Emergency Dentistry – Harrisonburg, VA
Turn to Us for Emergency Dental Care
A dental emergency can strike anyone, at any time -- so, while you may brush and floss regularly, that does not mean you are completely safe from a toothache, broken tooth, or any other urgent situation. Dental emergencies typically occur as a result of long-term infections caused by poor oral hygiene or sudden physical injury. If a dental emergency strikes you in either circumstance, calling your family dentist in Harrisonburg should be #1 on your list!
Why Choose Harrisonburg Family and Cosmetic Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?
- Wide Range of Restorative Dental Services
- Oral Conscious Sedation Available
- Team Approach to Dental Care
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Emergency Appointment: The first thing you should do when you have a dental emergency is call our office. We’ll ask questions about your situation, advise you on steps to take to manage it, and make arrangements to see you as soon as we can.
- Emergency Exam: When you arrive at our office, we’ll prioritize putting a stop to your pain while also performing a thorough examination of your mouth to identify the true cause of the problem. We can take X-rays if they’re deemed necessary.
- Review Findings: Upon completing our examination, we’ll discuss the results with you. We’ll consider your case carefully before we suggest the treatments that we believe are best suited for resolving the issue.
- Get the Care You Need: To restore the health of your smile, we will quickly carry out any procedures that have been deemed necessary, which could involve fillings, crowns, root canal treatments, and other procedures depending on the situation.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
If you are experiencing oral pain or bleeding, or if one of your teeth has been damaged, you are likely suffering from a dental emergency. If you’re not sure whether urgent care is needed, you can call our office to see what our team suggests. The following chart includes a number of all-too-common emergency dental situations.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
The treatment needed for a dental emergency largely depends on the type of issue you’re experiencing. For example, oral infections may require root canal therapy and antibiotics, while more serious issues can require extraction. The best way to determine the cost is by visiting our practice for further examination. We’ll explain all of your options to you and help remove any discomfort you’re experiencing. The worst thing you can do is try to skip seeing the dentist when you need treatment.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
By practicing preventive dentistry, you can avoid an overwhelming majority of dental emergencies. That’s why we share all of our tips and tricks for maintaining a healthy, happy smile with our patients! With this in mind, keep reading to learn a few of the ways you can help protect your teeth and gums from harm.
Visit Your Dentist Twice a Year
Biannual visits to our office for a checkup and cleaning are important for numerous reasons. To begin, they allow us to periodically complete an oral cancer screening as well as look for tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental damage. They also ensure that plaque and tartar are removed before they build-up to the point where they negatively impact your oral health. Simply put, if you want to keep your smile healthy, you need to visit us every six months!
Brush and Floss Consistently
In addition to coming to our office twice a year, you need to commit to a solid oral hygiene regimen at home. That includes brushing twice a day, flossing each evening, and rinsing with mouthwash daily. Together, these dental care habits will lower your risk of everything from cavities and damaged restorations to gum disease.
Note: It’s important to use the right oral care tools too. If you’re not sure where to begin, don’t hesitate to ask us!
Keep Added Sugar to a Minimum
Foods and drinks that are loaded with sugar may be delicious, but they can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums. For that reason, we recommend keeping these treats to a minimum. Instead, focus on adding nutrient-dense foods to your diet, including fresh fruits, lean proteins, and raw vegetables. This will help keep your jawbone strong, your teeth healthy, and your gums infection-free.
Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
If your smile isn’t protected during sports, then you could wind up with a chipped, cracked, fractured, or even completely knocked-out tooth. That’s why it’s so important that you wear a mouthguard! We can have a custom one made for you so that it fits comfortably and is the appropriate thickness for the sport that you participate in.
Tip: You should also have a nightguard made if you clench or grind your teeth at night!
Quit Unhealthy Dental Habits
Do you bite your nails, chew on ice cubes, smoke, or open bottle caps with your teeth? If so, it’s important that you stop! These habits may not seem like a big deal, but they can lead to a serious dental injury relatively quickly. Simply put, if you want to reduce the risk of you needing to head to our office for same-day emergency care, avoid unhealthy habits like these.