In the event of a dental emergency, contact Bladenboro Family Dentistry at 910-469-4592.
Dr. Shannon French is an emergency dentist in Bladenboro, NC that is dedicated to helping her patients find quick solutions to their urgent dental problems. Patients who require immediate dental treatment can call her office for general dental care, dental restorations, or cosmetic alterations.
If you have just lost a tooth, broken a restoration, encountered excessive bleeding, or feel sudden and severe tooth pain, contact our office for care. We will schedule a dental appointment for you as soon as possible. Our goal is to preserve the tooth and gum structure and stop aches and pains caused by oral health issues.
Types of Dental Emergencies addressed at Bladenboro Family Dentistry
Dr. French and her team treat patients with a variety of dental concerns. Some of the most common emergencies that Dr. French treats include:
- Severe Tooth Pain: If you have frequent or severe toothaches, an underlying oral health problem is likely the cause. Tooth pain can be caused by TMJ disorders, impacted wisdom teeth, or dental infections. Severe tooth pain is most likely caused by an abscess and requires immediate care. Contact our office if your teeth are causing you pain. We will find the cause of your tooth pain and create a treatment plan for you.
- Excessive Bleeding: Many patients find that their gums bleed after brushing and flossing. Although not an emergency, this is a sign of gingivitis or gum inflammation. Alternatively, if your mouth is bleeding excessively, contact us immediately. Excessive bleeding, especially after a dental procedure, needs to be stopped as soon as possible.
- Lost Tooth: If you have just knocked out a tooth and can locate it, hold it by the crown. Rinse it in cool water and transport it to us in a cup of milk or saliva. The tooth needs to be kept moist if it has a chance of being reattached. However, if we cannot reattach the tooth, we can provide a dental implant. Implants are the gold standard of dental restorations that feel and look like natural teeth.
- Broken Dental Restoration: Do you have a fixed or removable restoration that is broken or damaged? Contact our office and we can help create a custom replacement for you. Dental bridges, dentures, dental implants, and even crowns need to be in good shape to help support your oral health. When these restorations are uneven or broken, it can make it difficult to eat and talk. It is important to receive a replacement as soon as possible.
Emergency Dentistry FAQs
What makes something a dental emergency?
Any problem that needs to be taken care of immediately is a dental emergency. Usually, these come up suddenly, without warning. Pain that’s severe and sudden, bleeding, or breakage of your tooth or dental restoration all constitute emergencies.
Can I go to the emergency room to take care of a dental emergency?
No, the only people that are able to treat dental emergencies are licensed dentists. If you have an injury to the cheek or soft tissue in the mouth, an emergency can help. But anything involving teeth or dental restorations needs to be handled by a dentist.
What do I do if I have a dental emergency?
It’s natural to want to panic, but try your best to remain calm. If something is broken, try to salvage all of the pieces. Call us as soon as possible to be seen in our office. If you’re experiencing pain or swelling, take over-the-counter painkillers and use a cold compress. Topical products like Orajel can be used as well until you’re able to be seen.
Is the treatment worse than the problem?
Many patients with dental anxiety fear that the treatment will be worse than dealing with pain or other issues. But services like root canals get a bad reputation when they’re really nothing to fear. Instead of causing more pain, a root canal alleviates the pain by removing the pressure and infected tissue.
We do everything to make sure that our patients are completely informed of the treatment process and are as comfortable as possible.
What should I do if I have something stuck in my teeth?
Don’t use anything sharp to try to prod in between your teeth. You don’t want to further injure your teeth or gums because of it. Try to dislodge the object gently with a piece of dental floss. Don’t try to work on it too aggressively. If it doesn’t budge, wait until you’re in our office. Specialized dental tools and expertise can remove the object safely.
What should I do if my child’s baby tooth gets knocked out?
Primary teeth are designed to get lost but on their own time schedule. When one is forcibly removed, it still counts as a dental emergency. A dentist needs to evaluate the situation to determine a plan moving forward. Baby teeth are important because they serve as placeholders for adult teeth to come in smoothly.
How do I know if an infection in my tooth has spread?
One of the reasons you should try to go to the dentist immediately is so infection doesn’t spread. If you’re experiencing a fever, increased heart or breathing rate, or swelling, those are all signs that the infection has traveled to other parts of your body. You need to be seen immediately to take care of the infection.
Can a dental emergency cause death?
If you don’t take care of something like a dental infection, it can spread throughout your body and cause sepsis or death. This is why emergency dental care is so crucial. If you think you may have a tooth infection, be seen by your dentist as soon as possible.
Contact Bladenboro Family Dentistry
If you are not currently experiencing a dental emergency, but are looking for a new dentist, you can schedule a dental appointment with us on our website. You may also call Bladenboro Family Dentistry at 910-469-4592. We see patients from Bladenboro, Fayetteville, and Clarkton, North Carolina.
Let our team know if you have any more concerns or questions about our treatments. They will be glad to help you get the answers you need.