Emergency Dentist Independence

Fast & Effective Relief

Man holding his cheek in pain while talking to emergency dentist in Independence

The fact is that dental emergencies can happen at any time or place. When you least expect it, you or a family member may suffer a chipped tooth, have teeth knocked out, or worse. Our dental office has a quick and clear response to this reality: emergency dentistry here in Independence. With Dr. Garner’s help, we’ll provide urgent care right when you need it. Get the relevant details below or book a same-day or weekend visit now!

Why Choose Justin Garner Dentistry, LLC for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Dental Emergency Appointments Available
  • Weekend Emergency Care As Needed
  • Sedation Dentistry Available for Comfort

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Emergency dentist listening to a patient with a toothache
  • Same-Day Visit – We’ll set your visit for the earliest possible time once you call. In fact, we’ll likely see you the very same day. Our staff will share first-aid tips over the phone while you wait for the appointment.
  • Emergency Exam – When you arrive, Dr. Garner will first perform an emergency oral exam on your mouth. Doing so confirms the source of your problem and how to relieve your pain.
  • Review of Findings – Dr. Garner will share his findings with you after the initial exam. At that point, he’ll also suggest suitable procedures and draft a treatment plan with your feedback.
  • Proper Dental Care – We’ll quickly address your oral issue(s). Whether the solution you need is a dental crown, filling, root canal, or something else, we’ll make sure your smile is restored and healed.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

All sorts of dental emergencies can happen, but some kinds occur more often than others. Call us immediately if you face one of these “typical” sorts. Thanks to our dental team’s training and experience, we can handle all kinds of dental emergencies. You should always reach out when you suffer any of the following.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman smiling at dentist during exam

We have some good news for you: there are several things you can do to protect your smile from harm, reducing your chances of sustaining a serious dental injury. Read on to learn a few examples, starting with the importance of visiting Dr. Justin Garner every six months for a checkup!

Visit Your Dentist Twice a Year

Man smiling at dentist during exam

Remember, biannual dental visits aren’t optional. Quite the opposite; they play an important role in keeping your teeth healthy, your gums infection-free, and any existing dental work you have in good condition. So, if it’s been longer than six months since your last visit to our Independence office, now is the perfect time to get your next appointment on the calendar!

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

Man smiling while flossing his teeth in bathroom

Brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently won’t just help keep your breath fresh; it will also reduce your risk of cavities, gum disease, plaque build-up, and the like. That’s why it’s so important to commit to good oral hygiene habits – even if you have to wake up earlier than usual or you’re tired after a long day.

Stick to a Nutritious Diet Most of the Time

Patient holding bowl filled with healthy foods

While you don’t have to completely eliminate sugar from your diet to keep your smile healthy, it is a good idea to eat well-balanced meals the majority of the time. After all, foods like broccoli, apples, and carrots are packed with the nutrients your body needs to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Tip: Exercise caution with candy canes, lollipops, hard pretzels, and other extremely crunchy foods since they can lead to a serious chip or crack in your enamel.

Wear a Mouthguard During Sports

Woman smiling with friends while working out

Whether you enjoy playing frisbee with your friends, you like starting your morning with a run, or you like lifting weights to stay active, you need to wear a mouthguard. Otherwise, your teeth are vulnerable to serious harm from an accidental frisbee to the face, a bad fall, or chronic grinding/clenching. If you don’t have one already, give us a call instead of buying a one-size-fits-all one online. That way, it’s the appropriate thickness, it fits comfortably, and it effectively protects your teeth from considerable impact.

Break Bad Habits

Patient breaking cigarette

In addition to not using tobacco products, we recommend not chewing on ice cubes, biting your nails, or using your teeth as tools to open things. Remember, habits like these can lead to serious dental damage – from chips that leave your teeth vulnerable to infections to cracks that cannot be repaired, and, therefore, require the tooth to be extracted.

Dental Emergency FAQs

What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?

Throbbing tooth pain is certainly a warning sign that something is wrong, but we won’t know the culprit until we have a chance to complete a comprehensive oral exam. From there, we can determine if the root of the problem is an infection, a cavity, a crack in your enamel, or something else entirely. Then, we can share our findings, review your treatment options, and get to work on restoring your healthy, pain-free smile.

What if My Toothache Suddenly Disappears?

If your toothache disappears after weeks or months of persistent discomfort, you might assume that you’re in the clear; that your tooth has healed on its own. However, the opposite is usually true: neglect has resulted in the nerve of your tooth dying, rendering it unable to register pain any longer. So, it’s of the utmost importance that you schedule an emergency appointment with Dr. Justin Garner ASAP.

Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?

Since hospitals don’t usually have a dentist on-staff, we don’t recommend going to the ER if you have a toothache, your dental crown is loose, or your gums are tender. You should, however, go to the ER or call 911 if you’re experiencing potentially life-threatening symptoms, like uncontrollable bleeding or difficulty swallowing.

Can I Pop a Dental Abscess on My Own?

No, you should NOT pop a dental abscess on your own. There are several reasons for this, starting with the fact that doing so will expose your mouth to more bacteria. Of course, it also won’t address or treat the root of the problem. To put it simply, if there is a pimple-like bump on your gums, the best thing to do is schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in Independence ASAP.

Should I Worry About a Chipped Tooth If It Doesn’t Hurt?

If your chipped tooth doesn’t hurt, then an emergency visit to our office likely isn’t necessary. That said, you should still call us to schedule an appointment. That way, we can take a look at the tooth in question, making sure it isn’t at risk of breaking further or developing an infection in the process. Then, we can discuss how we can restore the missing structure.

What If I Can’t Afford Emergency Dentistry?

Dental injuries often happen unexpectedly, so, naturally, patients are a bit worried about the cost. The good news is that we offer several ways to save. The first is with dental insurance (we proudly welcome several providers, including BlueCross BlueShield). The second is CareCredit, which allows you to space out the price into smaller monthly chunks that work with your budget. The third is our membership plan. There are several perks that come with the last one, including one emergency exam per year (if needed).

What Does Chronic Bad Breath Mean?

Chronic bad breath can negatively impact everything from your self-esteem to your social life. If you are struggling with a persistent, unpleasant odor, then don’t hesitate to schedule an exam with us. That way, we can make sure tooth decay, gum disease, or another untreated oral health problem isn’t the culprit.

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Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Whether or not a same-day visit to our office is necessary depends largely on the symptoms you’re experiencing and how long they have persisted. For example, if you’ve been struggling with a sharp, stabbing pain when you bite down for 24+ hours, you should schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in Independence, Dr. Garner, right away.

How You Should Handle a Toothache In addition to getting in touch with us to schedule an appointment (even if it’s a day or two from now), we recommend rinsing periodically with warm salt water, avoiding acidic and spicy foods, and taking OTC pain medication as directed.

How We Treat Toothaches In order to determine how we can restore the look, health, and function of your tooth while also alleviating your pain in the short and long-term, we need to first conduct a comprehensive oral exam. From there, we can determine the root of the problem and review your treatment options, like a tooth-colored filling, dental crown, or root canal.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Chipped Tooth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? A chipped tooth does warrant a visit to our office. That said, same-day care usually isn’t necessary unless the damage is significant or you’re experiencing considerable symptoms, like persistent sensitivity or soreness.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth To prevent the sharp edge of your tooth from cutting your lips, tongue, or the inside of your cheek, we recommend covering it with some sugar-free gum or dental wax. Then, do what you can to protect the tooth from further harm, like eating plain yogurt and other extremely soft foods.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth If the chip is relatively minor, then cosmetic dental bonding may be the best option since it’s cost-effective and can be placed in a single visit. If the damage is more significant and you’re looking for a longer-lasting solution, then we’ll likely recommend a veneer instead.

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, especially if the crack is significant. If that’s the case, then it’s important that you schedule an appointment with us right away so we have the highest chance of being able to save your tooth.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth There are a few steps we recommend taking. The first is calling us to schedule an appointment. Until then, do your best not to touch the tooth, chew on that side of your mouth, or do anything else that could cause the tooth to break further.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth There are a few options. First, if the crack isn’t too severe, we can cover the tooth with a dental crown, effectively restoring the look, health, and function of the tooth in the process. If the tooth cannot be saved, however, then we will need to extract it and discuss your tooth-replacement options, like a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Not always. One easy way to tell if you need to schedule an emergency visit is to keep a close eye on your symptoms. If they are consistently getting worse or they are negatively impacting your day-to-day life, you should call us ASAP.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth A great first step is switching to a desensitizing toothpaste. Many patients also find it helpful to eat plain foods, like yogurt, instead of acidic, spicy, and sugary ones. Of course, these are just short-term measures. To get the long-term relief you deserve, come to our office so we can determine what the culprit is as well as the best way to address it.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth Dental sensitivity could be the result of everything from a small cavity to a serious infection. Regardless, we will review all of your treatment options at your appointment, answer any questions you have, and help you determine the best way to proceed.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, absolutely! Remember, you need to get to our office within an hour of your tooth being knocked out in order for Dr. Garner to be able to save it. So, don’t wait – call us right away to schedule an emergency appointment.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth When you call us, we’ll schedule an emergency appointment and provide you with detailed instructions on what to do until you arrive – from picking the tooth up by the crown (the chewing surface) to placing it in a clean container filled with milk to preserve the root surface cells.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth Hopefully, you’ll arrive at our office within the hour so we can save your tooth. If that’s not possible for one reason or another, don’t worry – that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a noticeable gap in your smile moving forward; we can fill the open space with a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Although you can go a day or two without the restoration securely in place, it’s not ideal. The best thing to do if you find yourself in this situation is to give us a call. Once we know more about your situation, we can determine if you need to come to our office for same-day care.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown Calling us is a great first step. Outside of that, keep your restoration somewhere safe (like a small, clean container), rinse your mouth periodically with clean, room-temperature water, and don’t chew on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns We can easily replace damaged dental fillings and dental crowns with new ones. Of course, if your dental crown is in good condition and is relatively new, then we may have another option: re-cementing it back in place.

Broken Denture

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? We do consider broken dentures a dental emergency since they can lead to several problems – from painful mouth sores to trouble chewing properly. So, don’t hesitate to give our emergency dentist in Independence a call, even if the damage seems relatively minor.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture Calling us to schedule an appointment is a good first step. We also recommend placing your denture in a clean container for safekeeping to protect it from further damage.

How We Treat Broken Dentures If the damage isn’t too severe, we may be able to repair your dentures at our office. If that’s not possible, we can begin the process of having a new one made.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes! After all, the more time that passes, the more likely it is that your tooth will fall out. There’s also a chance that an infection will develop, negatively impacting your oral health further. So, don’t wait – call us ASAP.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth In addition to scheduling an emergency appointment, we recommend gently rinsing your mouth with clean, room-temperature water periodically. It’s also crucial that you don’t do anything that will loosen your tooth further, like chewing on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth Hopefully, we’ll be able to use a dental splint to help your tooth heal back in place, saving it in the process. If that’s not possible, then we will need to extract it and use a dental bridge or implant to fill the open space.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Soft tissue injuries like these do require immediate attention. Fortunately, they can usually be handled at home quickly and easily.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue After using clean, cool water to rinse your mouth, we recommend applying pressure to the cut with gauze or a clean washcloth. Within 10 minutes, the bleeding should stop. At that point, you can use a cold compress to alleviate any lingering swelling.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue Usually, the previously mentioned steps suffice. If that’s not the case, then you should head to the ER or call 911, particularly if the cut is bleeding uncontrollably.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Not necessarily. That said, we do recommend calling us if your jaw pain has progressed to the point where it’s negatively impacting your day-to-day life – whether it’s difficulty concentrating or trouble getting a good night’s rest.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain Using a cold compress and sticking to soft foods will help alleviate inflammation and discomfort. You can also take OTC pain medication – just make sure that you don’t take more than the recommended amount.

How We Treat Jaw Pain First, we need to pinpoint the root of the problem. For some, it’s chronic teeth grinding. For others, it’s impacted wisdom teeth. Once we know the answer, we can determine the best way to alleviate your jaw pain in both the short and long term.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Getting something lodged between your teeth can lead to immense discomfort and increase your risk of tooth decay, so it’s important that you act fast! We recommend using warm saltwater to rinse your mouth as well as gently flossing between your teeth. If that doesn’t work, don’t reach for a toothpick or any other sharp tools. Instead, give us a call.