Emergency Dentist – Raleigh, NC 

Easing Pain & Repairing Smiles

Whether you’re experiencing a toothache or a broken tooth, having to find a trustworthy emergency dentist in Raliegh, NC while experiencing oral discomfort is a stressful situation to navigate. Fortunately, Dr. Ricke and our experienced dental team members at Lake Boone Dentistry Raleigh provide fast, comfortable, and attentive emergency dentistry treatments that can restore the appearance of your grin and ease your discomfort. If you’re in the midst of dealing with an urgent dental situation, call our dental office today!

Why Choose Lake Boone Dentistry Raleigh for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Flexible Schedule and Treatments
  • Experienced Dentist
  • Friendly & Kind Dental Team

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Young woman smiling during emergency dentistry visit

The first step you should always take if you find yourself with a dental emergency is to call our dental office immediately. Our team will set up a visit for you as soon as possible, and if necessary, provide you with guidance over the phone.

Once you arrive, our team will conduct a thorough examination of your mouth and capture X-rays to find out what the issue is and whether there’s any underlying problems that we’ll need to factor into your treatment plan. Before presenting the treatment plan, we’ll discuss our exam findings with you and go over your options along with a cost estimate. If you have any questions or concerns, we’ll be happy to address them.

 

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Whether you’re experiencing unexplained oral pain or knocked a tooth out, if you’re concerned about the health of your smile, it’s a good idea to contact an emergency dentist. Even if your situation doesn’t require immediate attention, being able to talk with one of our friendly dental experts can put your mind at ease until your appointment. Below are some of the most common dental emergencies that patients come to us with.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Dental team member explaining the cost of dental emergencies

The cost of your emergency dental visit will be based on what treatment you require, which Dr. Ricke will discuss with you after he’s had a chance to examine your mouth and diagnose the issue at-hand. Our team is happy to accommodate you by keeping your budget in-mind, and if you have dental insurance, we can file a claim on your behalf to help you get the most out of your benefits.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman learning how to prevent dental emergencies in Raleigh

While there’s no way to completely avoid experiencing a stressful dental emergency, there are some ways you can minimize your chances of an unexpected visit to the dentist. No one wants to find themselves in a situation that causes extreme pain, so if you want to reduce your risk of a knocked-out tooth, chipped or cracked pearly white, or intense toothache, consider these helpful tips:

Keep Your Regular Dental Appointments

Man during dental checkup in Raleigh

Seeing a dentist every six months will put you on a path to a healthier, damage- and infection-free smile. Allowing our trusted professionals to examine and clean your teeth and gums will not only reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease but will also ensure that your smile is in the best possible shape in between appointments. When the chances of cavities and bacterial accumulation are lowered, you’re less likely to suffer a serious toothache or infection.

Keep Brushing and Flossing

Couple brushing teeth in Raleigh

You shouldn’t expect your dentist to do everything for you, which is why adopting good oral hygiene habits at home is important. If you are not already brushing twice a day and flossing at least once, it’s time to start. Adding this to your morning and nighttime routines will help you to avoid sudden trips to the emergency dentist’s office. They’ll also lower your risk of requiring timely and costly restorative care.

Be Mindful What You Eat

Woman eating healthy in Raleigh

The food you consume can have a positive or negative impact on the rest of your body. Whether it is fat, sugar, carbohydrates, or protein, it can help or hinder your brain, heart, gut, and even your smile. This is why choosing the right items to eat and drink is essential. Those packed with valuable nutrients, vitamins, and minerals will help to better protect your smile against disease, decay, infection, and damage. Think lean proteins, low-fat dairy, greens, and of course, fruits and vegetables.

Wear a Mouthguard to Protect Your Teeth

Mouthguard in Raleigh

You’ve seen athletes wear mouthguards to protect their teeth, so you should do the same when preparing to engage in a contact sport. You’ll also find these oral devices helpful if you tend to grind and clench your teeth while you sleep. Designed according to your smile, a customized mouthguard can be what you need to avoid worn-down tooth enamel, chronic jaw pain, or serious dental damage caused by an unexpected hit.

Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth

Bottle opener in Raleigh

It’s far too convenient to use your teeth when opening something. No one wants to go digging through countless drawers to find a bottle opener or pair of scissors, so using your teeth seems like an “okay” idea, right? While plenty of people do it, this mindset will only find you in a chair waiting to see your emergency dentist in Raleigh. Instead of putting your pearly whites at risk, use appropriate tools that are designed to do what your teeth are not – to open pesky packages, bottles, and containers.

Dental Emergency FAQs.

Person holding a tooth in their hand.

Dental emergencies can be a little bit hard to navigate. Not only are you in pain, but you’re also having to pick between a wide variety of dental treatments. If you’re feeling a little bit overwhelmed, we completely understand. That’s why we’ll spend plenty of going over your treatment plan with you, and talking with you about any concerns that you may have.

We get all kinds of questions from our patients about dental emergencies, so if you want to know more before your treatment begins, here are some answers that may help you.

Will My Toothache Fade on Its Own

Generally speaking, a toothache that’s seriously bothering you isn’t going to go away on its own. There are several reasons why you may develop a toothache, ranging from bacterial infection to trauma, and each of them necessitate professional interventions. Moreover, they could become more serious if nothing is done.

If you have a toothache, odds are that we can help you, and that you aren’t going to feel better otherwise. So you should be sure to see us right away!

Should I Go to The Emergency Room?

Treating issues with the teeth requires unique tools and expertise, neither of which tend to be available at the emergency room. If your tooth hurts and you need help, you’ll need to make an emergency appointment with a dentist.

The only exceptions are situations where you need immediate medical attention, or if your condition has become life-threatening. If your jaw has been broken, if you have large wounds, or if swelling is obstructing your breathing, then it may be good to go to the ER for immediate assistance.

Can I Fix My Own Dentures?

You may have noticed that you can purchase DIY denture repair kits. However, these don’t contain all the tools necessary to repair your dentures on your own. Even if they did, getting the fit right is enormously difficult without any help.

If your dentures are broken, it’s necessary to talk to a professional in order to fix them. In some cases, they may even need to be replaced entirely.

What Should I Do with a Tooth That’s Fallen Out?

In many cases, a tooth that has fallen out can be placed back into the jaw, provided that you take care of it well en route to the dentist’s office.

It’s typically good to rinse a tooth that’s fallen out with water in order to remove any debris. However, it shouldn’t be stored in water, as this can damage the root of the tooth.

The best thing to do is actually to put the tooth back in its socket. If you don’t feel comfortable with that, you may want to try to store the tooth in either milk or a saline solution until you can get to the dentist.