Emergency Dental Care in Salt Lake City, UT

Trust Dr. Palmer During A Dental Emergency

A dental emergency can happen at any time, day or night. You could be enjoying Sunday brunch when suddenly you bite down and feel a sharp crack in your tooth. Or you wake up with throbbing tooth pain that keeps you from falling back asleep. Whatever the case may be, dental emergencies require quick action to prevent further damage and relieve pain.

At SLC Dental in Salt Lake City, UT, Dr. Robert Palmer and his caring team work hard to accommodate your dental needs in a timely manner. We can help restore your smile, eliminate pain, and get you back to a comfortable life after a dental injury. 

Don’t hesitate during an emergency — Call (801) 355-6997 to schedule an emergency appointment at our Salt Lake City dental clinic.

What Is Emergency Dental Care?

Emergency dental care consists of treatment for oral health issues that require immediate attention to relieve severe pain, address trauma, or stop ongoing tissue bleeding. An emergency dentist can also treat facial swelling, infections, and fractures of the facial bones.

Unlike regular dental visits, emergency dental care focuses on pain relief and stopping any progression of the condition. Once the emergency is under control, we’ll discuss restorative treatment and prevention measures during a follow-up appointment.

Examples of Dental Emergencies

Several situations qualify as dental emergencies:

  • Severe toothache or pain from an unknown origin that is not relieved by over-the-counter pain medication
  • Facial swelling, inflammation, or infection
  • Knocked-out tooth
  • Fractured or chipped tooth
  • Broken dental restorations like fillings, crowns, or veneers
  • Severe cuts, lacerations, or trauma inside the mouth
  • Heavy dental bleeding that you cannot stop
  • Abscesses in the tooth, gums, or surrounding bone

The Emergency Dental Care Process

If you are experiencing a dental emergency, time is of the essence. Avoid delays in care that allow infections to worsen or permanent tooth damage to occur. Here is the typical emergency dental care process:

  • Call Our Salt Lake City Dental Office: Let Dr. Palmer know you are experiencing a dental emergency so we can advise you accordingly. 
  • Come In For An Exam: The dentist will perform a thorough exam, take x-rays if needed, and determine the cause of your symptoms. This allows them to diagnose the issue and decide on the proper treatment.
  • Receive Immediate Care: The goal is to get you out of pain, stop bleeding, drain infections, and stabilize the area. The dentist may give you a filling, root canal, tooth extraction, or stitches. Medications to control pain and infection may also be prescribed.
  • Discuss Follow-Up Care: Once the emergency is resolved, talk with our dentists about any dental work you may need in the future to restore form and function. Things like dental implants, crowns, or braces may be recommended.

How Do I Know If I’m Experiencing A Dental Emergency?

Determining if your oral health symptoms require emergency dental care can be confusing. Here are some clear signs you need to seek urgent treatment:

  • Unbearable toothache or mouth pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter painkillers or is waking you up at night
  • Visible swelling in the gums, face, or neck, or swollen lymph nodes
  • Bleeding in the mouth that lasts more than 20 minutes despite pressure
  • Gum abscesses with pus drainage
  • Sudden chipping, cracking, or loss of a large portion of a tooth
  • Knocked-out teeth, especially permanent teeth, which need replanting quickly to save them
  • Lacerations or trauma inside the mouth from bites, sports injuries, falls, or abuse
  • Trouble breathing or swallowing
  • Numbness or altered sensation in the face
  • Severe reactions to dental work, like allergic responses to local anesthesia
Dr. Palmer and team talking to patient

At-Home Emergency Dental Care Tips

While on your way to the dentist during a dental emergency, there are a few self-care steps you can take for relief:

  • Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to flush out food and debris and reduce swelling.
  • Use dental wax or OTC numbing gel on the sharp edges of broken teeth.
  • Take over-the-counter pain relievers.
  • Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling for facial trauma.
  • Gently bite down on gauze or a tea bag to control bleeding.
  • Avoid eating or drinking hot, hard, crunchy, or sticky foods.

These remedies provide only temporary relief until proper emergency dental treatment can be obtained. Be sure to still see a dentist quickly.

Emergency

Should I Go To The Emergency Room or An Emergency Dentist?

Many people aren’t sure where to turn during a dental emergency. Should you go to the closest emergency room or see an emergency dentist? Here are the key differences:

Emergency Room

  • Treats life-threatening medical emergencies
  • Stabilizes severe dental pain until a dentist is available
  • Doesn’t provide definitive dental treatment or oral surgery
  • Often involves long waits and high medical bills

Emergency Dentist

  • Specializes in treating dental emergencies
  • Quickly diagnoses dental issues and provides treatment
  • Can fill cavities, perform root canals, and pull teeth if needed
  • Some offer 24/7 emergency dental services with on-call dentists
  • Less expensive than the ER and often takes insurance

In most dental emergencies like chipped teeth, toothaches, and abscesses, an emergency dentist is the best place to go. They can provide immediate, specialized dental treatment not available in an ER.

Medical emergencies affecting the mouth, like oral cancer, jaw fractures, or facial cellulitis, may require emergency room treatment first. When in doubt, call your dentist for guidance on where to go.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequent dental emergencies include severe toothaches, lost or fractured teeth, painful abscesses, and significant tooth damage. Traumatic mouth lacerations and heavy bleeding inside the mouth also require emergency dental care.

Try to find the tooth and handle it only by the crown. Rinse off the root, but don’t scrub it. Place the tooth back in the socket if possible or store it in milk or saline solution. See an emergency dentist immediately to reimplant the tooth for the best chance of survival.

Yes, general dentists are fully qualified to provide emergency dental treatment, especially during normal business hours. Some general dentists offer 24/7 emergency services. Specialists like endodontists and oral surgeons also provide emergency care.

It’s best to see an emergency dentist as soon as possible when you chip or crack a tooth. The sooner it is restored, the less likely you’ll develop complications like pulp infection, tooth loss, or shifting teeth.

Trusted Emergency Dental Care in Salt Lake City, UT

While no one hopes to endure the misery of a dental emergency, they can and do happen unexpectedly. Don’t wait to seek emergency dental care if you have severe tooth pain, swelling, bleeding, or trauma in the mouth. Dr. Robert Palmer and his dedicated team at SLC Dental provide experienced emergency dental treatment in Salt Lake City, UT, when you need urgent care for your teeth, gums, and mouth. 

Call (801) 355-6997 for prompt assistance and pain relief, or use our online contact form to schedule an appointment.