Emergency Dentist in Missoula, MT
As much as we’d like to, it’s impossible to prepare for everything in life. Dental emergencies are no exception, as they can occur at any time, leaving patients unprepared and in pain. Whether it’s sudden tooth pain, an unexpected dental injury, or a broken restoration, Big Sky Dentures & Implants has a solution for you! Our experienced dentists intentionally leave gaps in their schedules to ensure that patients facing a dental emergency have somewhere to go. In their capacity as an emergency dentist, our team provides pain-relieving care that protects your oral health and well-being. If you believe you are experiencing a dental emergency, contact us as soon as possible to learn what we can do for your smile!
Dental Emergencies According to an Emergency Dentist
A dental emergency is an issue that poses a significant risk to your oral health and requires immediate attention. While not every dental problem is an emergency, it’s important to contact an emergency dentist to discuss your symptoms. If necessary, we’ll have you come in as soon as possible for prompt treatment.
Common dental emergencies include:
- Intense, constant tooth pain
- Knocked-out/dislodged tooth
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Dental abscess or inflammation
- Broken/lost dental restoration
Without treatment, these issues can lead to further complications, potentially resulting in infection or tooth decay. Fortunately, with fast and effective dental care, we can relieve dental pain, stop infections, and protect your smile!
What Doesn’t Count as a Dental Emergency?
However, not every dental issue counts as an emergency. In some cases, dental problems may not require immediate treatment and can wait for a scheduled dental appointment. Dental non-emergencies include issues like:
- Dull or mild tooth pain
- Small chips and cracks
- Mouth sores
Before seeking emergency treatment, contact an emergency dentist. As professionals, we can help determine the level of urgency necessary for your injury. If it’s a dental emergency, we recommend you come in as soon as possible, and we will try to fit you into our daily schedule. If it’s not an emergency, we’ll schedule a later appointment to treat your smile.
How an Emergency Dentist Can Help
At Big Sky Dentures & Implants, our main goal is to provide effective and comfortable care. We value open communication with our patients and strive to provide a welcoming atmosphere that eases any dental anxieties.
Before starting treatment, we will assess your injuries to determine the root of the problem. Then, alongside pain relief, we’ll provide an effective treatment to keep your smile healthy! These treatments include:
Tooth-Colored Fillings
When bacteria gather on a particular part of your tooth, they damage the enamel. Without treatment, the bacteria will spread within the tooth, creating a vulnerable area that is prone to pain and infection.
At Big Sky Dentures & Implants, we’re equipped to handle emergencies like these. By removing all signs of infection and placing a dental filling on top of your tooth, we can relieve pain and protect your smile. We use tooth-colored composite fillings that blend in seamlessly with your natural enamel, restoring the aesthetics of your smile while sealing your vulnerable tooth off from further infection.
Restoration Repair
Dental fillings, crowns, and bridges are all made to last. Unfortunately, this doesn’t make them invincible. If your restorations become damaged, loose, or lost, we can provide emergency services to keep your smile safe!
When damaged teeth lose their protective restorations, they become vulnerable to infection and decay. Thankfully, an emergency dentist is able to reattach and repair these restorations, often in just one appointment. Even loose dentures only need one same-day reline appointment to fit snug against your gums again.
Tooth Extraction
While we strive to save your natural teeth, it isn’t always possible. In some cases, if infection and decay have severely damaged the tooth, we may need to extract it.
A tooth extraction may sound intimidating, but at our office, we ensure you feel comfortable throughout the appointment. By removing the troubled tooth, we can protect your other teeth from the spread of infection and provide immense pain relief.
Same-Day Dental Implants
After losing teeth, whether due to extraction or dental trauma, we encourage patients to replace them.
Natural teeth are essential for good oral function, as they allow you to chew efficiently and speak clearly! Additionally, teeth have important roots that extend into your jawbone, providing stimulation that keeps your jawbone healthy and full. Without these tooth roots, your jaw will begin to resorb, losing mass and volume over time.
But with dental implants, we can replace your missing tooth roots and restore your smile!
These titanium posts anchor in your jawbone to support dental restorations, such as crowns, bridges, or dentures. Once inside your bone, implants become remarkably stable, creating a strong connection that rivals the strength of your natural teeth.
At Big Sky Dentures & Implants, we use mini dental implants, which are a smaller and sleeker version of the standard implant. Not only do these small titanium posts offer incredible benefits to patients, but they also enable us to replace missing teeth in just one day. Immediately after placing your implants, we’ll provide you with a temporary restoration that maintains the function and aesthetics of your smile. Then, after just a few weeks of healing, your implants should be strong enough to support a final restoration.
Visit Your Emergency Dentist in Missoula, MT
You won’t always be prepared for a dental emergency, but with the help of an emergency dentist, you don’t have to be! At Big Sky Dentures & Implants, we offer prompt and effective emergency care for patients requiring immediate dental treatment. With our emergency dental treatments and compassionate care, you can alleviate pain and maintain a happy, healthy smile.
If you believe you’re experiencing a dental emergency, contact Big Sky Dentures & Implants as soon as possible to receive prompt care.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of your emergency dentist appointment depends largely on the type of treatment you need. Simple treatments, such as dental fillings or extractions, are significantly less expensive than dental implant treatments, especially with the help of dental insurance.
At Big Sky Dentures & Implants, we accept insurance and Medicaid. Additionally, we partner with third-party financing companies that help split your costs into manageable monthly payments! With these flexible financing options, you can afford to care for your smile, regardless of your budget.
For most dental emergencies, we recommend seeking an emergency dentist rather than the Emergency Room. While the ER can help with pain relief, they are rarely equipped to treat your dental problems. Only an emergency dentist can provide both dental pain relief and treatment, all in one appointment!
However, if you can’t get into our office that day and are dealing with immense pain or excessive bleeding from the mouth, visit your nearest ER. There, they can provide life-saving treatments and pain relief before you visit us for dental care.
After knocking a tooth out of its socket, there is a way we can save your tooth. However, you’ll need to follow the correct steps very carefully.
First, pick up the tooth by the crown (or the part that sticks out above your gums, which you use to chew). Then, if it’s dirty, gently rinse it off under water, making sure to avoid touching any other part of the tooth.
If possible, it’s best to try to reinsert your tooth into its socket, holding it in place by gently keeping your mouth closed. If you can’t keep it in its socket, preserve it in a bag of milk or a tooth preservation kit until you can get to our office.
It’s important to note that the longer you wait to restore a knocked-out tooth, the less likely we’ll be able to reattach it. We recommend visiting us within 30 minutes of the incident for the best results.