Dental emergencies can happen at any time, often when you least expect them. At Dr. Rachel Neumeyer’s dental practice in Metairie, we understand that severe tooth pain, injuries, and other urgent dental problems require immediate attention. Our emergency dental services are designed to provide quick relief and expert care when you need it most.
Dr. Neumeyer and our compassionate team are committed to helping patients through dental emergencies with prompt, effective treatment in a comfortable environment. We make room in our schedule for emergency appointments because we know that dental pain can be unbearable and waiting isn’t an option when you’re suffering.
What Is a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is any situation involving your teeth, gums, or mouth that requires immediate attention to:
- Stop ongoing tissue bleeding
- Relieve severe pain
- Prevent infection from spreading
- Save a tooth that might otherwise be lost
Not every dental problem is an emergency. Minor issues like a small chip in a tooth without pain, a mild toothache that responds to over-the-counter pain medicine, or losing a filling without pain can usually wait for a regular appointment. However, if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should contact our office right away:
- Severe, persistent tooth pain that keeps you from sleeping or eating
- Swelling in your face, cheeks, or gums
- A tooth that has been knocked out or severely loosened
- A cracked or broken tooth causing pain
- Bleeding from the mouth that doesn’t stop
- Signs of infection like fever and swelling
- A lost crown or filling causing significant pain
- Injury to the soft tissues of your mouth
When in doubt about whether your situation is an emergency, it’s always better to call our office. We can help determine if you need to be seen immediately and provide guidance on managing your symptoms until you arrive.
Common Dental Emergencies and Their Treatments
Our practice is equipped to handle a variety of dental emergencies, including:
- Knocked-Out Tooth: If your tooth has been knocked out, handle it by the crown (not the root), keep it moist in milk or saliva, and get to our office within 30 minutes if possible.
- Severe Toothache: Often indicating infection or nerve damage, severe tooth pain requires prompt evaluation and may need antibiotics, a filling, or root canal therapy.
- Cracked or Broken Tooth: Treatment depends on the severity and may include bonding, a crown, or root canal therapy if the inner pulp is exposed.
- Dental Abscess: This infection requires drainage, antibiotics, and possibly root canal therapy or extraction to prevent the infection from spreading.
- Lost Filling or Crown: We’ll replace your filling or recement your crown to protect the vulnerable tooth from further damage.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Cuts or tears to gums, lips, or tongue may require cleaning and sutures to promote proper healing.
Why Prompt Care Matters in Dental Emergencies
When it comes to dental emergencies, time is often the difference between saving and losing a tooth. For knocked-out teeth, the chances of successful reimplantation decrease significantly after 30 minutes. Dental infections don’t stay contained in one area—without treatment, they can spread to nearby teeth, into your jawbone, and even throughout your body.
Prompt treatment not only addresses the underlying problem but also provides immediate pain relief, helping you return to normal activities sooner. Quick intervention often means simpler, less invasive treatments. Waiting can allow problems to worsen, potentially requiring more complex procedures like root canals or extractions that might have been avoided with earlier care.
Addressing dental emergencies promptly can actually save you money in the long run. What might start as a simple crack requiring bonding could progress to needing a crown or even extraction and replacement if left untreated. Your oral health is connected to your overall health. Untreated dental infections can contribute to or worsen conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory issues.
At Dr. Neumeyer’s practice, we understand that dental emergencies are stressful and often frightening experiences. That’s why we prioritize emergency appointments and work to provide compassionate, effective care when you need it most.
Request an Emergency Appointment
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, don’t wait. Contact our Metairie office immediately at (504) 264-6013 for prompt attention. For emergencies outside regular hours, call the same number to be connected with our on-call dental professional.
You may also request an appointment through our website form, though we recommend calling directly for true emergencies requiring immediate attention.
At Dr. Rachel Neumeyer’s dental practice, we’re committed to relieving your pain and addressing your emergency with the highest standard of care.
