If you have a dental emergency, please contact Horizon Family Dental Care. Our professional dental team will help you receive dental services immediately. We provide emergency dentistry services to patients in our Baltimore, La Plata, Hanover, and Clinton, MD dental offices.

Emergency dentistry is a part of general dental care, meaning receiving urgent dental care can help prevent immediate and future oral health problems. Addressing broken or missing teeth and restorations, as well as abnormal changes in your oral health, can stop the development of severe dental issues. As your emergency dentist office, we’re here to ensure you get dental treatment right away to lessen the risk of more expensive care.

Emergency Dentistry Services in Baltimore

At all of our Horizon Family Dental Care locations, including Baltimore, we treat patients with these dental emergencies:

Knocked-Out Permanent Teeth

If you have just lost a permanent tooth, try to locate it and hold it by the crown or top. Rinse the tooth in cool water and transport it to our office in a cup of cold milk. Do not try to replace the tooth in its socket, as this can damage the tooth.

If we receive the tooth in time, our team may be able to reattach it. However, if we cannot, we recommend a dental implant. Dental implants are durable posts capped with tooth crowns that replace missing teeth.

Broken and Injured Teeth

If you have just broken or fractured a tooth, locate the broken pieces. Then, gently rinse your mouth with water. Take pain medication and apply a cold compress if you experience swelling.

Then, bring the pieces of your tooth to our office in a cup of saliva. If we cannot put the tooth back together, we can provide you with porcelain veneers, tooth bonding treatment, or a dental crown. Veneers and dental bonding are similar treatments.

Porcelain veneers are shells that cover the front of teeth, while dental bonding material is shaped onto the enamel. Dental crowns fully cover teeth and are best for more extensive areas of damage.

Excessive Bleeding

Although bleeding is normal after a dental procedure, excessive bleeding is abnormal. Please call our office if your tooth socket continues to bleed after the first day. Bleeding may persist an hour or two after extraction. A blood clot usually forms after a procedure such as tooth extraction.

Additionally, some patients may have frequently bleeding gums after they brush and floss. While this is not a sign of a dental emergency, it is a sign of gum inflammation. Schedule a routine dental visit for a cleaning to prevent further signs of gum disease.

Broken Dental Restorations

Contact us if you have broken a dental bridge, denture, tooth crown, or other dental restoration. You must receive a replacement, even a temporary one, as soon as possible. Do not try to put broken pieces of the restoration back in your mouth, because you can damage your teeth or soft tissues.

Broken dental restorations can impact the bite and cause discomfort and pain. We can work with you to create a durable replacement that looks and functions like natural teeth.

What is Not A Dental Emergency?

While some problems may need dental care, they do not need immediate treatment. Dental issues that aren’t emergencies include:

• Object stuck between teeth: If you have food stuck between your teeth, try to floss to dislodge the object. You may also use a toothpick. If this does not work, call us for an appointment. We will remove the object for you.
• Bleeding gums: You may have gingivitis if your gums bleed when you brush and floss. Also known as gum inflammation, gingivitis is the precursor to gum disease. While gum inflammation needs professional care, it’s not an emergency. We can provide a thorough cleaning to reverse bleeding gums.
• Small tooth chip: You can wait to treat a small tooth chip. While this problem may not require emergency care, it will need treatment before you injure your tooth further. We often recommend bonding for small chips in your tooth.
• Dull toothache: While a severe toothache is a dental emergency, dull tooth pain does not require urgent care. Schedule an appointment with us if you have a minor toothache. We will consider problems like infection, tooth damage, and more to find the best treatment.

Preventing Dental Emergencies

In most cases, you can’t see an emergency coming. However, sometimes, you can reduce your risk of sudden dental problems with preventive care. We recommend these as a part of your routine:

• Brush and Floss: We recommend brushing and flossing twice daily. Floss before you brush to remove leftover food between each tooth. Then, when brushing, use a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste. A good oral hygiene routine can reduce the risk of tooth infection and gum disease.
• Stop Bad Habits: Chewing on ice, using teeth as tools, and nail-biting increase your risk of tooth damage. These bad habits can put pressure on your teeth and jaw. You can also chip, crack, or fracture a tooth.
• Visit the Dentist: We recommend visiting our dental office every six months for routine exams and cleanings. Exams help us find signs of emerging dental problems, including infected and impacted teeth. Our digital X-rays can find problems in the teeth, gums, and jaw. Our routine cleanings also remove leftover food and bacteria contributing to infection.

Please contact us as soon as you notice a change in your oral health. Early prevention decreases the risk of dental problems worsening over time.

Emergency Dentistry FAQs

Anyone can experience a dental emergency at any time. Read the answers to these frequently asked patient questions.

What counts as a dental emergency?

Dental emergencies include situations where you’re in severe pain, bleeding that won’t stop, swelling, or trauma to the teeth or gums. Examples include a knocked-out tooth, a cracked or fractured tooth, or a dental abscess. Even a lost filling or crown can be considered an emergency if it causes significant discomfort or risk. When in doubt, contact us to assess the situation.

How do I know if my toothache is an emergency?

A toothache is considered a dental emergency if the pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by swelling, fever, or a foul taste. These symptoms may indicate an infection or abscess that requires immediate care. Minor sensitivity can usually wait for a regular appointment, but sharp or throbbing pain should not be ignored. Early treatment can prevent complications.

Can I go to the emergency room for dental pain?

You can go to the ER if you’re experiencing uncontrollable bleeding, facial swelling that affects breathing, or trauma involving your face or jaw. However, ER doctors may only temporarily relieve dental pain and refer you to a dentist. Whenever possible, contact us for direct care. A dentist office is better equipped to handle dental-specific issues.

What happens during an emergency dental visit?

During an emergency visit, the dentist will examine the affected area, possibly take X-rays, and determine the source of your pain or injury. Treatment may be provided immediately or temporarily to stabilize the issue. The goal is to relieve pain, control infection or bleeding, and plan for any follow-up care. You’ll leave the office with a clear understanding of the next steps.

Does insurance cover emergency dental visits?

Most dental insurance plans cover emergency visits, at least in part. Coverage can vary based on your plan and the specific treatment needed. It’s a good idea to call your insurance provider or dental office to confirm coverage. We also offer third-party financing options.

Can I wait until morning for a dental emergency?

Some issues, like mild discomfort or a lost filling without pain, may be able to wait until regular office hours. However, any situation involving severe pain, swelling, bleeding, or trauma should be treated immediately. If you’re unsure, call us for guidance. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.

Contact Horizon Family Dental Care

Stop tooth pain, treat a broken tooth, and restore a knocked-out tooth today. Call the office closest to you for emergency dentistry treatment. We offer emergency dentistry treatment in Baltimore, La Plata, Hanover, and Clinton.

If you do not have a dental emergency, you can schedule a dental appointment with our team on our website. Please let us know if you have questions about your dental concerns or are unsure if you have an emergency. We will recommend the best mode of treatment for you.