Emergency Dentist – Raleigh, NC
A Team You Can Rely on in Your Moment of Need
Dental emergencies in Raleigh, like damaged or aching teeth, can throw a wrench in your day, leaving you anxious about how serious the situation is and where you should go for help. Our team at Dalton Hunt Dentistry is equipped with advanced diagnostic technology, knowledge, and skills to help quickly diagnose the issue at hand and create a detailed treatment plan. If you are in pain or experiencing out-of-the-ordinary dental symptoms, call our office today to schedule a same-day or after-hours emergency appointment.
Why Choose Dalton Hunt Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day & After-Hours Emergency Dental Appointments
- Welcoming & Friendly Dental Office & Team
- In-House Dental Membership Plan Available
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Call Us: The first step you should take when you find yourself dealing with a dental emergency in Raleigh is to call our office. Our friendly team will schedule an appointment for you either the same day you call or after hours to ensure you receive timely treatment. We will also provide you with first aid guidance over the phone to minimize the chances of you sustaining additional oral damage.
- Receive an Examination: As soon as you arrive at our practice, we will get to work collecting diagnostic images and conducting a thorough examination of your teeth and gums. Based on Dr. Hunt’s findings, she will make a diagnosis and treatment plan that our team will walk you through, so you know what to expect.
- Get the Treatment You Need: Once you consent to move forward with treatment, our team will jump into action to ease your discomfort and restore the health of your smile.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
It can be difficult to know what situations require urgent care and which ones do not. In any case, we recommend calling our office so our team can help you address your dental problems in a timely manner, keeping them from becoming worse. Below, we have also included some of the most common dental emergencies we see.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
The cost of treating dental emergencies in Raleigh largely depends on what oral health problems you are dealing with, which we can only determine once Dr. Hunt has had an opportunity to examine your mouth and X-rays. Based on our findings, our team will put together a treatment plan and provide you with a detailed cost estimate, as well as walk you through your payment options.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
While there is no way to completely avoid experiencing dental emergencies, there are some steps you can take to minimize your risk of experiencing one. These preventive measures include:
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Maintaining a good at-home oral hygiene routine by
brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time and flossing once a day. - Regularly rinsing with mouthwash to remove bacteria and food debris.
- Visiting Dr. Hunt for your bi-annual checkups and cleanings.
- Wear a protective mouthguard if you play sports or grind your teeth.
- Maintain a well-balanced diet.
Dental Emergency FAQs
What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?
Severe, throbbing dental pain is often caused by an advanced infection that has reached the pulp of the tooth. Cavities or serious cracks can expose the soft tissues in a tooth’s inner chamber to air and the oral environment, which can lead to a nasty bacterial infection that causes serious pain. However, teeth can also develop pain due to injuries, excessive wear, and chronic grinding and clenching.
Will a Toothache Go Away on Its Own?
Toothaches do not usually go away on their own, so it’s best to contact our office in Raleigh if your dental pain lasts longer than one day. During your appointment, we will evaluate your oral health to determine the cause of the problem and recommend an appropriate treatment. Treating a toothache sooner can prevent a host of oral health issues such as tooth loss and the infection spreading to the other teeth.
Can I Pop a Dental Abscess on My Own?
Popping a dental abscess on your own can expose your gum tissues to further infection, so it’s important to never attempt to do so. Dental abscesses are severe oral infections that count as dental emergencies, so contact our office as soon as you suspect you have one. Neglecting to have a dental abscess treated can lead to serious oral health issues such as tooth loss, and the germs causing it may spread to other parts of the body, resulting in dangerous secondary infections like sepsis.
Can a Chipped Tooth Repair on Its Own?
Enamel is the hardest material in the human body, but it cannot heal itself after injuries such as chips and cracks. While your teeth can remineralize to replace some of their lost materials, this will not restore sections of enamel that have been destroyed. The only way to fix a chipped tooth is to receive restorative treatments from a qualified emergency dentist.
What Can and Can’t You Eat with a Chipped or Cracked Tooth?
Crunchy foods such as nuts, apples, and hard candies can potentially chip your tooth further, and the particles of sticky or chewy foods may become wedged within the cracks in the enamel, so it’s best to avoid these foods until your chip has been treated. It’s also a great idea to avoid foods and beverages that are especially hot or cold if you notice any dental sensitivity. To protect your damaged tooth, stick to a diet of soft food and liquids such as soups, pasta, bananas, avocados, and stews. Be sure to do your best to chew your food in small pieces on the side of your mouth opposite to the damaged tooth.