Ideally, you shouldn’t start searching for an emergency dentist after you or a loved one has already developed a painful toothache or dental injury. Instead, just put Dr. Hoop’s number in your phone right now, and should you ever require immediate dental care, you’ll be all set. Dr. Hoop has 30 years of experience, meaning he’s able to handle any urgent dental situation you can imagine with speed and expertise. Our team is happy to accommodate patients in need of emergency dentistry in North Naples and see them the same day that they call so no one has to be left waiting while in pain.
Why Choose Total Dental Solutions for Emergency Dental Care?
First and foremost, you should contact our dental office if you even think you’re experiencing a dental emergency. If it turns out that you need professional help, we’ll schedule you for an appointment right away. In the meantime, here are some of the best ways to handle common dental emergencies and take control of the situation.
We can’t give you an estimate of the cost of your emergency treatment until we see you in person. The final price will depend on the type and extent of your injury in addition to the procedure needed to address it. The best way to reduce your cost and any pain associated with your emergency is to seek out treatment as soon as possible, as this will allow Dr. Hoop to intervene and potentially use a more conservative (and less expensive) treatment.
The best thing you can do is keep up with your daily brushing and flossing routine, as this will prevent small problems from developing that can eventually turn into big emergencies. This is also why it’s important to attend at least two checkups each year—Dr. Hoop can find the early signs of an issue and treat it before it becomes more advanced. It’s also wise to wear a mouthguard whenever you play sports and preserve your teeth by not chewing on items like ice, pen caps, fingernails, etc.
Dental emergencies never seem to happen at a convenient time, so it is completely understandable to have some unanswered questions. Here are the answers to some of the most common queries we are asked about dental emergencies in Naples. If you don’t see the information that you’re looking for below, don’t worry! Just give us a call and we’d be more than happy to answer your questions and get you into the practice as soon as possible.
Toothaches do not typically go away on their own. Because of this, it is always best to schedule a checkup with a dentist to ensure that nothing serious is going on. There are all sorts of different reasons for toothaches, so you’ll want to rule them out. This way, you can potentially catch underlying issues before they become more serious.
It can be difficult to get a full night of quality sleep if you are suffering from a toothache. You should seek dental attention as soon as you can, but in the meantime, keep your head elevated. This will prevent blood from rushing to your head and intensify your toothache. You could also try taking over-the-counter pain relievers as directed, like ibuprofen. Cold compresses can also be effective at reducing discomfort.
Most emergency rooms aren’t able to address dental emergencies effectively. However, there are a few main exceptions. It is a good idea to head to the ER if you have experienced a jaw fracture or dislocation, a serious cut or laceration to the face or mouth, or have an abscess or infection that is affecting your ability to breathe or swallow. In other situations, it is generally a better idea to see a dentist to treat your dental ailment. We are able to provide same-day appointments for patients who are experiencing a dental emergency.
You should never try to pop a dental abscess on your own. Instead, get in touch with a dentist right away, as this is considered a dental infection and therefore an emergency. Popping the abscess will only expose your mouth to additional bacteria and irritate the area more. Putting off treatment allows the infection to spread within the mouth and to other areas in the body, like the neck, throat, and head.
Although tooth enamel is the strongest material in the human body (even more so than bone!), this strength comes at the cost of being unable to heal itself on its own. No matter how small the chip in your tooth is, it will never grow back. For that reason, we highly suggest calling our Total Dental Solutions team right away in the event of a chipped tooth, even if it doesn’t hurt. This might not seem like a dental emergency in North Naples, but without restorative treatment, there’s always the chance that the chip could grow and lead to severe oral health problems such as infection and deep fracture.
While you should definitely rinse off a knocked-out tooth under gently running water, you should avoid placing it in water for an extended period of time. Water can actually damage the cells on the surface of the tooth’s root, making it less likely to successfully reattach to the tissues in its socket when we try to replant it.
Instead, try your best to carefully reinsert the tooth into its socket. If that’s not doable, you can store it in a container of milk, saline solution, or even your own saliva. This can keep the tooth alive for up to one hour after the incident, but the chances of successful reattachment begin to drop drastically after that point.
Generally, emergency dental exams are relatively inexpensive. That being said, the treatments required to address urgent dental problems are typically more extensive than a routine checkup and cleaning, so they tend to cost more and qualify for less insurance coverage.
However, don’t let that deter you from seeking out urgent dental care when you need it! Putting off treatment could actually cause your problem to worsen, increasing the risk that you’ll need an even pricier procedure later on.
If something is stuck between your teeth, we advise that you do NOT use a toothpick, as it’s all too easy to accidentally scratch your tooth enamel or gum tissue and create even more discomfort. Using a toothpick might have the opposite effect of pushing the debris even further down between your teeth. Wooden toothpicks can be especially dangerous; they might splinter and break off inside your mouth. You could even swallow one, which can be deadly.
As tempting as it may be to use a toothpick, only do so as a last resort. Our team has the appropriate tools designed to safely and comfortably remove a trapped object from between the teeth.