature water will help remove any lingering particles and debris. When you’re done, place some sugar-free gum or dental wax over your tooth to protect the soft tissue in your mouth, your lips, and your tongue from getting cut as well.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth Fortunately, restoring the missing structure is pretty easy with cosmetic dental bonding or a veneer. The one that’s best for you will depend on a few factors, including the severity of the damage, which is why we can’t make a recommendation until we take a look at your tooth.

Cracked Tooth  

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, especially if you can see the damage. The sooner you get in touch with our Reno dental team, the sooner we can restore your healthy, pain-free smile.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth There are a few steps we recommend taking, starting with not chewing on that side of your mouth. Taking OTC pain medication, not drinking hot coffee, and avoiding sugary foods will also go a long way in alleviating any unpleasant symptoms you’re experiencing.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth Once you arrive at our office, our emergency dentist in Reno will alleviate any pain you’re experiencing, complete a comprehensive oral exam, and determine if your tooth can be saved. If it can’t, then they will carefully extract the tooth and replace it with a custom dental implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

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Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Dental sensitivity is more common than you may think. It can be the side-effect of enamel erosion or the cause of something more serious, like dental damage, which is why it’s important that you visit an emergency dentist for an examination at your earliest convenience.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth: If you experience chronic dental sensitivity caused by enamel erosion, using a special toothpaste could help ease your discomfort. However, if a more serious concern is causing your dental sensitivity in Reno, you may need more extensive intervention, like a tooth-colored filling, dental crown, or root canal.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth: If your dental sensitivity is the result of an infection or dental damage, our team will likely recommend restoring your tooth. If you suffer from enamel erosion, we can recommend a fluoride treatment at your next cleaning to help fortify your tooth enamel as well as suggest some products to use at home.

Learn More About Restorative Dentistry

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? If you suffer from a knocked-out tooth in Reno, time is of the essence, making urgent care an immediate need. Call our office in Reno to schedule a same-day appointment.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: If you’re able to locate your knocked-out tooth, pick it up (being sure that you only handle it by the crown, and avoid touching the roots), and gently rinse it with cool water. To keep the tooth viable, store it in a sealable container of milk or saltwater, or you can try to place it back in its socket. If your mouth is bleeding, use a clean washcloth or piece of sterile gauze to gently apply pressure to get it to stop.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth: Our team will always try to preserve your natural teeth whenever possible. However, that can be tricky if a tooth has become completely dislodged and knocked-out. We will try to seat it back in its socket and see if it reintegrates with the jawbone. If it doesn’t, we may recommend replacing the tooth with a dental implant.

Learn More About Dental Implants

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Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? A lost filling or dental crown in Reno requires urgent attention to prevent consequential oral health concerns from developing. Because of this, our team considers this issue a dental emergency. We advise you to call to schedule an appointment as soon as you’re able to.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: If you’re able to locate your lost filling or dental crown, pick it up, rinse it off, and bring it to your appointment with you. Avoid eating on the side of your mouth with your lost restoration, and rinse your mouth with salt water to keep the area clean.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns: It’s likely that we’ll need to replace the restoration. If it’s a dental filling, we can do that in-office the same day you see us. For a dental crown, we can place a temporary on your affected tooth until your permanent one arrives from our partnered dental laboratory. Then, as soon as we receive it, we will permanently cement your new restoration atop your tooth.

Learn More About Restorative Dentistry

Broken Denture

  • Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? A damaged denture isn’t always an emergency, but you could hurt your gum tissues, bite alignment, or any remaining teeth if you wear them in their current condition. It’s best to contact our team in Reno for an appointment as soon as possible.
  • How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: Please don’t attempt to repair your restoration with super glue or other household supplies, which aren’t intended for oral use and can be toxic if ingested. Instead, call us and we’ll schedule an appropriate time to see you.
  • How We Treat Broken Dentures: We may be able to repair chips and cracks with composite resin or reline your dentures to repair the foundation. However, if they are completely broken, we may need to provide a new set or consider implant dentures.

Learn More About Dentures

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Loose Permanent Tooth

  • Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? A partially dislodged or extruded tooth always necessitates an emergency appointment because it’s at risk of falling out altogether. Contact our team, and we’ll likely schedule a same-day visit.
  • How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: Don’t poke or prod the loose tooth or eat anything too hard or sticky. Also, you can keep your mouth clean by rinsing with warm salt water, but you should avoid brushing and flossing until we can address it.
  • How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: Sometimes, a stint or other oral appliance can be placed to stabilize your tooth long enough to reintegrate with your jaw. Otherwise, we might need to consider extraction and replacement.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Replacing Missing Teeth

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

  • Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Cuts to the tender tissues inside your mouth tend to bleed, which can be alarming. Our team can address minor lacerations to restore your oral health.
  • How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Rinse your mouth gently with water to clear away blood, dirt, and debris. Then, hold a clean washcloth or gauze to the wound firmly for several minutes to slow bleeding. You can also place an ice pack on that side of your face to reduce swelling.
  • How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Our team can stitch the cut closed and provide antibiotics to prevent an infection. However, if the cut is severe or your bleeding doesn’t slow or stop after 10 minutes of applying pressure, please head to the nearest emergency room.

Learn More About Sedation Dentistry

Jaw Pain

  • Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? There are several potential reasons for a sore or stiff jaw, and not all are urgent. If you experience persistent or severe pain, contact us so we can identify and treat the underlying issue.
  • How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: We might provide special care instructions over the phone for you to follow when you contact us. Then, you can usually safely address discomfort with over-the-counter pain medications or a cold compress.
  • How We Treat Jaw Pain: If you suspect your jaw is broken or dislocated, you should head to the closest emergency room immediately. Otherwise, our team can provide a nightguard or other oral appliance to alleviate your aches and protect your smile.

Learn More About Teeth Grinding

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Having something lodged between your teeth, like a piece of food or other debris, isn’t always considered an emergency. However, you might accidentally injure your enamel or gum tissues if you try to pry it free with utensils, toothpicks, or other household items.

Contact our team and let us know what happened, and we’ll schedule an appointment to safely remove the item without harming your smile.