Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies are traumatic – especially if you do not have a regular dentist you can count on when a problem occurs.

If you are new to the area or looking for a new dentist, call us. We will give you the same great care we provide for our regular patients. 

Many patients wait to find out if their dental pain will resolve on its own, but typically it will not and can actually worsen over time. That is why we encourage patients to call us at the first sign of a problem.

When a Dental Emergency Occurs

In many cases, dental emergencies begin with pain. We understand how scary and frustrating this can be. Dental pain may cause you to lose sleep, miss work, and be unable to concentrate on anything else. 

Some of the common dental emergencies we treat include:

• Broken teeth or restorations (fillings, crowns, bridges)
• A knocked-out tooth
• Periodontal (gum) pain or irritation
• Swelling in the jaw, face, or neck
• Infections 
• Extreme sensitivity

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact us right away. Of course, if you have had an accident and suspect other injuries, you should go to the emergency room immediately to rule out any head, neck, or back injuries.

Your Emergency Dental Appointment

Your emergency dental appointment will focus on addressing your pain and your immediate condition. After you call our office, our team will prepare for your arrival.

The first part of your emergency exam will allow Dr. Leech to diagnose the cause of your problem. He will likely take an x-ray to assist with diagnosis and to look for conditions, such as decay, which may have caused the problem at the start.

Next, he will focus on eliminating your pain. Sometimes we can achieve this with a restoration repair, root canal, or by creating a new restoration for your tooth. In extreme cases, we may need to extract your tooth, but this is always a last resort. We save your natural teeth whenever possible because this is usually the best way to protect your smile and your health.

Follow-Up Dental Care

If you are new to our practice, we will recommend a follow-up dental exam so that Dr. Leech can identify any other conditions before they cause an emergency. For emergency situations where we need to place a crown or other restoration on a damaged tooth, we may have you come back to complete treatment.

Are You Experiencing Tooth Pain?

Don’t delay!

We are always here to help you get your health and smile back on track. We do our best to treat dental emergencies on the same day and always welcome new patients of all ages to our Murfreesboro dental office where you can count on friendly, compassionate dentistry!