Emergency Dentist White Bear Lake MN

Do you have a dental emergency in White Bear Lake, MN?

While dental emergencies are often an unfortunate fact of life, we don't think they should completely derail you.

At White Bear Smiles, we recognize that dental emergencies happen and that they can be frightening. That's why we make room in our schedule to make sure that if you have an emergency, you can be seen and treated promptly. Although we can't guarantee same-day emergency treatment, we can usually provide same-day dental treatment so you can get back to enjoying your life and doing the things you love as soon as possible.

If you have a toothache or other urgent oral health issue, your dentist in White Bear Lake wants to see you as soon as possible. Contact a member of our team to schedule an exam.

Additionally, check out the frequently asked questions below to learn more about dental emergencies and our approach to treatment.

• Am I having a dental emergency?
• Is a root canal treatment a dental emergency?
• What if I knock out a tooth?
• What happens during my emergency dental appointment?

Am I having a dental emergency?

Are you in pain? If so, then that's an emergency. Pain is usually one of the first indicators that something is wrong, and it's a message from your body that you shouldn't ignore. In fact, waiting it out can mean more extensive treatment later on, and it can even cost you your smile.

Pain could be the result of obvious trauma, like a broken tooth, or it could be a sign that you have developed an infection that requires immediate attention. Pain may also indicate that you have a cavity or gum disease.

It is, of course, possible to have an emergency and not be in pain. If damage to the tooth has resulted in a dead nerve, then you might not be hurting. Infections can also destroy the nerve, and the pain may stop. Unfortunately, this can lead patients to think that the problem is gone – until the infection moves on to the next tooth.

The bottom line? If you are dealing with any of these issues, please call our dental office right away:

• Sudden tooth or jaw pain
• Throbbing or extreme sensitivity to heat, cold, or pressure
• A "pimple" on your gum
• A broken, cracked, or fractured tooth
• A tooth knocked loose or completely out of its socket
• A lost filling, crown, or other restoration
• Food or other debris lodged in the gum tissue that can't be removed by brushing or flossing
• Injury to the soft tissues of the mouth

If you are experiencing an unusual symptom, call us. We'll ask the right questions to determine whether or not you are having an emergency.

Please note – we are not equipped to handle medical emergencies. If you have fractured a bone, are experiencing bleeding that won't stop, or have lost consciousness, please go to the emergency room first.

Is a root canal treatment a dental emergency?

If you have suffered trauma to your tooth—past or present—you may require root canal therapy. If you have a root infection, root canal treatment is the best treatment and saves the tooth from extraction.

A root infection can be painful, but sometimes your dentist finds the infection during a routine exam before the pain shows up. In some cases, if the nerve is dead, you will never experience pain. However, the root infection itself is a dental emergency no matter the pain level because the infection can spread, cost you the tooth, surrounding teeth, and even compromise your overall wellness.

If you do have symptoms, you may notice a blister on the gum, toothache, and swelling.

Our emergency dentists in White Bear Lake are gentle and provide comfortable dentistry for patients of all ages. If you need a root canal, it is a very straightforward procedure that does not take very long.

We numb the area, gently extract the troublesome root and surrounding pulp from the tooth, and close with a healing agent and temporary filling. Later, we provide a permanent filling or a dental crown. A crown is a protective jacket that goes over the tooth, specifically if weakened by trauma or infection. It is customized to match your surrounding teeth.

In the case of a dental emergency, you have a better than 80 percent chance of saving your tooth if you can get to your dentist with the tooth within a half hour. Here are some things to remember: Rinse the tooth off with warm water. But don't scrub the tooth. You might scrub off fibers on the root that are important to re-planting the tooth in its socket. Keep the tooth moist by wrapping it in either gauze (one reason why it's good to have gauze in the house) or tissue dampened in warm water. If you can easily replace the tooth into the socket, do that.

Some experts recommend putting the tooth under your tongue during the ride to the dentist. That's fine, too. Just don't swallow the tooth. Your pharmacy may also carry one of the liquid media that are available for just such an emergency. You won't have time for a trip to the pharmacy, however, so you might consider keeping one of these liquid media on hand.

If you knock out a tooth, make sure to call White Bear Smiles right away. We can get you in quickly to help stabilize the problem and reduce any pain you might have. During emergency appointments, we perform solutions like implanting CEREC crowns on the same day and then follow up to care for your dental health continually. 

What happens during my emergency dental appointment?

What exactly will an emergency appointment entail? The goal of an emergency appointment is to stabilize the situation and provide the care you need to relieve your pain and restore functionality. This might mean performing a treatment like a root canal or an extraction, or it might mean removing the damaged part of the tooth and capping it with a CEREC crown. Of course, other treatments are possible as well.

The nature of your emergency and your comfort level helps us determine the course of your treatment. In some cases, treatment means a follow-up appointment after utilizing pain relief and tooth-saving measures. However, all treatment comes with a gentle hand, and our compassionate team works to keep you comfortable and at ease.

Once we address the immediate emergency, we can discuss your ongoing care needs.

While you can't always avoid tooth trauma, routine visits can reduce the risk of an infection-based emergency. Regular cleanings and examinations will help keep your teeth strong and allow us to identify problems in their earliest stages so they can be cared for right away. This means you'll be far less likely to wake up in the morning with a painful infection.

If you or your child participates in athletics, we can talk about choosing an appropriate sports guard for your teeth to reduce your risk of injury.

Call Right Away for a Dental Emergency in White Bear Lake

If you are in pain or have experienced another emergency, don't hesitate. Call our dental office right away so that we can get you in and get you taken care of quickly.