Emergency Dentist – Boise, ID

Quickly Accommodating Your Smile’s Urgent Needs

When faced with a dental emergency, it might seem like the whole world is coming to a screeching halt—but you don’t need to worry! Dr. Irons and her skilled team at Southwest Dental Arts are adept at handling a wide scope of emergency dentistry situations that threaten your smile’s well-being. Whether it’s a serious toothache, a displaced tooth, a soft tissue injury, or something else entirely, from the moment you enter our office, our Boise emergency dentist and team will quickly work to alleviate your pain and remedy whatever issue is ailing you.

Why Choose Southwest Dental Arts for Emergency Dentistry?

  • In-House Root Canals & Tooth Extractions
  • Same-Day Emergency Dental Care Available
  • Nitrous Oxide Sedation Offered

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

When experiencing a dental emergency, the first thing you should do is contact our dental office immediately; we’ll be able to schedule you for an appointment and also offer you some at-home tips for managing your situation in the meantime. This usually includes things like cold compresses, salt water rinses, and measured use of over-the-counter pain relievers. Once you arrive at your appointment, our team will quickly examine your oral cavity and decide what the best course of action is for correcting your issue (this sometimes involves taking X-rays). We’ll then create a customized treatment plan designed to get your smile back on track and address any other requests you might have.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

No matter what type of dental emergency you’re dealing with, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact us! Waiting will only allow the problem to worsen, and if too much time passes, the issue might end up warranting serious and costly treatment. If you have any of the following symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek urgent care:

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Dental office receptionist showing a clipboard to a patient

The cost of emergency dentistry inevitably varies from patient to patient, since no two situations are exactly the same. Sometimes patients only require something like a small filling, while other times, a tooth extraction or root canal might be required. In any case, once we’ve alleviated your pain and discussed your treatment plan, we can provide you with an estimated cost of care and review your payment options with you.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman smiling while brushing her teeth

Even though it’s impossible to predict dental emergencies entirely, there are still many things you can do to reduce your risk of incurring oral injury or infection. Your proactive actions and mindfulness make a big impact; since dental emergencies have a knack for happening when it’s least convenient, lessening the likelihood of them occurring in the first place is your best bet, hands-down! Here’s some advice from our team on how to prevent dental emergencies in Boise.

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Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Toothaches don’t always warrant a same-day visit. That said, you should call us when you start to notice abnormal symptoms – from tender gums to pain when biting down. That way, one of our dedicated dentists in Boise can pinpoint and treat the root of the problem sooner rather than later.

How You Should Handle a Toothache There are a few steps we recommend taking, starting with calling our office to schedule an appointment. Rinsing with warm saltwater, using a cold compress, avoiding crunchy foods, and taking OTC pain medication will also help alleviate your symptoms in the short term.

How We Treat Toothaches First, Dr. Irons will complete a comprehensive oral exam and pinpoint the root of the problem. Then, they will review your treatment options, help you decide which one is best for you, and answer any questions you have.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SAME-DAY DENTAL CROWNS

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Chipped Tooth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? The answer depends largely on your symptoms. For example, if you’re experiencing considerable pain or sensitivity, you should call us right away. If that’s not the case, then scheduling an appointment before the end of the week should suffice.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth First, rinse your mouth with clean, room-temperature water and place some sugar-free gum over the sharp edge. Then, avoid doing anything that could damage the tooth further, like chewing on that side of your mouth. Lastly, come to our office for the necessary care, even if it’s not on the same day.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth There are a few ways we can restore the missing structure of your tooth, including cosmetic dental bonding, metal-free restorations, and veneers. Ultimately, the one that’s best for you will depend on factors like the type of tooth in question and the severity of the damage.

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, a cracked tooth warrants an emergency visit – even if the damage is relatively mild. Remember, an infection can quickly develop, and the tooth is at risk of breaking further the longer it’s left untreated. So, don’t wait – call us ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth When you call us to schedule an emergency appointment, we will provide you with helpful instructions on what to do in the meantime, starting with not chewing on that side of your mouth. You should also rinse with clean, room-temperature water periodically and, if needed, take OTC pain medication as directed.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth If the cracked tooth can still be saved, then we will protect it with a dental crown. If the cracked tooth cannot be saved, then we will need to extract it. Then, we can determine the best tooth-replacement solution for you, like a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SAME-DAY DENTAL CROWNS

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL BRIDGES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Very Sensitive Teeth

  • Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? There are many reasons your teeth might feel tender, such as if your enamel has thinned from an overly acidic diet or you have developed early gum disease. However, if the pain becomes sharp, persistent, or severe, you should be seen sooner rather than later.
  • How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth: Contact our team, and we’ll schedule an appropriate appointment time, ideally for the same day. We might also provide special care instructions over the phone, like rinsing with saltwater or taking over-the-counter painkillers as needed.
  • How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth: The treatment depends on the underlying cause, so Dr. Irons can’t provide a potential plan until she has examined your condition. Standard services can include topical fluoride, prescribing a desensitizing toothpaste, gum disease treatment, or filling cavities.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatment

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatments

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Knocked-Out Tooth

  • Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? If you’ve lost a permanent tooth, acting quickly can potentially save your smile because the roots only remain viable for about 30 to 60 minutes. Please contact our office in Boise immediately for a same-day visit.
  • How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: Try to find it so our team can place it back in its socket if possible, but only touch the crown, or tooth-shaped portion, to be safe. You can rinse any debris off with water, then store it in a container with a small amount of your salvia or milk to preserve it until you arrive.
  • How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth: If the tooth is in good condition and not broken, we might be able to put it back in its place to reintegrate with your jawbone eventually. Otherwise, we will recommend an appropriate replacement option.  

Learn More About Dental Implants

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Lost Filling or Crown

  • Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Dental fillings and crowns often wear down over time and require replacement, so losing one isn’t always an emergency. But your injured tooth is susceptible to developing additional decay or damage the longer you wait to replace it, so it’s best to contact us right away.
  • How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: Try to locate the lost restoration to bring to your appointment. If you’ve lost a dental crown, you might be able to gently place it back in its spot with a small amount of toothpaste or dental cement until you arrive.
  • How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns: If the filling or crown is in good condition, there’s a chance our team can recement it in place. Otherwise, we will likely recommend replacing it with a new one.

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Broken Dentures

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency?

Yes. Damaged dentures can make eating and speaking difficult, which affects daily life. If you’re dealing with a broken denture in Boise, call us right away.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture:

  • Stop wearing it to avoid further damage.
  • Keep the pieces in a safe container.
  • Bring it with you to your appointment.
  • Do not try to fix it yourself with household adhesives.

How We Treat Broken Dentures:

At Southwest Dental Arts, our emergency dentist in Boise can often repair or reline your denture the same day. If repairs aren’t possible, we’ll discuss a replacement at your appointment.

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Absolutely. Adult teeth shouldn’t move. If you notice a loose tooth, it’s important to get treated quickly before it falls out completely.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth:

  • Avoid wiggling or biting down on the tooth.
  • Stick to soft foods until you see Dr. Irons.
  • Call our office immediately to schedule an appointment.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth:

Our team will examine the cause. Depending on the situation, we may use splints to stabilize the tooth, treat underlying gum disease, or recommend restorative options.

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency?

They can be, but not always. These soft tissue injuries often result from sports injuries or falls. They can bleed heavily and can be painful, so it’s best to have them evaluated.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue:

  • Gently rinse with water to flush the wound.
  • Apply a clean cloth or gauze to stop bleeding.
  • Use a cold compress to reduce swelling.
  • If bleeding persists after 10 minutes, go to the ER.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue:

At Southwest Dental Arts, we’ll carefully clean the wound, check for deeper damage, and provide stitches if needed. We focus on stopping the bleeding and preventing infection at your appointment, so you can heal quickly.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency?

Sometimes. Persistent or severe jaw pain may be a sign of TMJ issues, teeth grinding, or even an infection. If you’re experiencing sudden or worsening jaw pain in Boise, contact us for an evaluation.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain:

  • Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
  • Stick to soft foods to reduce strain on your jaw joints.
  • Avoid chewing gum or opening your mouth wide until you’re seen.

How We Treat Jaw Pain:

Dr. Irons will identify the cause of your discomfort, whether it’s related to TMJ, teeth grinding, or infection. Treatment may involve bite adjustments, nightguards, or antibiotics.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is Something Stuck Between the Teeth a Dental Emergency?

It can be—especially if the object is sharp, painful, or won’t come out with gentle flossing.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between the Teeth:

  • Try carefully using dental floss.
  • Never use sharp tools like toothpicks or needles.
  • If the debris doesn’t budge, call our Boise office.

How We Treat Something Stuck Between the Teeth:

Once you arrive at our office, we’ll gently and safely remove the object using specialized tools and techniques. We’ll then check for gum or enamel damage to make sure your mouth is healthy, and no issues will come up later.