Emergency Dentistry in Downtown Portland

What is emergency dentistry?

Emergency dentistry provides immediate care for patients who are suffering from a dental injury or are experiencing severe oral pain. The primary mission of an emergency dental treatment is to get patients back to a state of pain-free, optimal oral health as soon as possible. We always do our best to offer same-day appointments so you can get back to smiling with comfort and ease.

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Did you know…

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A tooth infection can spread to other parts of your body and cause further dental issues if left untreated.

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What to do in a dental emergency

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Remain Calm

While an unexpected dental injury can cause extreme stress and pain, it’s important to stay calm. Know that almost every dental issue can be addressed, treated, and resolved by a dentist. There’s no need to panic, we are here to help.

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Reduce Bleeding

If your dental injury or accident causes bleeding to occur, use a strip of sterile gauze and add pressure to the afflicted area. This should slow the blood flow within an hour.

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Control Swelling & Pain

An over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can temporarily alleviate pain and swelling. Avoid blood-thinning aspirins as they will prevent clotting and may make it difficult to control the flow of blood. You can also relieve  pain by applying an ice pack to the cheek near the affected area.

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Call Us Right Away

Don’t hesitate to give us a call as soon as you’ve gained control of your dental emergency. Our team can help assess the severity of your dental injury, and get you in our office as soon as possible for treatment.

The importance of prompt emergency care

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Same-Day Dental Care

Same-day appointments allow you to receive treatment on the day you call to request emergency care. At your same-day visit, the dentist will address your dental injury and craft an immediate plan to get you back to optimal health as soon as possible. By avoiding an appointment to treat your dental emergency, you prolongate your pain and put yourself at risk for more serious dental complications down the road. Our office provides same-day emergency dentistry so that you get the care that can’t wait.

After Hours Appointments

Sometimes, dental injuries and accidents take place outside of regular business hours. For patients experiencing severe emergencies, give us a call right away. If it's after-hours you will be prompted to leave a voicemail for our on-call doctor. We are here to help alleviate your pain and restore your smile as soon as possible.

Common Emergency Procedures

To restore the health and functionality of your mouth, your dentist will address the emergency situation and recommend a variety of treatments. For example, broken, damaged, or decayed teeth can be fixed with dental crowns. If an underlying infection is causing you to experience a severe or chronic toothache, root canal therapy may be the best option for you.

Another common restorative procedure is tooth splinting, which stabilizes a loose or knocked-out tooth to allow for proper healing. Tooth extractions are a rare but occasionally necessary procedure to remove severely damaged teeth that cannot be fixed otherwise.

Did you know…

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Kids and adults lose over five million teeth worldwide every year!

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Have questions about emergency dentistry? Find answers here.

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What should I do if I’ve knocked out a tooth?

First, remain calm. Recover your tooth by grabbing it by the top (the crown) instead of the bottom (the root) to prevent further damage. Then, rinse the tooth with warm water. Once it is clean, replace the tooth back in its socket. Alternatively, you can place the tooth in cold milk to ensure proper moisture before you stop by for an emergency appointment.

If you are facing an extremely serious dental emergency, call your dentist immediately. It is in your best interest to avoid spending too much time alleviating pain. Your tooth has a 1-2 hour window to be saved, replaced, and splinted by your dentist. Give us a call right away for guidance, then stop by our office to get the emergency care you need.

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What should I do if my dental work has fallen out?

If you can, place your dental appliance in a container or plastic bag and bring it to your next dental visit. To ensure we can treat the issue as soon as possible, give our office a call right away to schedule an emergency visit.

When your dental appliance comes off, your teeth and gums are exposed to bacteria. This can trigger an infection, further decay or damage, and cause further issues to form. A loose, broken, or missing dental appliance is a serious issue that warrants a same-day appointment, so contact our team right away to schedule a visit. It’s our mission to restore your smile with a new filling, crown, or other restorative dental work so you can smile with confidence again.

What should I do about a severe toothache?

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You may have a tooth infection if you are suffering from a severe toothache that lasts 1-2 days or longer. This constitutes as a serious dental emergency, and root canal therapy may be necessary to restore and revitalize your tooth.

Call our office immediately to book your appointment. Make sure to apply an ice pack, take over-the-counter pain relievers, or apply Orajel or a similar topical product to numb and soothe the pain before visiting our office.

What should I do about a chipped, broken or cracked tooth?

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Even if you think the dental damage is minor, give us a call to see if your situation qualifies for a same-day emergency appointment. Your dentist will conduct an exam to determine the severity of the chip, break, or crack on your tooth. If a broken or cracked tooth is left untreated, infections can arise and cause further complications. Make sure to give us a call and visit our office as soon as possible for a thorough examination. Your dentist will offer their best recommendations to repair and protect your smile.

What should I do about a loose tooth?

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Call our office immediately for a same-day appointment if an incident has caused your tooth to loosen. It’s important to receive proper care right away, as the nerves supporting your tooth could die and cause the tooth to fall out entirely. Our team is on standby to get you the emergency care you need, so don’t hesitate to reach out!

Once your visit is booked, do your best to keep the tooth as stable as possible. Touching the loose tooth with your tongue or fingers can cause further damage and accelerate an infection. At your emergency appointment, your dentist will apply a stabilizing split to attach the loose tooth to the adjacent teeth. The split will provide support and allow the tooth to heal and reattach to your gums. 

Did you know…

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By placing a knocked out tooth in cold milk, you can preserve the root while you head to your emergency appointment.

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