Emergency Dentist – Brookfield, WI
The Attention You Need
Right Away
(If you or a loved one are currently in the middle of a dental emergency, please call us as quickly as you can, so we can start helping you right away.)
Dental emergencies are never, ever expected. It’s really hard to anticipate when a knocked-out tooth or broken crown will happen, but when it does, you need to seek out dental care as soon as you can to keep the problem from getting worse.
At Elmbrook Family Dental, our trusted dentistry team members and emergency dentist in Brookfield, WI are ready to be there for people should the unexpected ever happen to their smile. Our dental team has dealt with countless dental emergencies over the years, and we always try to see emergency dentistry patients the same day that they call in. If you’re in pain, we won’t keep you waiting. We’ll get you in as soon as possible, so we can fix your problem right away.
Why Choose Elmbrook Family Dental for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments
- Able to Handle Most Emergencies In-House
- Skilled & Experienced Dental Team
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Same-Day Appointment: If you think you are dealing with a dental emergency, give us a call, and we’ll schedule you for an appointment as soon as possible, preferably the same day. We’ll also give you first-aid tips over the phone so you can stay comfortable until you see us.
- Emergency Exam: Once you arrive, our team will give you an exam and take some X-rays so we can figure out exactly what the problem is. We can also provide medication or anesthetic if there is severe pain.
- Go Over Our Findings: The dentist will review the X-rays and discuss their observations with you. They’ll present your treatment options, which will include the associated costs and time each procedure will take. This way, you have all the information you need to decide what is right for you.
- Provide Treatment: Our team will act quickly to handle your problem and fix any damage that we can. Most of the time, we can get a patient out of pain in a single appointment, but if more extensive repairs are needed, we may need someone to come back for a follow-up visit.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
A dental emergency can come in many forms, whether it’s due to poor brushing and flossing habits or an unexpected accident. Below, you’ll find a list of the most common emergencies we see along with tips on how to handle them.
Tips For Dental Emergencies
These following tips will help you handle an emergency before you can make it to our dental office:
- Try to find any missing/broken portions of teeth/dental work.
- Rinse them off with warm (not hot) water.
- Have the victim gently rinse their mouth with water as well.
- Place a missing/broken tooth back into the mouth if possible. If not, put it in a container of milk or saltwater. A tooth must stay wet until we can see you to keep it viable for reattachment!
- Use a cold compress in 10-minute intervals to help with pain and swelling.
- Use a clean rag or gauze to stop any bleeding.
- OTC medication can help with pain as well, but avoid aspirin, as this could actually make bleeding worse.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
No matter what type of emergency you are dealing with, seeking out care sooner rather than later is always wise. Waiting will only allow the problem (and pain) to become worse, which means it will require more extensive and expensive care to fix. The cost of treatment will depend on the type and severity of the injury, but by acting fast, you can drastically reduce what you pay in the end. Plus, we can help you use your insurance if applicable.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
As with all dental issues, prevention is always the best approach, particularly when it comes to emergencies. Here are a few ways you can help yourself avoid needing to make an unexpected trip to the dentist:
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Visiting us every six months for a checkup and cleaning is important because it ensures that we can catch oral health problems well before they develop to the point where they require same-day care. We also recommend coming in between visits if you notice any abnormal symptoms, like bleeding gums or pain when biting down. Remember, your pain receptors are designed to communicate that something is wrong, so you shouldn’t ignore them!
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
In order to keep your teeth and gums healthy, you need to implement a solid oral hygiene routine. We recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste to brush your teeth each morning and evening (or after every meal, if possible). Furthermore, you should gently floss between each tooth and behind your molars before rinsing with mouthwash for 30-60 seconds. Together, these habits will help prevent built-up plaque and tartar.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
There are two main things you need to keep in mind when it comes to your diet: not consuming added sugar in excess and filling your plate with lots of nutrient-dense foods. This will help prevent cavities from developing while also giving your body the vitamins and minerals it needs to keep your teeth healthy, your jawbone strong, and your gums infection-free.
Wear a Mouthguard
Whether you participate in a contact sport, like wrestling, or a non-contact one, like surfing, you need to wear a mouthguard – no exceptions. If you don’t, then there’s a good chance that you will chip, crack, or fracture a tooth. If you don’t currently have a mouthguard, or you’ve been using a store-bought one, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us so we can have one made for you. We can also have one made if you chronically grind or clench your teeth!
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
If you’re having trouble opening a package with your hands, you might be tempted to use your teeth. Don’t! Using your teeth as tools – whether it’s to remove a clothing tag or remove a bottle cap – is one of the easiest ways to wind up with a serious dental injury that warrants a same-day visit to our office. So, always use the right tool (like scissors) instead of your teeth.
Root Canal Therapy
When the most interior part of a tooth becomes infected or damaged, this can cause the mother of all toothaches—the kind that makes it hard to focus on just about anything else. Fortunately, our team can relieve this kind of pain and save the tooth using root canal therapy. This procedure can be completed in just one visit to our dental office (in most cases), and thanks to modern dental techniques, this often-feared treatment is now no more painful than getting a small filling.
Tooth Extractions
While we do our best to help our patients keep all of their natural teeth for as long as possible, sometimes, the best thing for us to do is simply remove one. This is usually the case if:
- A tooth is too damaged to be restored
- Gum disease has weakened the bone supporting a tooth
- A baby tooth refuses to fall out naturally
- Room needs to be created for a denture/orthodontic treatment
Should you ever need an extraction, we’ll use local anesthesia and a light touch to make sure you’re comfortable from start to finish.
Learn More About Tooth Extractions
Dental Emergency Frequently Asked Questions
At Elmbrook Family Dental, one of our goals is to provide our patients with the tools they need to effectively respond to dental emergencies. We know there’s no way to completely prevent these unfortunate situations, but you can at least be prepared. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of some of our most frequently asked questions about dental emergencies. Continue reading to get the vital information you need.
What qualifies as a dental emergency?
Identifying a dental emergency isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Here are some telltale signs to be on the lookout for:
- Intense pain
- Bleeding
- Loose or broken tooth
- Knocked-out tooth
- Swelling
- Visible abscess
- Loose crown or filling
Do I need to head to the hospital?
In most cases, we can treat a dental emergency at our Brookfield dental office. However, there are some situations that require you to immediately head to the emergency room.
One such occasion is when you’ve had oral bleeding that has lasted for more than 10 minutes. You should also visit the hospital if you suspect you have a broken jaw. Both matters are time-sensitive, so you should act without any hesitation.
Will I need a root canal?
The typical reason for a root canal is there is prolonged tooth decay that has reached the sensitive inner area of a tooth where the canals and nerve endings are located. At this point, a simple filling won’t suffice. However, root canal therapy, if done in time, can still salvage the tooth and restore your oral health.
Should I seek immediate care for a dental emergency?
If you have a dental emergency, it will only get worse if ignored. Therefore, it’s best to have it treated as soon as possible. This will prevent any unnecessary suffering, and in some cases, it can help you avoid more complex forms of care.
Will my insurance cover dental emergency care?
Dental insurance plans can vary greatly. Therefore, you’ll need to review the details of yours to determine exactly what dental emergencies are covered, as in some cases it can change based on the specific form of treatment you need. You don’t have to shoulder the burden by yourself, though, as our friendly staff members will file your insurance claims so you can get the maximum benefits and ease the strain on your wallet.
If you have any other dental emergency FAQs, or you or a loved one is dealing with any form of dental trauma, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
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