Common Dental Emergencies

Severe Toothache

Intense tooth pain often signals infection, deep decay, or an abscess. The discomfort can range from throbbing to sharp shooting pain that makes it impossible to focus on anything else. Over-the-counter pain medication might take the edge off temporarily, but the underlying problem needs professional treatment.

Dr. Dunkleberger identifies the source of your pain and provides treatment to eliminate it. Sometimes a tooth needs a root canal to remove infected tissue. Other times, treating gum disease or addressing a cracked tooth solves the problem.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Sports injuries, falls, and accidents can completely dislodge a tooth from its socket. Time matters critically here—the sooner you get treatment, the better chance your tooth has of being saved. Handle the tooth by the crown (not the root), rinse it gently if dirty, and try to place it back in the socket if possible. If that’s not feasible, keep it moist in milk or saliva.

Getting to Dental Excellence within an hour gives your tooth the best chance of survival. Dr. Dunkleberger can often replant the tooth and stabilize it while the bone and tissue heal.

Broken or Cracked Teeth

Teeth can crack or break from biting hard objects, grinding, decay that weakens the structure, or facial trauma. Sometimes you’ll see an obvious chip or break. Other times, a crack might not be visible but causes pain when you bite down or expose the tooth to temperature changes.

Small chips might need simple smoothing or bonding, while larger fractures could require crowns or other restorative work. Severe breaks that expose the nerve need immediate attention to prevent infection and relieve pain.

Lost Filling or Crown

When a filling falls out or a crown comes off, the exposed tooth becomes vulnerable to bacteria and extremely sensitive. The area might feel rough to your tongue, and hot or cold foods can cause sharp discomfort. Don’t wait days to address this—the exposed tooth structure can deteriorate quickly.

Emergency dentistry at Dental Excellence includes replacing lost restorations or providing temporary solutions until permanent repairs can be completed. Keep the crown if it fell out and bring it with you—sometimes Dr. Dunkleberger can recement the original restoration.

Dental Abscess

An abscess is a pocket of infection that develops around a tooth root or in the gums. These infections cause severe pain, swelling, and sometimes fever. You might notice a bad taste in your mouth or a pimple-like bump on your gums. Abscesses require immediate treatment because the infection can spread to other parts of your body.

Dr. Dunkleberger drains the abscess, cleans the infected area, and prescribes antibiotics if needed. Root canal treatment or extraction might be necessary depending on the tooth’s condition.

What to Do Before You Arrive

While you’re arranging your emergency appointment, some first-aid measures can help. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to clean the area. Apply a cold compress to your face if there’s swelling—this reduces inflammation and numbs pain somewhat.

Take over-the-counter pain medication according to package directions, but avoid placing aspirin directly on gums or teeth, as this can damage tissue. If you’re bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze until it stops.

Same-Day Emergency Appointments

Dental Excellence prioritizes emergency cases and works to see urgent patients the same day whenever possible. When you call, explaining your situation, the team assesses the severity and gets you in quickly. Dental emergencies take priority over routine appointments because delaying treatment can lead to worse problems.

The office understands that emergencies create stress and anxiety. The team works efficiently to diagnose the problem and provide relief as quickly as possible while keeping you informed and comfortable throughout treatment.

Managing Dental Pain and Anxiety

Emergencies amplify dental anxiety for many people. Pain, worry about costs, and fear of procedures can make you feel overwhelmed. Dr. Dunkleberger and her team remain calm, compassionate, and focused on getting you out of pain.

Local anesthetic ensures you won’t feel discomfort during treatment. For patients with significant anxiety, additional comfort options help you relax during emergency procedures. The goal is to address your urgent issue effectively while making the experience as stress-free as possible.

Preventing Future Emergencies

After resolving your immediate crisis, Dr. Dunkleberger discusses ways to prevent similar problems. Regular checkups catch developing issues before they become emergencies. Custom mouthguards protect teeth during sports or from nighttime grinding. Addressing decay promptly prevents it from progressing to painful infections.

Sometimes emergencies happen despite your best prevention efforts, but maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping up with routine care significantly reduces your risk.

After-Hours Guidance

Dental emergencies don’t always happen during business hours. If you experience a serious dental injury or unbearable pain outside regular hours, contact the office—the voicemail system guides true emergencies. For life-threatening situations like severe facial trauma, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or uncontrollable bleeding, go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

Get Help When You Need It

Don’t suffer through dental pain or stress about damaged teeth. Dr. Elizabeth Dunkleberger and the team at Dental Excellence in Littleton provide compassionate emergency dentistry when you need it most. Call right away if you’re experiencing a dental emergency—fast treatment prevents complications and gets you back to feeling normal as quickly as possible.