Black Friday special for Zoom whitening
Fast Relief When You Need It Most
A sudden toothache that keeps you awake at night, a broken tooth from an accident, or a knocked-out tooth during sports can transform an ordinary day into a dental crisis. These emergencies bring not only severe pain but also anxiety about potential tooth loss and the complexity of getting immediate care. When every minute counts, you need a dental team equipped to handle emergencies swiftly and effectively.
South Hills Dental Arts’ Sewickley location understands the urgency of dental emergencies and prioritizes getting you out of pain quickly. With 35 years of experience handling complex dental situations and advanced technology available at our 201 Ohio River Blvd office, we can address most emergencies same-day without referring you elsewhere. Our comprehensive approach means we don’t just treat the immediate problem but also prevent future complications, protecting your long-term oral health.
Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies take many forms, each requiring specific immediate action. Severe toothaches often indicate infection or deep decay reaching the nerve. These situations demand prompt treatment at our Sewickley office to prevent the spread of infection and save the tooth. Broken or chipped teeth from trauma need quick attention to prevent further damage and restore function. The extent of damage determines whether we can repair with bonding, require a crown, or need more extensive restoration.
Knocked-out teeth represent true emergencies where time is critical. According to the American Dental Association, keeping a knocked-out tooth moist is crucial. If possible, place the tooth back in its socket without touching the root. If that’s not feasible, keep it between your cheek and gums or in milk while seeking immediate care at our office. With quick action, we can often successfully reimplant the tooth.
Lost fillings or crowns expose sensitive tooth structure to bacteria and temperature extremes. While not always immediately painful, these situations require prompt attention to prevent decay and further damage. Abscesses, appearing as painful swellings filled with pus, indicate serious infection requiring immediate treatment to prevent dangerous spread to other body parts.
Immediate Response Guidelines
Your actions in the first moments after a dental emergency can significantly impact the outcome. For severe pain, rinse with warm salt water and apply cold compresses externally to reduce swelling. Avoid placing aspirin directly on gums or teeth, as this can cause tissue damage. Over-the-counter pain relievers can provide temporary relief while you make your way to our Sewickley office.
For bleeding injuries, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze or cloth. Most oral bleeding stops within 10-15 minutes with consistent pressure. If bleeding persists or seems excessive, seek immediate medical attention. For facial swelling, especially if accompanied by fever or difficulty swallowing, treat this as a serious emergency requiring immediate care.
Keep our contact information readily available for emergencies. Time lost searching for a dentist during a crisis can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. Sewickley residents should save our number and know that we prioritize emergency patients at our 201 Ohio River Blvd location.
Advanced Emergency Treatments
Our emergency treatment capabilities span the full spectrum of urgent dental needs. For infected teeth, we can perform same-day root canal therapy using rotary instruments and advanced imaging for precise, efficient treatment. Our OraVerse reverses numbness quickly after procedures, helping you return to normal activities sooner, important for busy Sewickley professionals.
Broken teeth often require immediate stabilization to prevent further damage. Using our CEREC technology, we can create and place permanent crowns in a single visit, eliminating the vulnerability of temporary restorations. For severely damaged teeth, our 3D printing capabilities allow us to create surgical guides for precise extraction and immediate implant placement when appropriate.
Our laser dentistry technology at our Sewickley location provides additional options for emergency treatment. Laser therapy can quickly address soft tissue injuries, reduce inflammation, and promote faster healing. For patients with severe infections, laser treatment can help decontaminate infected areas more thoroughly than traditional methods.
Pain Management Protocols
Eliminating pain quickly and effectively drives our emergency treatment approach. Our virtually painless anesthesia system makes even emergency procedures comfortable. We use buffered anesthetics that work faster and cause less discomfort during injection. For Sewickley patients with severe dental anxiety, sedation options help manage both pain and stress during emergency treatment.
Beyond immediate relief, we address underlying causes to prevent recurring pain. This might involve treating infection with antibiotics, adjusting bite alignment to relieve pressure, or creating protective appliances for teeth grinding. Our comprehensive approach ensures you don’t simply trade an emergency visit for ongoing discomfort.
We understand that dental pain can be overwhelming and affect your ability to think clearly. Our compassionate team will guide you through treatment options, explaining everything in terms you can understand, even when you’re in distress. We never judge patients for the condition of their teeth during emergencies; our only concern is getting you comfortable and healthy.
Infection Control and Antibiotics
Dental infections can become serious quickly, potentially spreading to other parts of your body. At our Sewickley office, we use advanced diagnostic tools, including 3D imaging, to assess the extent of the infection and plan appropriate treatment. When antibiotics are necessary, we prescribe targeted medications based on infection type and severity.
Our Arestin antibiotic therapy delivers medication directly to infected gum pockets, providing concentrated treatment where needed most. For abscesses, we drain the infection and address the source, whether through root canal therapy or extraction. We closely monitor healing to ensure complete infection resolution.
Some infections require immediate aggressive treatment to prevent systemic spread. Signs of serious infection include facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing, or swelling under the jaw. These situations may require coordination with hospital emergency departments for IV antibiotics or surgical intervention.
Preventing Future Emergencies
While not all emergencies are preventable, many can be avoided through proper precautions. Regular dental checkups can catch problems before they become emergencies. Small cavities treated promptly don’t become painful infections. Early signs of gum disease addressed quickly don’t progress to abscesses.
For Sewickley athletes, custom sports mouthguards protect against dental trauma. These professionally fitted guards offer superior protection compared to store-bought options. If you grind your teeth, a custom night guard prevents fractures and excessive wear. We’ll identify your risk factors and recommend appropriate preventive measures.
Maintaining good oral hygiene reduces emergency risk significantly. Daily brushing and flossing remove bacteria that cause decay and infection. Using fluoride toothpaste strengthens enamel against cavity formation. These simple habits can prevent many painful dental emergencies.
Emergency Follow-up Care
Emergency treatment often represents the first step in comprehensive restoration. A tooth treated for infection may need a crown for long-term protection. A reimplanted knocked-out tooth requires monitoring to ensure successful reintegration. At our Sewickley location, we’ll schedule appropriate follow-up care to ensure complete healing and prevent complications.
Our integrated approach means your emergency treatment coordinates seamlessly with any necessary restorative work. We maintain detailed records of emergency treatments, ensuring continuity of care whether you need a simple follow-up or complex restoration. This comprehensive approach protects your long-term oral health while addressing immediate needs.
We’ll provide detailed post-emergency care instructions specific to your treatment. This might include dietary restrictions, medication schedules, or special hygiene procedures. Following these instructions carefully ensures optimal healing and reduces the risk of complications.
After-hours Emergency Guidance
Dental emergencies don’t always occur during business hours. We provide our Sewickley patients with clear guidelines for managing after-hours emergencies. Our team can often provide phone guidance for immediate management while arranging prompt treatment at our office. For severe emergencies involving facial trauma, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or uncontrolled bleeding, we direct patients to hospital emergency departments.
We maintain relationships with local emergency departments and oral surgeons for situations requiring immediate hospital-based treatment. Our commitment to your care extends beyond office hours, ensuring you always have access to appropriate emergency guidance and treatment.
Keep emergency supplies on hand, including gauze, a small container with a lid (for knocked-out teeth), over-the-counter pain relievers, and our contact information. Being prepared can make a significant difference in emergency outcomes for Sewickley families.
Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Children’s dental emergencies require special consideration. Kids may have difficulty expressing their pain or cooperating with treatment. Our team at our Sewickley location is experienced in managing pediatric emergencies with patience and compassion. We create a calm environment and use age-appropriate explanations to help children understand their treatment.
Common pediatric emergencies include knocked-out baby teeth (which we typically don’t reimplant), dental trauma from falls or sports, and severe tooth pain from cavities. We work closely with Sewickley parents to ensure children receive appropriate care while minimizing trauma and anxiety.
Preventive measures for children include mouthguards for sports, childproofing homes to prevent falls, and regular dental visits to catch problems early. Teaching children good oral hygiene habits from an early age significantly reduces their risk of emergency dental care.
Special Considerations for Seniors
Older adults in Sewickley may face unique emergency situations. Medications can affect healing and treatment options. Existing medical conditions may complicate emergency care. Our team is experienced in managing emergencies for seniors, taking into account their overall health and medication interactions.
Common senior emergencies include broken dentures, loose crowns on teeth supporting bridges, and infections around dental implants. We provide compassionate, efficient care that considers the special needs of older patients while ensuring their comfort and dignity throughout treatment.
Your Emergency Dental Partner
Dental emergencies are stressful enough without wondering where to turn for help. At South Hills Dental Arts’ Sewickley location, we’re prepared to handle your emergency with the urgency it deserves. Our convenient location at 201 Ohio River Blvd means expert emergency care is always nearby for Sewickley and the surrounding area residents.
Don’t suffer through dental pain or risk permanent damage by delaying treatment. If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, contact us online or call us at (412) 725-9939 immediately for same-day emergency care. For non-urgent concerns or to establish care before emergencies arise, visit our homepage to learn more about our comprehensive dental services and commitment to keeping Sewickley smiling through every situation.
