Emergency Dental Care in Red Deer County AB

Woman holding jaw in painEmergencies can and do happen. If you find yourself with a dental emergency out of the blue, don’t hesitate to give our Central Alberta dental office a call anytime, 403-343-8622. (If your emergency occurs after regular clinic hours, please follow the prompts on the voicemail.)

Dr. Darren Whitehead and our team will assess the area of concern by performing an emergency exam and taking any necessary x-rays and photos to make a diagnosis and come up with a treatment plan specific to your needs. They will discuss treatment options with you and take care of your dental treatment as soon as possible.

Sometimes an emergency requires an initial exam and a second appointment to complete necessary treatment;  sometimes, it can be taken care of in one visit. Either way, you can be sure to receive the same level of genuine care and treatment here at Gasoline Alley Dental in Red Deer County, AB, for your emergency dental needs.

 

Assessing the Urgency of Your Situation

It is sometimes difficult to know whether or not your dental emergency is urgent or not. Some situations do not need to be treated immediately.  If you are in severe pain from a toothache that started mild but quickly became unbearable, you should give us a call immediately. We’ll do our best to get you in right away and provide palliative care to make you as comfortable as possible. We will then need to schedule a follow-up appointment at our Red Deer County, AB dental office for treatment.

Other reasons for immediate emergency dental care in Red Deer County, AB include dental trauma from an accident or a blow to the mouth. Perhaps a tooth has been knocked loose or knocked out, and the best chance of saving that tooth involves immediate dental care.

If you’ve lost a dental restoration such as a filling or crown, you can probably wait to come to our Red Deer County, AB dental office at our next available regular appointment.

When you are unsure whether or not your situation is urgent, the best course of action is to call our dental office and talk to an experienced team member.

Steps to Take for Emergency Dental Care in Red Deer County, AB

Few things are as scary as a dental emergency, and it can be difficult to think straight when you have suffered a trauma or are in pain. Depending on your situation, our Red Deer County, AB dental office offers the following advice:

Man in dental chair getting exam | Dentist Red Deer County

  • Toothache. This is one of the most common emergency issues Dr. Darren Whitehead and his team have to deal with. If you’ve ever had a toothache, you know that it can be unbearable, so this is a situation that needs immediate care. We will do our best to get you in as soon as possible; you may need a root canal. Meanwhile, you can try over-the-counter pain relievers as well as a cold compress at the affected area.
  • Broken tooth. If you break a tooth, try to gather the broken piece or pieces to bring them along to our Red Deer County, AB dental office. The solution we provide will depend on the extent of the damage to your tooth.
  • Knocked-out (avulsed) tooth. If you suffer the trauma of a knocked-out tooth, you need to see a dentist as soon as possible to try to save it. Place the tooth back in the socket if possible, but be sure to keep it moist until you can get in to see Dr. Darren Whitehead.

If you have suffered trauma and think your jaw might be broken or if you are bleeding and you cannot get it to stop, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.

A Cracked Tooth

If your dental emergency includes a cracked tooth, treatment at our Red Deer County, AB dental office will depend on how bad the crack is. Sometimes we can treat a cracked tooth with a simple dental filling. In other situations, we might recommend a dental crown to repair and strengthen the tooth. If the crack is bad enough, however, we may have to recommend a tooth extraction. The earlier we can treat a cracked tooth, the better.

You might not always notice a crack in your tooth until it starts to cause trouble. This is just one of the many reasons why twice-yearly visits to the dentist are so important. When you see Dr. Darren Whitehead twice a year for examinations, he will be able to spot a crack in your tooth so you can get the treatment you need—before the tooth starts causing you problems. With today’s dental technology, we can usually spot even the tiniest of tooth cracks.

A Knocked-Out Tooth

Dealing with a knocked-out tooth is pretty scary, and it’s crucial that you get to our Red Deer County, AB dental office sooner rather than later if there is any chance we are going to be able to save your tooth. If you can put it back in the socket, that’s the best place for it until we can see you. You can also put it between your cheek and gum. If that isn’t an option, put the tooth into a small container with a bit of milk or saliva. Be sure to keep the tooth moist and do not wipe any of the tissue off the tooth.

Root Canals

After Dr. Darren Whitehead performs an initial emergency exam, you will be given as many options for treatment specific to the area that is causing concern as possible. In some cases, one of those options may be a root canal, which is an essential procedure that can save your natural tooth.

If you are curious about how a root canal works, please ask! Dr. Darren Whitehead, your Central Alberta Dentist, is happy to walk you through the details and answer any questions or concerns you might have. We believe patient education is a significant part of the general dentistry services at Gasoline Alley Dental.

Extractions

Although we hate to see teeth go, sometimes extractions are necessary due to an emergency or as part of a treatment plan. Before your extraction, Dr. Darren Whitehead and our staff will discuss options available to you to replace the vacancy made by the tooth, such as an implant, bridge, partial, or space maintainer.

At Gasoline Alley Dental, we believe in providing as many options as possible so that you can make an informed decision regarding your treatment; after all, they’re your teeth!

Preventing Dental Emergencies in T4E 0A5

Of course, not all dental emergencies can be avoided, but did you know that many can? The best way to avoid most dental emergencies is to visit our Red Deer County, AB dental office twice a year for regular checkups and cleanings. This allows our dentist to monitor your oral health and note potential issues in their earliest stages. The earlier the treatment, the less invasive it tends to be.

We also have sedation options available for our patients who might need a little help relaxing with procedures like extractions. Feel free to ask us more about which dental services are available to you at your next appointment. Click to email or call us at (403) 343-8622 to book an appointment.