Emergency Dentist Durham

Reliable Emergency Dentistry When You Need It Most

Durham emergency dentist talking to a patient in the dental chair

Whether you knock out a tooth or experience a severe toothache when our office is closed, you can still give us a call! We see patients the same day, including after-hours and on weekends— available as necessary. As an emergency dentist in Durham, Dr. Ulloa will do everything possible to get you out of pain as soon as possible, allowing you to carry on with your daily routine without bearing the burden of a lingering, worsening oral health issue over your head. Give us a call today if you’re experiencing any out-of-the-ordinary oral pain so we can see you as soon as possible.

Why Choose Crafting Smiles for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Appointments for Dental Emergencies
  • Emergencies Seen After-Hours & on Weekends
  • In-Network with Delta Dental PPO

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Emergency dentist in Durham treating a patient

The first step that we take while addressing dental emergencies is to schedule an evaluation of the smile to determine what’s causing you pain, discomfort, or visible symptoms. During this process, Dr. Ulloa and our dental assistants will capture X-rays if necessary as well as conduct a thorough clinical evaluation of your teeth and gums. Based on our findings, we will make a diagnosis and outline a personalized treatment plan to address the issue at hand.

Before moving forward with our recommended treatment plan, we will outline a detailed cost estimate with you as well as discuss the procedure. This will allow you to ask any questions you may have so you feel informed and confident about moving forward with treatment. Once you consent to the plan, Dr. Ulloa will get to work restoring your smile’s health, function, and comfort.

The Most Common Dental
Emergencies

Dental emergencies in Durham come in all different shapes and sizes, which is why we recommend giving us a call as soon as you notice that something seems out of the ordinary, whether it’s slight discomfort, dental damage, or an aching tooth. Below, we’ve outlined some of the most common dental emergencies that we see to give you an idea of what requires more urgent care.

Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency?

There are many different things that can cause a toothache, from minor issues like sinus congestion to severe problems like tooth infections. Important signs that your toothache needs immediate attention include:

  • Persistent pain that lasts longer than 24 hours
  • A fever
  • A painful lump or bump along the gumline
  • A loose or broken tooth

How you should handle a toothache:

If you believe you are experiencing a dental emergency, contact your dentist as soon as possible for further instruction. In the meantime, avoid eating with the affected tooth, don’t pop the pimple-like bump along your gumline, and do not put aspirin directly on your teeth or gums. Pain can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications, or you can also try applying a cold compress to the area for up to 20 minutes at a time.

How we treat toothaches:

In order to determine the appropriate treatment for your toothache, Dr. Ulloa will first need to examine the tooth in question. Your treatment will depend entirely on the cause of the pain, and can be anything from a filling, crown, antibiotics, prescription mouthwash, gum disease treatment, a root canal, or an extraction.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?

A chipped tooth is not considered an urgent dental emergency; however, you should still make an appointment to see Dr. Ulloa as soon as possible. Even small chips can cause a lot of damage if left untreated, including bigger chips or tooth decay.

How you should handle a chipped tooth:

Should you chip your tooth, rinse your mouth out with warm water immediately to help keep the tooth itself clean and prevent you from swallowing any broken pieces. You may then place a cold compress on your face to prevent swelling and ease discomfort. You can also take an over-the-counter pain medication if necessary.

How we treat chipped teeth:

Most of the time, Dr. Ulloa can repair your chipped tooth with tooth-colored composite resin. However, if the chip occurs on a very visible tooth and you are at all worried about aesthetics, speak to him about the benefits of getting a veneer made.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Porcelain Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency?

If your tooth only has a minor crack, this is not a dental emergency, but you will still need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ulloa as soon as possible. For teeth with severe damage, you need to be treated right away.

Unfortunately, not all tooth cracks are visible, so if you notice any sensitivity or pain when biting down following a facial injury, you could have hidden damage to your tooth.

How you should handle a cracked tooth:

The first thing you should do if you crack a tooth is rinse your mouth with warm water. Apply a cold compress to your face over the tooth to help prevent swelling and reduce pain. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and with your cracked tooth until Dr. Ulloa gives you the okay.

How we treat cracked teeth:

For a cracked tooth with minimal damage, Dr. Ulloa may be able to repair it with dental bonding / tooth colored composite resin. Unfortunately, however, for severe damage he will likely either need to place a crown on it, or in severe cases he may need to extract the tooth completely.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Sensitivity to
Hot & Cold

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Abnormal dental symptoms, including persistent sensitivity, should not be ignored. We recommend calling us if your symptoms are getting worse or you’re experiencing other warning signs of trouble, like pain when biting down.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth Until your appointment, we recommend avoiding spicy foods, not drinking anything hot, and taking OTC pain medication as directed. These are small, short-term measures that will make a big difference in the severity of your symptoms.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth Sometimes, the solution is as simple as switching to a desensitizing toothpaste. Other times, restorative care is needed, like gum disease treatment or root canal therapy. Rest assured, we will review all of your treatment options at your appointment.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GUM DISEASE TREATMENT

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency?

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, a knocked-out tooth warrants an immediate visit to our office. Remember: there’s only a small window of time where saving your tooth is possible. So, call us right away to schedule an emergency appointment within the hour.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth In addition to calling us, we recommend gently rinsing your mouth with clean, cool water. If you can, put the tooth back in its socket. If it doesn’t slide back into position easily, then do the next best thing: place it in a clean container filled with milk.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth Our goal for each and every patient is the same: to save their natural tooth. Sadly, however, that’s not always possible. For example, if the tooth was lost on the way to our office, then we will need to replace it with a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Since your tooth is vulnerable to harm without the restoration securely in place, the answer is “yes!” We encourage you to call our office, let a member of our team know what happened, and come in for an emergency exam ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown There are a few things we recommend NOT doing, like smoking, chewing on that side of your mouth, eating sugary foods, and touching the tooth with your finger. Instead, focus on keeping your filling or crown somewhere safe and getting to our office.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns If you don’t have your dental crown or you lost your filling, then we will provide you with a new one. If, on the other hand, you have your dental crown and it’s relatively new, then there’s a good chance we will be able to re-cement it back in place.

Broken Dentures

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? You might not think of your damaged restoration as urgent, but you might further harm it or injure your teeth or gums if you try to war it. It’s best to call for an appointment immediately.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: Don’t try to fix it yourself at home using household supplies because many, like super glue, are toxic if ingested and not intended for oral use. Contact us instead and we will schedule a time to see you and provide any additional care instructions over the phone.

How We Treat Broken Dentures: If the teeth are chipped or cracked, we may be able to mend them with dental bonding. If your prosthetics are completely broken, we will work with you to order replacements. You may want to consider implant dentures for a more permanent and reliable solution.

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? If you have an extruded or partially dislodged tooth, it’s important to be seen as soon as possible. There are many potential causes but it could fall out altogether if you wait too long to be seen.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: Contact us for an appointment immediately. Then, try not to touch, wiggle, or press it with your tongue, fingers, or any other object. Don’t brush or floss it but do keep your mouth clean by gently rinsing it with warm salt water.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: If it’s a loose implant, we might be able to provide a bone graft or other procedure to salvage it. For natural teeth, sometimes a splint can be placed to stabilize it long enough to reintegrate with your jaw. If it cannot be saved, we will discuss options for extracting and replacing it.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Replacing Missing Teeth

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Cuts to the tender tissues of your mouth tend to bleed, which can cause anxiety. These types of injuries are common among athletes, and Dr. Ulloa is happy to help if it’s a minor injury. If the bleeding doesn’t stop or you’ve sustained a life threatening injury, you should head to the nearest emergency room, instead.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Rinse the cut gently with water to remove dirt, bacteria, or debris. Then, apply a clean washcloth, paper towel, or gauze and press firmly to slow the bleeding. If you’re hurting, you can apply a cold compress or take over-the-counter meds like Tylenol or ibuprofen.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: If it’s not a severe injury, we can stitch the wound closed so it heals quickly and without developing adverse effects.

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Aches in your jaw can be due to a few underlying issues, and not all are emergent. If your discomfort becomes chronic or severe, contact us right away so we can address it before it progresses further.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Call us and we’ll discuss your circumstances and schedule an appropriate time to examine you. We’ll provide care instructions over the phone for you to follow in the meantime. It’s usually safe to apply and ice pack or take pain meds like ibuprofen or Tylenol to reduce symptoms until you arrive.

How We Treat Jaw Pain: Chronic teeth grinding, or bruxism, is often the culprit behind a sore jaw. We can provide a custom-fitted nightguard to safeguard your smile from all the extra tension exerted from constantly clenching.

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Having something stuck between your teeth tends to be more annoying than dangerous. However, you might chip or crack a tooth or lacerate the tender tissues in your mouth trying to pry the object free. Try rinsing with water or gently flossing to see if that helps. If it doesn’t, contact our office and we’d be happy to schedule an appointment to safely remove it for you.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Dental team member showing dentist a file while standing in hallway

When we say, “dental emergency,” we’re not referring to a single situation—we’re referencing any oral health issue that’s causing you pain or concern and impacting your daily life. This means that a dental emergency appointment could include a wide spectrum of services. Because of this, the only way we can determine the cost of your visit is to first diagnose the issue and create a treatment plan. Once we do that, we’ll provide you with a detailed estimate, so you know exactly what to expect moving forward.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Senior man at dental consultation

While there’s no way you can completely avoid experiencing a dental emergency, there are several preventive steps you can take to minimize your chances of ending up at the emergency dentist’s office, including:

  • Maintaining good at-home oral hygiene by brushing twice a day and flossing daily.
  • Visiting Dr. Ulloa for routine checkups and cleanings every six months.
  • Maintaining a balanced diet.
  • Protecting your teeth from nightly grinding and while playing contact sports.
  • Receiving regular maintenance for chronic dental concerns like gum disease.
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