Learn how dental emergencies work, including what's considered an emergency, how it eliminates pain, and what you need to do with our dentist in Columbia, MD guide.

A dental emergency can be defined as a dental problem that requires immediate attention and treatment. This treatment may be necessitated to alleviate severe pain, stop bleeding, and/or save a tooth. If you have a dental issue that is causing you concern, you should act immediately rather than hoping that the problem will simply go away.

Here at Smile Savers Dentistry, recognized as the Dentist in Columbia, MD, we provide professional emergency dental care to all patients. We understand how people may be reluctant to visit a dentist, even if they have a dental emergency. Our goal is to make our patients feel comfortable and restore their attitude towards dentistry with quality care.

In this blog post, we will look at some of the most common dental emergencies and how they can be treated. We'll also highlight why we are your premier option for dental energies in Columbia, Maryland.

Common Types of Dental Emergencies

There are many different types of dental emergencies. Here is a breakdown of the most common emergencies that patients seek treatment for.

Severe Tooth Decay

When we speak of tooth decay, we are referring to damage to the enamel of the tooth. Tooth decay can occur when acid produced by bacteria, present in the mouth, attacks the enamel. This can result in cavities.

In instances when tooth decay is left untreated, the pulp at the center of the tooth can become infected and damaged. The pulp begins to die and people typically experience pain when chewing and biting. Emergency treatment is often required when the pain becomes severe.

A root canal procedure can help to clean out the bacteria within the tooth. In some instances, tooth extraction may be required. The sooner tooth decay is addressed, the less chance there is of developing a serious infection.

Teeth Damaged From Injury

If you are playing sport and break your foot, your first thought would be to visit the emergency room at your local hospital. There, you will receive prompt emergency care. The same goes when you injure or damage your teeth when playing sport or performing any activity.

Knocked-out teeth are an extremely common dental emergency and can happen during a fall or while playing contact sports. If you have ever experienced a knocked-out tooth, you will know how painful it can be. In order to increase the chances of saving the tooth, there are a number of steps you should follow:

• Locate the tooth and pick it up by the crown
• Rinse it with water if dirty
• Reposition the tooth in the socket (if possible)
• Otherwise, place it in milk
• Visit an emergency dentist as soon as possible following the injury

The sooner you see a dentist, the greater chance there is of saving the tooth.

Cracked or Broken Teeth

A fractured tooth occurs when there is a crack or break in the enamel of a tooth. Some cracks are shallow and may not be painful, while other cracks result in a split tooth which affects the root. A severely cracked tooth is considered a dental emergency and requires urgent treatment.

Cracked teeth can occur when chewing hard objects, playing contact or extreme sports, grinding your teeth, and using your teeth to open bottles or containers.

There are different treatment options for a chipped, broken, or cracked tooth, depending on the specific case. These can include:

• Gluing the chipped fragment of the tooth back on
• Applying a crown or a filling over the broken tooth
• Performing root canal treatment (in the case of a badly broken tooth where the nerves have become exposed)

If you are suffering from unexpected tooth pain, never simply assume that it will go away. Instead, seek emergency dental care.

Tooth Abscess

Tooth abscesses are caused by bacterial infections, whereby pus collects around the gums, teeth, and/or the bone that hold the teeth in their place. There are different types of tooth abscesses, such as periodontal abscesses and periapical abscesses.

They are typically very painful and symptoms may include:

• Throbbing pain in the affected gum or tooth
• Pain spreads to the neck, ear, and jaw
• Pain that is heightened when lying down
• Swollen and shiny gums
• Bad breath



Depending on the exact nature of the tooth abscess, there are different treatment options. Possible treatments include removing the affected tooth by means of extraction, a root canal treatment, or incision, and drainage to the affected gum.

How Emergency Dental Care Works

In some instances, such as a knocked-out tooth, it will be clear that emergency dental care is required. In other cases, such as when a person is experiencing severe pain, they may be reluctant to face up to the need for treatment.

However, it is always best to seek emergency care if you are experiencing a dental issue that is causing infection, bleeding, pain, or any other warning signs that something is wrong.



When you need an emergency dentist in Columbia, MD, contact our office as soon as possible at (410) 730-6460. We treat a wide range of dental emergencies.

What Are Dental Veneers

If dental bonding and crowns don't sound very attractive to you, there is still another option: dental veneers. Dental veneers are similar to crowns in terms of realism. However, instead of acting as a cap for your teeth, dental veneers are more like shells that cover the surface of your teeth. 

For that reason, they won't be able to help you chew and aren't ideal if you lost a molar. Similar to the procedure for dental crowns, your dentist will need to sand away some of your tooth in order to make it easier to apply the veneer. Your dentist will numb you so you won't feel any discomfort during this part of the procedure. 

Getting veneers can be quite a long process, often around two to three weeks. This is because your dentist will need to take impressions of your teeth and these impressions will be sent to a lab where professionals will create your veneers. Once your dentist receives the finished veneers, he can apply them to your broken tooth or teeth. 



Keep in mind, however, that dental veneers and crowns can be quite expensive compared to dental bonding. 

Choose the Best Emergency Dentist in Columbia, MD

Dental emergencies can occur at any time and without prior warning. When you are looking for an 'emergency dentist near me', know that the experienced team at Smile Savers Dentistry is here to help. 

Dr. Daniel Stewart and his team are ready to provide the highest level of emergency dental care. Contact us today, the best Dentist in Columbia MD, for fast emergency dental treatment.