Emergency Dentist

A knocked-out or broken tooth, severe damage to your gums or cheeks, or severe dental pain all qualify as dental emergencies. If you are suffering from any of these concerns, you may need to visit an emergency dentist at Iroquois Family Dentistry for immediate dental care. Left untreated, a broken tooth or another dental emergency can leave you more vulnerable to infection and further damage. More complex restorative cases inevitably involve higher treatment costs, more trips to the dentist, and longer recovery times.

We Make Dental Care Enjoyable

When sudden dental pain strikes or you are involved in an accident, it can be tricky determining how quickly you should seek dental treatment. Your first step should be to call our office at (615) 298-2040. Our dental professionals will ask questions about the nature of your injury to determine whether you should visit our Nashville, TN, dentists or if you should go to urgent care. 

Seek Immediate Care

The general rule is that if something hurts, you should seek immediate dental treatment. Injuries requiring prompt attention by our emergency dentists include:

• Severe toothache accompanied by a fever 
• Knocked out permanent tooth 
• Jaw injury 
• Soft tissue injury to the gums 
• Possible fractures to your tooth or teeth
• A punctured lip

If you have sustained a dental injury to your tongue or lip and cannot control the bleeding with pressure or a cold compress, seek immediate medical attention.

Schedule a Non-Urgent Appointment

Some oral injuries require prompt treatment by an emergency dentist while others can wait until normal business hours. The latter cases include: 

• Lost or damaged dental fillings
• Chipped teeth
• Cracked dentures
• Heightened dental sensitivity

Again, if you are unsure, reach out to our office. We can make recommendations depending on the seriousness of the injury and the location of the affected tooth. Any type of dental injuries or damage to a dental restoration, including a crown or bridge, should still be handled in a timely manner at our Nashville, TN, dentistry office to avoid further damage. 

There are several steps you can take before you come in and on your way to our office to protect your oral health and prevent further injury. What these are will depend on your specific emergency and the type of dental care needed. 

Knocked-Out Tooth

If you have a knocked-out tooth, you need to act quickly to give our dentists the best chance of re-implanting it. On your way to our Nashville dental office, take the following steps to minimize the impact of damage:

• Avoid touching the tooth's roots 
• Handle the tooth with extreme care 
• Keep the tooth moist by storing it in a container or baggie with saliva or milk 

You may also keep the tooth in its socket on your way to the dentist, if you think it will stay in place. Make sure it is facing the correct direction and do not force it into place. If it does not easily go back into place, keep it moist and seek the attention of our Nashville dentists immediately.

Broken Teeth

Although minor chips or cracks can be easily concealed by our dentists with dental bonding or veneers at your next appointment, serious breaks need immediate attention from an emergency dentist. If the dental damage is severe enough, it may require a partial denture to repair the site. To minimize pain and preserve your smile on your way to our Nashville dentistry practice, you should:

• Rinse your mouth with warm water 
• Relieve any pain with a cold pack or over-the-counter pain medication 
• Apply pressure to the site with gauze or a moist tea bag to staunch any bleeding 

Our dentists can typically address broken teeth in a single appointment thanks to our in-office CEREC® system.

Cracked Teeth

You need to see an emergency dentist if you crack a tooth. These injuries are difficult to assess on your own. Sometimes the tooth looks fine but hurts when pressure is applied or when you drink a hot or cold beverage. If a tooth consistently hurts there may be nerve damage. This should be considered more than just a toothache, and is a symptom of a serious dental condition that requires immediate emergency dental care. 

Soft Tissue Injury

Because of the abundance of blood vessels in your mouth, injuries to your tongue, lips, or cheeks usually heal very quickly. If you have experienced trauma to the inside of the mouth, you should first rinse out your mouth with saltwater or hydrogen peroxide. This should clear out the blood, allowing you to determine the severity of the injury. Should bleeding continue, apply pressure using a clean cloth for a minimum of five minutes. A cold compress or ice can reduce bleeding, limit swelling, and help with any discomfort. 

Seek the attention of an emergency dentist if:

• Pressure and cold compresses do not control bleeding
• The cut is clearly deep
• The cut crosses the border between your lip and the skin on your face
• There is a puncture in your lip

If the symptoms of an infection develop after the first day or two, contact our emergency dentists right away as your injury may require antibiotics.