Even patients who have a dedicated home care routine and visit their Northeast Heights dentist twice a year can find themselves with a dental emergency out of the blue. Essenmacher Family Dental is here to help if this happens to you.
It’s sometimes confusing to know whether a dental emergency requires an immediate visit or if it can wait until the next few days.
Here are some guidelines to consider.
Pain and Swelling Often Requires Immediate Attention
Most dental conditions remain quiet and progress without severe symptoms until they are advanced enough for nerve involvement. An infected or damaged tooth can become inflamed, starting as minor throbbing pain that can quickly advance into pain that is all-consuming and keeps you awake at night or makes it impossible to concentrate.
We invite you to contact our team right away to book an appointment with Dr. Lindsay Essenmacher. She always discusses every treatment option available, along with the benefits, to help you make a choice that works best for you.
Saving a Broken Tooth
A broken tooth may or may not feel painful or sensitive depending on the extent of the fracture. It is always best to seek treatment immediately. Broken teeth are less stable and can continue to break down when chewing or grinding the teeth at night.
We Can Often Save a Knocked-Out Tooth
Auto and sports-related injuries can result in a knocked-out tooth. This happens more often than you might think – especially with kids on the playground! If you or your child has a knocked-out tooth, be sure to handle it by the crown, keep it moist, and call our dental office immediately. Fast treatment enables Dr. Essenmacher to replace the tooth in the socket and secure it in place.
To prevent injuries for active kids and adults, we create athletic mouthguards. Ask us about this smile-saving service!
Less Immediate Dental Emergencies
If you have a broken or lost dental crown or filling, we recommend that you contact us right away. We can arrange an appointment over the next few days.
Contact Us
If you live in the Albuquerque or Northeast Heights areas and do not yet have an emergency dentist you can turn to, we invite you to become part of our dental family at Essenmacher Family Dental. You can reach us by calling the main office or by filling out this contact form. If it is after regular hours, we have instructions on our voicemail to contact a member of our team.