Emergency Dentist – Needham, MA
Fast, Compassionate Care During Your Dental Crisis
No one ever plans on having a dental emergency, but these painful and frightening situations can creep up on anyone at any time. That is why we are always ready to leap into action to help our patients when they are most in need. As soon as your emergency begins, give Gillis Dental a call. We will make every effort to see you as soon as possible, likely even on the same day that you contact us for emergency dentistry in Needham, MA.
Why Choose Gillis Dental for Emergency Dentistry?
- Extended Dental Office Hours Three Days a Week
- Fast, Compassionate Care
- Sedation and Advanced Restorative Procedures Available
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Same-Day Appointment: Upon receiving your call, we’ll ask about your situation, offer any first-aid tips that you might need, and make arrangements to see you as soon as we can. If necessary, we can schedule a same-day appointment for you.
- Emergency Exam: The point of an emergency examination is to figure out what’s causing the problem as well as how extensive the damage is. In addition to taking a close look at your teeth and gums, we may need to capture a few X-rays to get a full picture of the situation.
- Review Findings: We’ll share the results of our examination with you and explain what’s going on inside your mouth. Then we can give you our recommendations for treatment. Don’t worry; you won’t have to make any decisions without first being given an estimate of the cost and timeline of the treatment in question.
- Get the Care You Need: After devising a treatment plan, all we need to do is carry it out and help you achieve the relief that you deserve.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies come in many different forms, but the one thing that they all have in common is that they should be examined and treated by a professional as soon as possible. Below are examples of common dental emergencies that our team can help with; if you or a loved one has any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to call us.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
There is no set cost for treating a dental emergency because every situation is unique. If treatment is as simple as giving you a prescription, you will have to pay less than a patient who requires root canal therapy or another major procedure. We will always be upfront with you about pricing and help you explore options for making your treatment affordable. We accept most forms of PPO dental insurance, and financing is available for most patients.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Here are some simple tips to help you reduce your chances of suffering a dental emergency:
- Maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine. You should brush at least twice a day and floss once a day.
- Always wear a mouthguard during sports. Custom mouthguards provide more protection than store-bought ones.
- Visit your Needham dentist regularly for preventive care. We can identify and treat most oral health issues before they lead to an emergency.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Be cautious around potential fall hazards or other dangers that might cause injury.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Will a Toothache Go Away on Its Own?
In most cases, toothaches do not go away on their own. Teeth cannot heal themselves, so any existing problems are only likely to worsen over time.
However, there are a few instances where a toothache might disappear without professional care:
- When the pain comes from near a tooth, rather than the tooth itself. This might happen if you have a sinus infection or a minor gum injury. As you heal, any dental discomfort should disappear.
- When a tooth dies. An infection may kill the nerve inside a tooth, which would effectively end a toothache. However, the infection may continue to spread and lead to future pain and complications. This situation is a true dental emergency that requires prompt care.
Will Pulling a Bad Tooth Stop the Pain?
If a tooth is badly damaged or infected, extracting it can prevent it from sending pain signals to the brain. This can serve as a permanent way to resolve a toothache. Extractions can also help to relieve the discomfort of overcrowding in cases where there are too many teeth in the mouth (or the teeth are simply too close together).
In most cases, we try to prevent extractions by treating damaged teeth. However, if that is not practical or possible, tooth removal may be the best course of action.
Should I Worry About a Chipped Tooth If It Does Not Hurt?
Even if a chipped tooth is not causing you any pain, you should still visit us when your schedule allows. Without professional care, the damage could easily worsen. You might end up with an infection or severe dental sensitivity. Plus, the tooth’s jagged edges might irritate the sensitive soft tissues in your mouth.
Our team can evaluate the damage and take steps to prevent the situation from worsening into an urgent dental emergency.
If a Knocked-Out Tooth Is Reattached, How Long Will It Take to Heal?
If a knocked-out tooth is splinted back into its socket, it may take 4 weeks or so for it to firmly reattach to the surrounding tissues. The process might take even longer if there was significant damage to the jawbone when the tooth was knocked out of place.
Be sure to attend all recommended follow-up appointments with our team so we can monitor your healing process and help it be successful.
Is a Cavity a Dental Emergency?
Cavities tend to start out very small. In fact, they may not cause any pain or sensitivity at all when they are in their early stages. These small spots of decay are not classified as dental emergencies.
However, keep in mind that cavities grow larger with time. They can easily lead to an emergency if they are neglected for long enough. This fact underscores the importance of regular dental exams and timely restorative care.
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