Emergency Dentist — Pittsburgh, PA

Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency?

Tooth pain is never a good symptom and shouldn’t be ignored. It most likely points to tooth decay or trauma that has penetrated deep to the pulp or central layer of the tooth. This is where the nerve is located. Without professional intervention, the tooth will continue to hurt and decay until the it dies, which is why you should seek immediate treatment from our team at Advanced Dental Solutions of Pittsburgh.

How You Should Handle a Toothache

After contacting our office to make an emergency appointment, you may take over-the-counter pain reliever to lessen your discomfort. If your face is swelling, we recommend using a cold compress to keep it under control. Swish your mouth with warm saltwater to keep your mouth clean, and try to avoid common triggers that could make your toothache worse, such as sugary, cold, or hot foods and beverages.

How We Treat Toothaches

Depending on how severe the cavity or trauma is, we may need to perform root canal therapy. In this procedure, basically we’ll remove decayed or damaged tooth structure, including the pulp, and restore the tooth with either a filling or a dental crown. Whether we do a root canal or another treatment, we’ll administer a local anesthetic so that you can get relief from your pain and feel comfortable while we fix the underlying problem.

Learn More about Root Canal Therapy

Learn More about Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More about Dental Crowns

Chipped Teeth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Often, a simple chipped tooth doesn’t necessarily cause pain and is a purely cosmetic issue, but it is considered a dental emergency because many people want the noticeable problem fixed right away. Plus, there are situations where a chipped tooth does bring some safety issues, such as the potential for cutting soft tissues.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth

If you can, locate the tooth fragment(s) and bring them with you to your appointment. Sometimes, the tooth has a sharp point or edge, which can damage the lips, tongue, or cheek, so you may need to cover the chipped tooth with sugar-free gum or dental wax to protect your soft tissues.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth 

For mild cosmetic chips, we can usually correct the problem by covering the tooth with a porcelain veneer or direct bonding, or we may even be able to reattach the piece of your tooth. More advanced chips can typically be treated with a dental crown.

Learn More about Porcelain Veneers

Learn More about Dental Bonding

Learn More about Dental Crowns

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency?

A cracked tooth can be compromised in several ways. The crack can allow bacteria to get deeper into the tooth, increasing the risk of infection. This kind of damage can also weaken the tooth, making it difficult to use it for biting or chewing. Depending on how severe the crack is, it could also cause a considerable amount of pain, which is why it’s best to have our team take a look at your cracked tooth sooner rather than later.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth

Try to keep the area as clean as possible by not using the tooth when you bite or chew food. You should also rinse your mouth with clean, warm water. If the tooth aches, you may take pain reliever as needed.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth 

Treatment may vary from patient to patient because each case is different. While one case may require a more conservative procedure like direct bonding, another cracked tooth may be more severe, necessitating more advanced treatment like root canal therapy. Keep in mind that, if the crack goes beneath the gumline, extraction and replacement (with either a dental implant or bridge) may be your best option.

Learn More about Root Canal Therapy

Learn More about Dental Crowns

Learn More about Dental Bridges

Learn More about Dental Implants

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? There are many reasons why tooth sensitivity may occur. Sometimes it could be the result of exposed tooth roots, in others because of enamel erosion. While mild cases are non-urgent, your sensitivity is considered a dental emergency if it:

• Becomes severe or painful
• Lasts for multiple consecutive days
• Affects one to two teeth

How you should handle sensitive teeth: Contact our office right away and explain your symptoms. We’ll provide first-aid instructions to help you manage your situation at home. Some tips we recommend often include drinking lukewarm water, taking pain medication as needed, and avoiding spicy, sweet, or acidic foods.

How we treat tooth sensitivity: First, we’ll need to perform an oral evaluation to determine the best treatment method. If your enamel is weakened or eroded, we may recommend desensitizing toothpaste, prescription mouthwash, or topical fluoride therapy. Patients with gum disease or a tooth infection may benefit from antibiotics, root canal therapy, or gum disease treatment.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? Time is of the essence with fully dislodged teeth—we can often replant them, but only if we’re able to see a patient within an hour or two after the initial accident. For that reason, you should call us immediately after having your knocked out.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: Try to recover the tooth and put it back into its socket if possible. If not, put it in a bag with some milk—it must remain wet to keep it alive! You can also use a tooth preservation kit that has the ADA seal of approval.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: If the tooth is still viable and intact, we may be able to reimplant it. Over time, it’ll naturally fuse with the surrounding bone tissue. However, you may need to explore your tooth-replacement options if the tooth has been outside of the mouth for too long. 

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? Dental restorations are certainly durable, but they’re not meant to last forever. That means very old fillings or crowns will eventually break or fall off. While it’s not necessarily an emergency if that happens, you should still schedule an emergency appointment right away. Otherwise, your exposed tooth is vulnerable to infection and further damage.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: If you still have the restoration, use dental cement, denture adhesive, or sugar-free chewing gum if nothing else is available to reseat the restoration temporarily. Keep in mind that reattaching the restoration is only a short-term solution. If you do not have the crown, avoid chewing on that side of your mouth until you get it replaced.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: We may be able to recement the restoration back into place if it’s still mostly intact. If it’s damaged or missing, you may need to replace it altogether.

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency? Breaking or damaging your denture can make it uncomfortable to wear and can increase the chance of damaging your soft oral tissues. To avoid hurting your gums, cheeks, tongue, or even any remaining natural teeth, be sure to notify our team for help. Though the situation may not be urgent, we’ll want to repair or replace your denture as soon as possible so you can return to enjoying a comfortable smile.

How to handle a broken denture: Don’t wear your broken or damaged denture until we’ve been able to repair it. Try putting them in a glass of water or denture cleanser so that they stay moist and retain their shape. Don’t use superglue or other household products to fix them, as these can make the situation worse. They can also make you sick if you accidentally ingest them.

How we treat broken dentures: We might be able to realign, readjust, or repair your denture if it’s viable. If the damage is too severe, we may have to consider replacing it with a new one or trying a different option like implant dentures.

Loose Permanent Tooth

Are loose permanent teeth a dental emergency? Your teeth shouldn’t ever be loose, so you’ll need to visit your emergency dentist right away if you notice this. The last thing you want is to have it come out of its socket. By treating it early on, we can likely stabilize the tooth and prevent the need for costly treatments.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: Refrain from chewing on that side of the mouth and don’t try to force it to stay in its socket. Notify our team and visit us as soon as possible. While you wait, try taking over-the-counter pain medication and/or using a cold compress to minimize pain and inflammation.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: If your tooth is loose due to gum disease, we might provide periodontal therapy to fix the situation. While we’ll do everything we can to save your tooth, including splinting it to a nearby healthy tooth, we might have to extract it if it isn’t viable to leave it in your mouth. Of course, we’ll review your tooth-replacement options, such as dental implants.

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? A wound in the mouth can sometimes lead to problematic dental problems. While this isn’t always an emergency, you’ll want to visit your dentist if you think your teeth have been injured as well. If the situation is more severe like excessive bleeding or a broken jaw, visit your local ER first.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Rinse your mouth with water to get rid of debris and bacteria. Apply pressure to any bleeding with a washcloth or clean gauze, and then use a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: Our team can suture a wound closed if it’s a mild to moderate lesion. However, for more serious injuries like uncontrollable bleeding or a broken/dislocated jaw, you’ll need to go to your local ER instead. The physicians can provide essential treatment to stabilize you before you visit us for dental care. 

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? Your jaw could be uncomfortable for various reasons, including chronic grinding/clenching or a dislocated, fractured, or broken jaw. The latter situation will require treatment from your local ER. Otherwise, our team will examine your mouth to determine the best way to alleviate your discomfort.

How you should handle jaw pain: Sometimes people involuntarily clench and grind their teeth during sleep due to stress. Other than practicing meditative and calming activities to help you relax, try putting a warm washcloth over your jaws to ease the muscles. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate discomfort.

How we treat jaw pain: Our team will evaluate your mouth to determine if you’re experiencing issues with grinding in your sleep. If this is the case, we can provide you with custom nightguards for bruxism, which will allow your jaw to remain comfortable and protected throughout the night.

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Food or debris that’s stuck between your teeth can be quite uncomfortable sometimes. The last thing you want to do is accidentally push the object further in or cause damage to your surrounding teeth and soft oral tissues. That’s why we ask that you not use sharp items to get it out, such as a tweezer, toothpick, or fork, as these can make matters worse. Instead, rinse your mouth to loosen the object and floss between your teeth. If this doesn’t help, come visit our team for help.