Emergency Dentistry Sandy Springs, GA

A dental emergency can arise at any time as a result of an accident or infection that suddenly causes tooth pain or overall discomfort. We understand the sense of urgency this can create, as well as emphasize the importance of contacting our Sandy Springs dentist office as soon as possible for appropriate instruction on how to proceed and avoid further damage.

Dr. Patel makes every effort to see dental emergencies the same day- or within 48 hours, depending on the nature of the problem. Whether you are a current patient or a new patient suddenly faced with a dental concern, contact us immediately so that we can assess the condition and recommend the best at-home treatment or schedule an emergency dental visit. We want you to feel better as soon as possible and to avoid permanent damage or even tooth loss.

Do I Have a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is considered any dental problem that needs attention as soon as possible. For instance, it’s an emergency if an adult gets a tooth knocked out, but it wouldn’t be an emergency for a child to lose a baby tooth. Typically, dental emergencies are accompanied by sharp or sudden pain. Tooth pain should always be checked out, but it’s especially important if you’re having pain suddenly.

If you’re an adult and your tooth is loose, even without pain, consider it an emergency. There’s no reason why an adult should have a loose tooth. Trauma can loosen it, or problems with gum disease and jawbone deterioration. Bleeding is always a sign of an emergency, particularly if you’ve had trauma or don’t know where the bleeding is coming from. An emergency will cause a significant amount of blood that won’t stop quickly.

Lastly, if you think you have an infection, call us right away. Infections can impact much more than your oral health. Any infection can be something that’s life-threatening or can impact the rest of your body. Signs of an infection include throbbing pain, swelling in the gums/area near the tooth, fever, or a foul odor in your mouth. If you suddenly have pain relief and a rush of bad-tasting liquid in your mouth, it means that the abscess has likely ruptured.

Common Dental Emergencies

We want you to call our office as soon as possible, but here are some quick tips for what to do when a dental emergency occurs while you are waiting to be seen or to be contacted by phone during an after-hours incident.

  • Knocked-Out Tooth: Contact Dr. Patel immediately when a tooth is knocked out. If the tooth is recovered, hold it by the crown to gently rinse and place it in a glass of milk until Dr. Patel can see you. This may preserve the tooth for possible reinsertion in our dentist office.
  • Toothache: sudden tooth pain can indicate a range of possible dental concerns. You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to improve symptoms, and we recommend contacting our dentist office as soon as possible to discuss and schedule a visit if deemed necessary.
  • Broken, chipped, or fractured tooth: tooth damage should be addressed as soon as possible- call our office right away to schedule a visit. If the trauma has caused bleeding or pain, use a cold compress to stem the bleeding and take an over-the-counter pain reliever. If possible, recover the piece of the tooth that has been broken and place it in a container of milk to preserve.
  • Object Caught in A Tooth: if an object or large food particle is lodged between teeth, DO NOT use a sharp object of any kind to try and remove it- this may cause damage to the tooth surface or gums. Gently floss between the teeth to see if this can move the object out of position for easy removal. If this is not successful, contact our office for instructions on how to proceed.

We are here to help! Contact Proudsmiles in the event of an emergency at 404-418-7734.