Emergency Dentist in Fayetteville, AR

We consider a dental emergency to be a problem involving significant pain, uncontrolled bleeding, infection, trauma, or damage that should not be ignored. Examples can include a severe toothache, knocked-out tooth, broken tooth, painful dental abscess, significant swelling, or an injury to the teeth or gums. Most dental emergencies should be seen promptly so we can determine if immediate treatment is needed. If you have major facial trauma, broken facial bones, difficulty breathing, or another life-threatening condition, you should go to a hospital emergency room. If you’re not sure how urgent your dental problem is, contact our office, and we can help.

For most problems limited to the teeth and gums, an emergency dentist is usually better equipped to diagnose and treat the underlying dental condition. A hospital emergency room can help with serious medical symptoms but may not be able to do definitive dental procedures like fillings, crowns, or treatment of an infected tooth. We recommend going to an emergency room for life-threatening conditions, major facial trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing, or a suspected broken jaw. For a toothache, broken tooth, lost filling, dental abscess, or similar problem, contact our office, and we can guide you on whether you should come in immediately or seek another form of emergency care.

If a filling or crown comes loose or breaks outside of normal business hours, avoid chewing on the affected side and keep the area as clean as you can. If a crown has fallen out, keep it in a safe place and bring it with you when you come into the office. For some lost fillings, placing a small piece of sugarless gum over a sharp area may temporarily protect your tongue or cheek, but do not push material deep into the tooth. Do not use household glue to reattach a dental crown, as this can damage the tooth or restoration. Contact our office as soon as possible so we can evaluate the tooth and determine the appropriate treatment.

A dental abscess will not go away on its own. Symptoms may decrease temporarily, but that does not mean the underlying dental problem is gone. When we evaluate a suspected abscess, we look for the source of the infection and determine what treatment is needed for the tooth and surrounding tissues. Antibiotics may be recommended in some cases, but they do not always eliminate the underlying cause by themselves. Contact us if you have severe pain, swelling, drainage, fever, or other symptoms that may indicate an infection.

If you’re waiting for an emergency dental care appointment, gently rinse your mouth and keep the painful area as clean as possible. Do not place aspirin or other medication directly against the gums or tooth, as this can irritate the soft tissues. Depending on your health and the directions on the medication label, an over-the-counter pain medicine may provide temporary pain relief, but it does not treat the cause of the toothache. The American Dental Association recommends seeking professional dental care for dental problems rather than relying on home remedies, and we encourage patients with severe or worsening symptoms to contact a dentist as soon as possible. If your symptoms become life-threatening, involve major swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, or are associated with significant facial or jaw trauma, seek immediate medical care.