North Lincoln Emergency Dentist
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What To Do In A Dental Emergency ?
What to do can vary depending on what the emergency is. Below are some common dental emergencies and steps you can take to help preserve your smile. At Northeast Lincoln Family Dentistry we think finding emergency dental care in Lincoln, Nebraska shouldn’t be difficult. When any emergency happens, it’s hard to wrap your mind around what occurred and even harder to know where your efforts are most needed to skillfully assist the injured. Sometimes the best way to handle any emergency is to have answers right in front of you. A guide to help walk you through the important steps.
Taking care of your teeth is of the utmost importance, so if you believe you are experiencing a dental emergency, contact your Northeast Lincoln Family Dentistry emergency dentists and we’ll try hard to fit you in, and take care of your emergency the same day.
Dental Abscess
Steps to take:
- Schedule a dental appointment immediately. Many patients will go to the emergency room, but unfortunately, there is little they can do for you. So, it’s always a good idea to start with your dentist.
- Before your appointment, there are a few things you can do to try to relieve any discomfort. Taking an over-the-counter medication and anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen can help temporarily. If there is swelling or discomfort anywhere else in the mouth or jaw area, placing an icepack on your face can give you some comfort as well. If you can see the abscess, it may be tempting to touch it, but do leave it alone, so your dentist can examine it.
- During the hours of 9 am to 9 pm daily (including weekends and holidays), please call our dental emergency line at 402-840-9783 and we will assist you as soon as possible. In the event we are unable to take your call immediately, we will return your call as soon as possible.
- If you need to reach us before 9 am or after 9 pm (7 days a week), we’ve still got you covered! Please choose from one of the options below (Please note that the number below will prompt you to leave a message. All messages will be returned the next business day):
Additional Information Regarding A Dental Abscess
- Treatment for a dental abscess can vary. It can range from draining the infection, to needing more extensive treatment like a root canal or extraction. Whatever treatment your dentist decides is right for you, do also know that you will more than likely be placed on an antibiotic as well.
- A peripheral abscess can be drained to relieve the pressure it is causing and help remove the infection. The dentist will place you on an antibiotic and monitor the area to make sure the abscess does not return. Even with a peripheral abscess, your dentist will take an x-ray to make sure there is not any decay present in the tooth.
- In the same way, a periodontal abscess will be drained to relieve discomfort and discomfort from pressure. Though the abscess was drained, the pocket still remains and will continue to become infected if not treated further. In addition to antibiotics, your dentist will clean the infection from the pocket and smooth the root of the tooth to help prevent bacteria from attaching to it.
Sharp Toothache
Steps to take:
- A toothache can start as an annoying or nagging feeling that gets worse over time. It is a great idea to catch it at this stage versus when it becomes excruciating. Our Northeast Lincoln Family Dentistry dentists recommend making an appointment if you begin to feel a significant amount of discomfort within a tooth.
- Once an appointment is made, we will get you into the office as soon as possible to evaluate the tooth. If you are having referred pain, pinpointing the exact tooth is sometimes not as simple as it sounds. An x-ray will be taken, and testing will be gently performed to determine the source of the discomfort.
- During the hours of 9 am to 9 pm daily (including weekends and holidays), please call our dental emergency line at 402-840-9783 and we will assist you as soon as possible. In the event we are unable to take your call immediately, we will return your call as soon as possible.
- If you need to reach us before 9 am or after 9 pm (7 days a week), we’ve still got you covered! Please choose from one of the options below (Please note that the number below will prompt you to leave a message. All messages will be returned the next business day):
Additional Information Regarding A Sharp Toothache
- If a toothache is accompanied by facial swelling, it is important to see a dentist as soon as possible as this is often a sign of infection. Applying a cold compress to the cheek can help relieve some of the swellings and temporarily ease discomfort. We recommend taking Ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory, to help with any swelling.
Broken or Cracked Tooth
Steps to take:
- Call and schedule an appointment with your emergency dentist in Lincoln, NE. It is important to see your dentist as soon as possible before the tooth breaks further or becomes infected. We will go over treatment options with you and may prescribe antibiotics if the dentist believes the tooth is infected or at risk for infection.
- If you have a piece broken from your tooth, keep it. There is a chance your dentist might be able to reattach it. Keep the tooth moist until you can see your dentist in Lincoln, NE. If you have tooth discomfort, taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen can help relieve any discomfort as well as swelling.
- During the hours of 9 am to 9 pm daily (including weekends and holidays), please call our dental emergency line at 402-840-9783 and we will assist you as soon as possible. In the event we are unable to take your call immediately, we will return your call as soon as possible.
- If you need to reach us before 9 am or after 9 pm (7 days a week), we’ve still got you covered! Please choose from one of the options below (Please note that the number below will prompt you to leave a message. All messages will be returned the next business day):
Additional Information Regarding A Cracked or Broken Tooth
- The severity of the crack will determine your dentist’s course of action and treatment plan. If the tooth is badly broken, but a good portion of healthy tooth structure remains, your dentist may place a crown to protect it from further damage. However, if the tooth is severely decayed, root canal therapy may need to be performed.
- Root canal therapy is often performed to clean out infection. Root canals are similar to deep fillings in the tooth, with a few extra steps to sterilize the tooth. The decay will be removed along with the infected nerve. While the tooth will no longer have a living nerve, it can remain and function normally instead of being extracted.
- Once the root canal has been performed, a crown is placed to strengthen the tooth and prevent it from breaking. Our doctors perform root canal treatment regularly and will take excellent care of you.
Avulsed/Knocked Out Tooth
Steps to take:
- Call our office.
- The tooth should be picked up by the crown and rinsed in warm water. AVOID touching the root.
- If you have swallowed or lost the crown but the tooth is sensitive, some temporary dental cement can be placed over the top to help with sensitivity.
- If you are able, place the tooth back in the socket – otherwise, tuck it into the pouch of your cheek.
- The tooth needs to remain moist to prevent it from drying out, so if you are unable to put it back in the socket place it in saliva. Both water and milk can destroy the cells of a tooth, so saliva is always best.
- Get to your dentist’s office as soon as possible.
- During the hours of 9 am to 9 pm daily (including weekends and holidays), please call our dental emergency line at 402-840-9783 and we will assist you as soon as possible. In the event we are unable to take your call immediately, we will return your call as soon as possible.
- If you need to reach us before 9 am or after 9 pm (7 days a week), we’ve still got you covered! Please choose from one of the options below (Please note that the number below will prompt you to leave a message. All messages will be returned the next business day):
Additional Information Regarding Avulsed/Knocked Out Tooth
- Our priority will be to attempt to place the tooth in its natural socket. In some cases, the tooth will reattach, but if the inner parts of the tooth are seriously damaged, root canal therapy or discussing tooth replacement options might be necessary.
Lost Filling or Crown
Steps to take:
- Clean out the crown as good as you can and try to put it back on the tooth. The crown can be temporarily secured to the tooth with a little bit of toothpaste, or temporary dental cement that can be found at many pharmacies.
- To avoid further damage to the tooth and sensitivity if a crown has come off, make a dental appointment as soon as possible. Teeth can also shift if the crown has been out of the mouth for a long period. Place the crown in a safe, dry place and bring it with you to your appointment as re-cementing it may be a possibility in some cases.
- If you have swallowed or lost the crown but the tooth is sensitive, some temporary dental cement can be placed over the top to help with sensitivity.
- During the hours of 9 am to 9 pm daily (including weekends and holidays), please call our dental emergency line at 402-840-9783 and we will assist you as soon as possible. In the event we are unable to take your call immediately, we will return your call as soon as possible.
- If you need to reach us before 9 am or after 9 pm (7 days a week), we’ve still got you covered! Please choose from one of the options below (Please note that the number below will prompt you to leave a message. All messages will be returned the next business day):
Additional Information Regarding A Lost Filling or Crown
- Crowns and fillings typically come loose or are lost completely while eating. The tooth may then become sensitive to temperature changes as well as pressure. Decay beneath a crown is very often the cause of a crown becoming loose or coming off as the crown no longer fit because it changes the tooth’s shape.
- How the tooth can be repaired will depend on the severity of the fracture, crack, or break. If a crack goes to the root of the tooth, it may or may not be able to be retained. We may perform root canal therapy in an attempt to save the tooth. In the case of a complete break, options will be discussed for permanent solutions, however, if possible, the crown of the tooth may be affixed as a temporary solution.
- Your dentist will check the tooth for decay first. If none is present, the crown will be re-cemented if it still fits. Where there is decay, we will remove it, place a new filling, and then have a new crown made.
Dislodged or Loose Teeth
Steps to take:
- Call our office to schedule an appointment.
- In the meantime, use a cold compress and over-the-counter medications to relieve discomfort. Your emergency dentist in Lincoln, NE will reposition the tooth and add splints to stabilize it. If the tooth fails to heal, root canal therapy might be required.
- During the hours of 9 am to 9 pm daily (including weekends and holidays), please call our dental emergency line at 402-840-9783 and we will assist you as soon as possible. In the event we are unable to take your call immediately, we will return your call as soon as possible.
- If you need to reach us before 9 am or after 9 pm (7 days a week), we’ve still got you covered! Please choose from one of the options below (Please note that the number below will prompt you to leave a message. All messages will be returned the next business day):
Additional Information Regarding Dislodged or Lose Teeth
- When a tooth has been dislodged or loosened from its socket by trauma or decay, it might be possible to save it. If the tooth remains in the mouth still attached to the blood vessels and nerves, there is a good chance root canal therapy will not be necessary.
- It is important to seek dental care or see an emergency dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, use a cold compress and over-the-counter medications to relieve discomfort. Your emergency dentist in Lincoln, NE will reposition the tooth and add splints to stabilize it. If the tooth fails to heal, root canal therapy might be required.
Urgent and Emergency Dental Care
When it comes to emergency or urgent dental care, we have made a short list of commonly asked questions about urgent and emergency dental care. If you don’t see the answer to your question here, please reach out to our emergency dentist in Lincoln, NE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is your emergency dentist open on Saturday?
While our emergency dentists are not at the office 24/7, we’d still be happy to take your call and get you on our schedule so we can see you as soon as we are in the office.
Does NorthStar Dental perform root canal therapy on an emergency basis?
All of our dentists are efficient when it comes to performing endodontics in Lincoln, NE! We would be glad to help ease your discomfort, as it is likely that a root canal infection is the cause of your distress.
Is your North dental office a 24-hour emergency/urgent dental care location?
Just like many others, our dentists do not spend all of their time in the office, but they will likely be able to get you in soon.
Nebraska Family Dentistry Has 7 Locations in Lincoln, NE
Lincoln Family Dentistry
(Central Lincoln)
402-467-1000
Northeast Lincoln Family Dentistry
(Northeast Lincoln)
402-890-8000
South Lincoln Family Dentistry
(South Lincoln)
402-413-7700
Preserve Family Dentistry
(East Lincoln)
402-413-7000
Northstar Dental
(North Lincoln)
402-742-0000
Coddington Dental
(West Lincoln)
402-438-5555
SouthPointe Dental
(Southwest Lincoln)
402-423-3333