What’s Considered a Dental Emergency?

Our emergency dentists in Ann Arbor, MI, know that there’s never a good time for a toothache or other dental emergency. That being said, it’s important that you keep a clear head so you can figure out your next steps.

First, you’ll need to determine if your situation is a dental emergency that requires immediate care or something that can wait a few days.

Here’s how to know the difference.

What is Considered a Dental Emergency?

If you need emergency dental care, we’ll do everything we can to see you the same day for treatment.

Here are some examples of dental emergencies:

• Knocked-out tooth
• Severe toothache
• Cracked tooth causing pain
• Dental abscess

Knocked-Out Tooth

We have the best opportunity to reimplant a tooth within 30 minutes of it being knocked out. The longer that you go without urgent dental care, the less likely it is that we’ll be able to save the tooth.

Follow these instructions for a knocked-out tooth:

1. Pick up the tooth by the crown (chewing surface), NOT the roots. Picking up a tooth by its roots will damage the cells needed for reimplantation.
2. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it under water. Do NOT use soap, scrub the tooth, or dry the tooth with a tissue or towel.
3. If possible, gently place the tooth back in its socket and gently bite down to hold it in place. If this is not possible, keep the tooth tucked inside your cheek or submerged in a glass of milk.
4. Call our dental office to let us know you’re on the way.

Severe Toothache

We won’t know what’s causing your toothache until you see one of our Ann Arbor emergency dentists. During your appointment, we’ll ask you about your symptoms, do a thorough examination, and take X-rays.

With this information, we’ll be able to diagnose the source of your pain and recommend a treatment plan. For example, we may recommend an emergency root canal if the dental pulp inside the tooth is infected.

What Doesn’t Need Urgent Dental Care?

Not all concerns require emergency dental care. That being said, it’s still important that you reach out to our office if you ever feel any pain or discomfort.

Here are some examples of situations that aren’t considered emergencies:

• Lost crown or filling
• Mild toothache
• Small crack in a tooth that’s not causing pain
• Small chip in a tooth that’s not causing pain

If you’re not experiencing a dental emergency, we’ll still work hard to ensure one of our dentists is able to see you as soon as possible. That way, you’ll be able to receive the care you need in a timely manner.

Depending on our schedule, it may be a few business days before you’re able to see one of our dentists.

Related: How to Avoid a Dental Emergency →

Schedule Emergency Dental Care

Need to learn more about our emergency dental services? Our emergency dentists in Ann Arbor, MI, are accepting new patients and would be more than happy to answer your questions. To schedule an appointment for urgent dental care, please call Enhance Family Dentistry & Orthodontics at (734) 821-7676. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.

This blog post has been updated.