Emergency Dentistry
Emergency Dental Care in Gladstone
When something goes wrong, call us first.
A sudden toothache or a broken tooth is stressful. Give our office a call, tell us what happened, and our team will guide you on what to do next.
Exceptional Dentistry in Gladstone, MO
What counts as a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is any problem that causes severe pain, bleeding or swelling, or that puts a tooth at risk of being lost. Some situations are clearly urgent, like a tooth knocked out in a fall or a face that is swelling around an aching tooth. Others, such as a small chip or a crown that has come loose without pain, may be able to wait a little but still deserve prompt attention. The safest first step is to call our office, describe what is going on and follow the advice you are given. Acting quickly and handling the injured tooth the right way can make a real difference to the options your dentist has.
First steps
If you have a dental emergency
- Call our office and explain what happened and how you are feeling
- Keep any broken pieces of tooth, or a knocked-out tooth, and bring them with you
- Rinse gently with warm water and use a cold compress on the outside of the face for swelling
- Avoid chewing on the affected side until a dentist has taken a look
Common emergencies
Problems we can help with
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Severe toothache
Persistent or throbbing pain can point to deep decay or an infected nerve, which may need a Root Canal.
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Chipped, cracked or knocked-out tooth
Handle a knocked-out tooth by the crown, not the root, and keep it moist in milk or in your cheek. See tooth injury treatment.
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Swelling or a painful bump on the gums
Swelling can be a sign of infection and should be checked promptly.
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Lost filling or crown
Keep the crown if you have it, and avoid chewing on that tooth until it can be examined.
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Pain around a wisdom tooth
Soreness and swelling at the back of the mouth are sometimes linked to wisdom teeth.
When to go to the emergency room
Some situations need a hospital before a dental office. Go to the nearest emergency room or call for emergency help if you have swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, bleeding that will not stop, a possible broken jaw, or a head injury.
New patient special
$98
A $308 value for your first visit
Visiting us for the first time? Our new patient offer includes:
- Comprehensive exam
- Panoramic X-rays
- Bitewing digital X-rays
- Intraoral photos
- Smile evaluation
- Full gum evaluation
- Oral cancer screening
- TMJ and bite evaluation
- Review of your treatment options
- A written treatment plan
Get help
Dental emergency? Call us
Don’t wait and hope it goes away. Call our office, tell us what happened, and we’ll let you know how we can help.
The short answer
Emergency dental care is prompt treatment for urgent problems such as a severe toothache, a broken or knocked-out tooth, swelling or infection, or a lost filling or crown. The first step is to call the office, describe what happened and follow the advice you are given, keeping any broken pieces and avoiding chewing on that side. Acting quickly helps relieve pain and protect the tooth, while swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, or bleeding that will not stop, needs the emergency room first.
Emergency Dental Care FAQ
- What should I do if a tooth is knocked out?
- Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root, and call our office right away. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly without scrubbing, then try to place it back in the socket. If that is not possible, keep it moist in milk or inside your cheek on the way to the office. Acting quickly and handling the tooth the right way can make a real difference to the options your dentist has.
- Can I take something for a toothache?
- An over-the-counter pain reliever used as directed may help while you wait to be seen. Do not place aspirin directly on the gums, as it can irritate the tissue. A cold compress on the outside of the face can help with swelling, and avoiding chewing on that side keeps pressure off the tooth. Persistent or throbbing pain can point to deep decay or an infected nerve, so call our office rather than waiting for it to go away.
- Is a chipped tooth an emergency?
- A small chip without pain may not be urgent, but it is still worth a call. A large break, a sharp edge or pain when biting should be checked promptly. Keep any broken pieces of tooth and bring them with you to the visit. Until the tooth has been examined, avoid chewing on that side.
- What if my face is swelling?
- Facial swelling can be a sign of a spreading infection and should be checked promptly. Call our office right away, describe what is happening and follow the advice you are given. A cold compress on the outside of the face may help in the meantime. If the swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, go to the nearest emergency room instead.
- Do I need to be a current patient?
- Call our office and tell us what happened, and our team will explain how we can help. In any dental emergency, the most important first step is to call, describe the problem and say how you are feeling. Our team will then guide you on what to do next. Don’t wait and hope a dental problem goes away on its own.
Your dentist
Meet Dr. Emily Marx
A skilled family dentist, Dr. Marx is passionate about helping patients feel comfortable while achieving their best smile. Meet Dr. Marx
