Emergency Dental Services

A dental emergency is any oral health issue that requires prompt treatment to stop bleeding, relieve severe pain, save a tooth, or treat an infection. Common examples include a knocked-out tooth, a cracked or fractured tooth, a lost filling or crown that exposes sensitive tissue, an abscess or facial swelling, and persistent, severe tooth or jaw pain. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, it is always best to call an emergency dentist in Columbus, OH. We will walk you through describing your symptoms so we can advise you.

Start by calling our office right away. While you wait for your appointment, you can rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water, take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed, and apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling. Avoid placing aspirin directly on the gum tissue, as this can cause burns. Most importantly, do not ignore unrelenting pain. Severe, throbbing tooth pain often signals an infection or abscess that requires prompt professional treatment to prevent it from spreading.

Emergency rooms can help stabilize serious situations, such as uncontrolled bleeding, facial trauma, or swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing. However, most ERs are not equipped to perform actual dental treatment. In many cases, hospital staff can only offer pain medication or antibiotics and will refer you to a dentist for the underlying problem. For true dental issues like a cracked tooth, lost filling, or infected root, our emergency dentists in Columbus, OH, are better equipped to diagnose and treat the actual cause of your pain.

You do not have to manage a dental emergency alone. Infinite Smiles welcomes new patients and prioritizes urgent cases with same-day or next-day appointments whenever possible. Simply call our office, explain your symptoms, and our team will work to get you seen quickly, even if you have never visited us before.

Children can be especially prone to dental injuries from falls, sports, or simply being active and curious. Signs that warrant calling an emergency dentist in Columbus, Ohio include a knocked-out or significantly loosened tooth, visible swelling of the face or gums, persistent bleeding, or a child who is in obvious, ongoing pain. As an emergency pediatric dentist, Dr. Patel can quickly assess the injury and recommend the right treatment to protect your child’s growing smile.

It depends on the severity. A minor chip that isn’t causing pain may be able to wait, but a crack that exposes the inner layers of the tooth, causes sensitivity to hot or cold, or is accompanied by pain should be treated as a dental emergency. Left untreated, cracks can worsen, become infected, or lead to a more invasive procedure down the road. When in doubt, call us so we can help you decide.