RICHMOND EMERGENCY DENTISTRY
Receive the Care You Need Right When You Need It!
Here for you when you need it most
GET IMMEDIATE DENTAL CARE
As your dental home, West Richmond Family Dentistry provides emergency dental care for current patients to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible. Dental emergencies can happen unexpectedly, and we are well trained to handle your urgent dental care needs. If you are a current patient at West Richmond Family Dentistry, we offer same-day appointments for patients experiencing a dental emergency. The most common dental emergencies include:
- Toothaches
- Infection
- Unmanageable oral pain
- Avulsed or knocked out tooth
- Swelling of the jaw, face or gums
- Acute injury to a tooth or your mouth
IS IT A DENTAL EMERGENCY?
When it comes to dental emergencies, many people will wonder if their condition is severe enough to call the dentist. At West Richmond Family Dentistry, we don’t want you to wonder – just give us a call at (804) 282-9600.
URGENT DENTAL EMERGENCIES
Urgent dental conditions in which you should seek immediate emergency dental care:
- Knocked a tooth loose or out (avulsed)
- Very painful chipped tooth with jagged edges
- Severe persistent toothache – that keeps you from sleeping and eating and interferes with your daily life
- Painful swelling of the jaw, mouth or face that is not getting better
- Uncontrollable bleeding from the mouth
Seeking emergency dental care is important because it can actually save your tooth. If you have an infection, immediate care can stop the infection from spreading. If any of these dental conditions above describes your situation, please call West Richmond Family Dentistry immediately.
NON-URGENT DENTAL EMERGENCIES
Dental pain can indicate an infection or another problem with a tooth or several teeth. Pain is your body telling you something is wrong. It is important to be proactive about getting dental care especially if you are experiencing pain.
Often people will wait to see if dental pain or swelling will get better on its own after using home remedies and that is usually ok as long as your pain is manageable and the swelling is getting better.
Some dental situations that can usually wait a day to be seen, include:
- A filling that has fallen out
- A crown that has come loose or detached
- A bridge that is loose or detached on one side
- A chipped tooth that does not hurt
- Manageable toothache without swelling
COMMON DENTAL PROBLEMS
TOOTHACHES
Pain in or around a tooth that is not caused by recent dental work may warrant a call to the dentist. The most common causes of tooth pain are:
- Decay
- Abscess
- Fractured or cracked tooth
- Lost filling
- Gum infection
If you have consistent pain in a tooth that is difficult to manage, it is time to call the dentist. It is important to identify the cause of the pain in a timely manner and begin treatment before it becomes a bigger problem. Early action and treatment can save your tooth.
CHIPPED TOOTH
Chipped teeth are a common dental problem that can happen when you least expect it. If you are eating something hard (like candy) or crunching on ice, you can chip a tooth. Sometimes even a fall or playing a game of catch are ways to chip a tooth. A chipped tooth does require treatment even if it doesn’t hurt. The exposed tooth will need to be bonded to prevent further damage or infection. Until you can be seen, West Richmond Family Dentistry suggests:
- Using over-the-counter pain medicine such as acetaminophen to help relieve pain
- Use a warm salt water rinse
- Cover any jagged edges with wax to keep it from irritating your cheek or tongue
- Eat a soft food diet to avoid biting on a chipped or broken tooth
LOOSE CROWN
Occasionally, crowns can loosen or pop off when you least expect it. This is not a true dental emergency; however, it will need to be fixed. Save the crown and avoid chewing on the side without the crown until we can reattach the crown to your tooth. This should be a quick and easy appointment.
PREVENTING DENTAL EMERGENCIES
Being proactive about your oral health care can help you prevent dental emergencies. Routine visits with your dentist can help identify issues early and treatment can mitigate an emergency situation. Brushing and flossing every day will keep your gums and teeth in good health, which is another way to reduce your chances of an emergency.
If you need a same-day consultation at our office, just give us a call and tell us about your issue. Then, we’ll schedule a same-day appointment for you, and you can come in right away to get the care you need. One of our expert dentists will see you as soon as possible, and provide you with the treatment that’s the best option for resolving your dental emergency.
