Emergency Dentist

What Counts as a Dental Emergency?

Not every dental problem is an emergency, but some absolutely are. The key question is whether waiting for a routine appointment could result in permanent tooth loss, worsening infection, uncontrolled bleeding, or pain that can't be managed with over-the-counter medication.

True emergencies — call us immediately:

• Knocked-out permanent tooth (30 minutes matters)
• Severe pain that OTC medication doesn't manage
• Facial swelling or signs of a spreading infection
• Dental abscess (pimple-like bump on the gum)
• Uncontrolled bleeding after an injury
• Broken tooth with an exposed nerve
• Any significant trauma to the face or mouth

Urgent — call within 24 hours:

• Lost filling with pain
• Lost or loose crown
• Chipped tooth with sensitivity
• Broken orthodontic appliance

Common Emergencies We Treat

• Severe toothaches and dental pain — often caused by infection, decay, or a cracked tooth
• Broken, chipped, or cracked teeth — from sports injuries, falls, or biting hard objects
• Knocked-out permanent teeth — timing is critical; call before you leave the scene
• Facial swelling and dental abscesses — signs of infection that need immediate treatment
• Broken fillings or crowns — including crowns that have fallen off entirely
• Loose or dislodged teeth — from trauma or advanced gum issues
• Lost or damaged dental restorations — including bridges, veneers, and implant crowns
• Sports and recreational injuries — dental trauma from contact sports, biking, playground falls
• Post-procedure complications — pain, swelling, or issues after a recent dental treatment

What to Do Right Away

• Toothache or dental pain: Rinse with warm salt water, take ibuprofen (more effective than acetaminophen for dental pain), and apply a cold compress to the outside of your face. Avoid heat and don't chew on the affected side.
• Chipped or broken tooth: Save any pieces in milk or saliva, rinse your mouth with warm water, and cover any sharp edges with sugar-free gum or dental wax.
• Knocked-out tooth: Handle it only by the crown (never the root), gently rinse with milk if dirty, try to re-insert it into the socket, or store it in milk. Call us within the first 30 minutes for the best chance of saving it.
• Infection or swelling: Do not apply heat. Take ibuprofen, apply a cold compress, and call us immediately. If swelling extends to your eye, neck, or interferes with breathing, go to the ER.
• Lost filling or crown: Save the restoration if you can. Cover the exposed area with dental wax or sugar-free gum. Call within 24–48 hours.

When to Choose an Emergency Dentist vs. the ER

For most dental emergencies, an emergency dentist is the better first call. Emergency rooms can prescribe antibiotics and pain medication but don't have the tools or training to save teeth, place fillings, do root canals, or perform dental repairs — most ER visits for dental issues end with a referral back to a dentist, after a long wait and a significantly higher bill.

Call us for: Knocked-out teeth, broken teeth, dental pain, abscesses, lost crowns or fillings, sports injuries, and any other issue involving your teeth or gums.

Go to the ER for: Facial trauma with possible jaw fracture, uncontrolled bleeding, facial swelling interfering with breathing or swallowing, or high fever combined with dental pain.

When in doubt, call us first — we can quickly help you decide the right course of action.

Advanced Technology for Fast, Accurate Diagnosis

Emergency care depends on speed — but speed only helps if the diagnosis is right. Our practice uses:

• Digital X-rays for immediate imaging of the affected tooth and surrounding structures
• 3D Cone Beam CT scanning for complex cases involving trauma, deep infections, or hidden fractures
• Intraoral cameras for real-time visualization of cracks, chips, and gum issues
• 3D printing for same-visit crowns and restorations when a broken tooth needs coverage

Learn more about the technology we use to speed emergency care.

What to Expect at Your Emergency Visit

When you call: Our team will ask a few quick questions, give you first-aid guidance for the immediate situation, and fit you in as soon as possible — we hold openings each day for urgent cases.

When you arrive: You'll be prioritized over routine appointments. If you're a new patient, expect brief paperwork. We'll take a focused history of what happened, when, and any medications you've taken.

Diagnosis: Digital imaging happens fast — often within the first few minutes — so we can see exactly what's going on and plan treatment accordingly.

Treatment: For most common emergencies, we can complete treatment in a single visit. Local anesthesia keeps you comfortable throughout. We walk you through your options, expected costs, and next steps before starting treatment.

Follow-up: If your case needs additional visits — for example, a root canal that needs a crown afterward — we schedule those before you leave.

Most emergency patients are surprised at how comfortable the visit is once we've numbed the area and made a plan.

Emergency Treatments We Provide

Depending on the situation, emergency treatment may include:

• Emergency exams and diagnostic imaging to identify the source of pain or damage
• Tooth-colored fillings for cavities or chipped teeth
• Ceramic crowns for cracked or severely damaged teeth
• Root canal therapy for infected or exposed nerves
• Tooth extractions when a tooth can't be saved
• Abscess drainage and antibiotic therapy for active infections
• Repair of broken restorations — crowns, bridges, veneers, and implant components
• Dental implant planning when replacement is the best option after tooth loss
• Emergency care for children — see our pediatric dentistry page for kid-focused emergency information

Emergency Dental Care Across Brunswick and Medina County

Our Center Road office serves emergency patients from Brunswick, Strongsville, Medina, Hinckley, Brunswick Hills, North Royalton, Broadview Heights, Seville, and Wadsworth. When every minute counts, our central location and extended weekday hours mean fast access to expert care.

Your care is in the hands of experienced professionals you can trust. Meet Dr. Jamison P. Hendricks, Dr. Tonya Frys, and Dr. Anthony Lyamichev.