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Emergency Dentist — Marysville, OH

Toothache? Broken Tooth? Give us a Call!

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The Darby Creek Dental team believes in helping patients when they need us most. Despite one’s best efforts, we know you may deal with toothaches, dental damage, and other such emergencies. Given these facts, our dental team offers great emergency dentistry in Marysville. We always strive to give same-day treatment to those from Milford Center and the greater Columbus area. So, then, call us about your urgent oral issues and receive our fast care!

Why Choose Us for Emergency Dental Care?

  • Dental Insurance Welcome
  • Most Dentistry Under One Roof
  • Early & Late Appointment Times Available

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

man wincing in pain

If you’ve never had a dental emergency before, don’t worry. We at Darby Creek Dental can walk you through the treatment process. In particular, here are four things to expect from an emergency dental visit:

  • A Same-Day Appointment – Once you call us, our dental team will book you for the earliest possible visit. (You may even see us the very same day!) As you wait for this appointment, we can provide first-aid tips over the phone.
  • An Emergency Exam – You’ll receive a brief but thorough oral exam after you arrive at our office. This step helps the supervising dentist learn the source of your condition. (It also helps us confirm how to relieve your pain.)
  • A Review of Findings – Following the exam, we’ll share our findings with you. We can then suggest a few suitable procedures. Your feedback will help us draft a custom treatment plan that works for you. (To be clear, we’ll tell you the estimated cost and timeline before you commit.)
  • Crucial Dental Care – With your treatment plan in hand, our dental team will quickly fix your oral problem. These staff have the training and experience to do so. In other words, you can count on us for crowns, fillings, root canals, or whatever you need to heal your smile.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Even as dental emergencies vary a lot, some are more common than others. These “typical” kinds are the ones that occur more often. You should quickly visit our office if or when facing them. After all, our trained dental team can handle “typical” urgent oral problems. We’re easily able to handle dental emergencies like the following:

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

man with dental pain

Are you putting off getting treatment for your dental emergency because you’re worried about the cost? If so, please know that our team will provide you with a price estimate upfront. Not only that, but we will happily work with you to make the cost more affordable. In the meantime, you can read on to learn more on the topic of cost, including if dental insurance providers typically cover a portion of it.

Why Every Dental Emergency is Different

Smiling patient talking to dentist with clipboard.

Oftentimes, patients assume that there is a flat fee for emergency dentistry. That’s not the case because no two situations are exactly the same. In fact, even two patients who visit us due to a toothache may require two completely different treatments to restore their healthy, pain-free smile. With all of that said, you don’t have to worry – we won’t leave you in the dark about the cost. Quite the opposite: we will provide you with a price estimate after reviewing all of your treatment options and creating a custom treatment plan.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Dental insurance form on tablet on desk with notepad.

Good news: many dental insurance providers do cover a portion of the cost of emergency dentistry in Marysville. So, if you are insured, let us know! We’d be happy to take a look at the fine print on your plan, provide you with an estimate of your out-of-pocket expenses, and answer any questions you have about the price. We can also file the paperwork on your behalf so you have one less thing to worry about.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Smiling dental receptionist handing patient form.

In addition to being in-network with several dental insurance providers, our team at Darby Creek Dental welcomes several other financial solutions, including CareCredit. If you haven’t heard of CareCredit before, it’s a trusted third-party financier that offers convenient payment plans. That way, patients don’t need to pay for the entire cost of their care at once. Instead, they can break it up into smaller, more budget-friendly chunks over the course of several months.

How Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Patient smiling while sitting in treatment chair.

Oftentimes, patients are tempted to take the “wait and see” approach when they have a suspicion that something is wrong. Keep in mind, however, that the longer you wait to eliminate the problem, the more advanced it may become, potentially costing you more money overall. For example, a small cavity could progress into a huge one later, requiring more invasive and expensive treatment. So, calling us right away benefits your smile and your wallet.

It's also important that we mention here that many common dental problems, including cavities, are largely preventable. So, if you want to protect your smile from harm, it’s important to incorporate healthy habits into your routine, starting with brushing twice a day and extending to scheduling a dental checkup twice a year.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

woman with curly hair laying back in exam chair

In some cases, emergencies are unavoidable, but we recommend taking the following preventive measures to protect teeth from potential damage:

  • Don’t use your teeth as tools to open packages, crack nuts, etc.
  • Avoid bad oral habits like chewing on ice, smoking, and snacking on junk food. Such things will damage your teeth and gums.
  • Always wear a sportsguard when participating in athletic events. (Otherwise, your mouth may be injured due to impacts with hard surfaces, other players, or equipment.)
  • Brush your teeth twice daily and floss between them once daily.
  • Visit us twice yearly for dental checkups and cleanings.

Dental Emergency FAQs

Can I pop a dental abscess on my own?

Just like when you pop a pimple, popping a dental abscess can cause bacteria to spread. This is particularly concerning since an infection in your mouth can quickly irritate the area more and even move to other parts of your body. So, the best thing to do is contact our Marysville dental team the moment you notice a pimple-like bump or blister on your gums.

Will my toothache go away on its own?

If your schedule is busy, money is tight, or you struggle with dental-related anxiety, you might be tempted to take the “wait and see” approach when it comes to dental pain. There are a few reasons why you shouldn’t. The main reason is that tooth decay and other common causes of toothaches cannot heal without the necessary restorative care. In other words, the longer you postpone your visit, the worse the root of the problem will get.

How should I sleep with tooth pain?

As we touched on in the previous section, toothaches warrant an immediate call to our office so that we can intervene before the root of the problem gets worse. With that said, we know it’s not always possible to come in the very same day for treatment. If that’s the case for you, then it’s helpful to know some tips for sleeping with tooth pain in the meantime. We recommend eating soft foods at dinner, taking OTC pain medication 30 minutes before bed, and keeping your head elevated while you sleep.

Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?

It’s common for patients to assume that they should head to the ER if they are in pain. However, it’s rare for hospitals to have dentists on-staff, so that’s not always the best place to turn if you have knocked out, fractured, or cracked a tooth. The best way to tell whether your dental injury warrants a visit to the ER is by assessing your symptoms. If you’re experiencing anything potentially life-threatening (i.e., facial swelling, trouble breathing, difficulty swallowing), then you should call 911 or go to your nearest ER right away. Otherwise, your first call should be to your dentist.

What does throbbing tooth pain mean?

Throbbing tooth pain is a symptom of everything from inflammation within the tooth to a large crack in the enamel. In other words, it’s a good indicator that it’s time to come in for an exam. That way, we can pinpoint both what’s causing your discomfort and the best way to address it.

Do chipped teeth heal?

No, chipped teeth do not heal. Even if you aren’t too worried about the aesthetic drawbacks of this dental injury, it’s important that you schedule an exam with one of our dedicated emergency dentists in Marysville so we can make sure it isn’t vulnerable to breaking further or developing an infection.

Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? Toothaches aren’t always an urgent situation, but you never want to ignore them completely. This could be an indication of gum disease or even an infection in the tooth itself. If you notice anything abnormal or the discomfort is worsening or persists longer than 24 hours, notify our team for help.

How you should handle a toothache: To stay comfortable until you can get treatment, make sure to take over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate your toothache. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and try using a cold compress to help numb the area while also reducing any swelling.

How we treat toothaches: The treatment we provide will depend on the source of your toothache. If the issue is gum disease, we can offer periodontal therapy. For more serious problems, we might have to perform root canal treatment or even tooth extractions to protect the rest of your smile. We’ll be sure to thoroughly evaluate your mouth and discuss your situation before deciding on the best method for getting you back to oral health.

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? A chipped tooth isn’t urgent unless it’s causing you a lot of pain and discomfort. Of course, even if it isn’t hurting you at the moment, you’ll still need to get it treated before any further damage can happen. Also, you don’t want to allow bacteria to accumulate and risk infection later on.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Firstly, you should clean your mouth with lukewarm water to get rid of any debris and bacteria. If you notice or feel any jagged edges on your tooth, try covering them with dental wax or even sugar-free gum to protect your soft oral tissues.

How we treat chipped teeth: Our team will examine your chipped tooth before reviewing your treatment options with you. In minor cases, we can use composite resin to reshape your tooth back to normal. For more visible chips, you might consider veneers for a longer-lasting solution.

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? A cracked tooth is not only painful, but it can also leave you vulnerable to further damage and infection. Sometimes the inner layer of your tooth can get damaged and you won’t even be able to see it. That’s why, if you’ve suffered physical trauma to your mouth and you suspect your tooth has been damaged, schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist right away for help.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Until you’re able to visit our team for treatment, make sure to take over-the-counter pain medications as instructed to alleviate your discomfort. Be sure not to chew anything on that side of your mouth and try carefully rinsing with salt water regularly to keep your smile clean and disinfected.

How we treat cracked teeth: Once we’re able to see you, our team will evaluate your situation and determine the severity of your cracked tooth. For minor damages, we may be able to improve the structure with composite resin. For more moderate cracks, we can offer a custom dental crown to protect and strengthen your tooth. If the tooth is beyond repair, an extraction might be necessary, followed by discussions on how to fill the gap in your smile, such as a dental bridge or implant.

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Not necessarily. For example, if you’ve always struggled with dental sensitivity, then same-day care likely isn’t needed. Of course, if your symptoms are new or are progressively getting worse, then you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Darby Creek Dental right away.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth There are a few steps we recommend taking, starting with avoiding hot coffee, ice cream, and anything else that could exacerbate your symptoms. It’s also a good idea to switch to a desensitizing toothpaste to see if that helps. If it doesn’t, schedule an appointment at our office so we can determine if an untreated oral health problem is the culprit.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth First, we need to complete a comprehensive oral exam so we can pinpoint where your sensitivity is stemming from. Then, we can discuss all your treatment options, answer any questions you have, and help you decide which one is best for you.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, so it’s important that you act fast! The sooner you call us, the sooner we can schedule an emergency appointment at our office and guide you through how to handle this dental injury in the meantime.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth In addition to scheduling an appointment with one of our talented emergency dentists in Marysville, we recommend placing the tooth back in its socket. If it doesn’t slide back into position easily, then submerge it in a clean container filled with milk or saline solution (this will help preserve the root surface cells).

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth First, we will determine if saving your tooth is possible. If it isn’t, whether it’s because it was lost or badly damaged, then we will have a custom dental bridge or implant made to restore your complete smile and strong bite.

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Since your tooth is vulnerable without the restoration securely in place, we strongly recommend scheduling an appointment right away.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown In addition to calling us to schedule an appointment, we recommend placing your restoration in a small, clean container for safekeeping, not eating anything crunchy, spicy, sugary, or acidic, and not chewing on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns There are several ways we can restore your healthy smile, starting with re-cementing your existing dental crown back in place. If yours was lost, badly damaged, or you’re simply ready to upgrade to a metal-free one, then we can replace it instead!

Broken Dentures

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Although coming to our office the same day isn’t always necessary, this is considered a dental emergency. After all, continuing to wear broken dentures can lead to further damage, painful mouth sores, and trouble eating healthy, well-balanced meals.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture It’s important to keep your denture in its designated case so it doesn’t break further. Between now and your visit, stick to softer foods, like cottage cheese, plain yogurt, and oatmeal.

How We Treat Broken Dentures First, we will assess the condition of your dentures and determine if they can be repaired at our office. If they can’t, then we will need to send them to the artisans at the lab or begin the process of having a new traditional or implant denture made.

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? A loose tooth in Marysville is considered a dental emergency. So, don’t wait – call us ASAP to schedule an appointment with one of our talented, experienced, and caring dentists.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth In short, you want to avoid touching the tooth with your finger, eating anything crunchy, or doing anything else that could cause it to loosen further. Instead, rinse your mouth periodically with clean, room-temperature water, don’t chew on that side of your mouth, and get to our office as soon as you can.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth First, we will determine if we can use a dental splint to save your tooth. If that’s not an option, then we will need to perform an extraction. Then, we can place a custom dental bridge or implant in the new space in your smile.

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Usually, soft tissue injuries like these do not warrant a same-day visit to our office. That said, you shouldn’t hesitate to give us a call if you need a refresher on how to handle this dental injury at home.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue First, go to the sink and rinse your mouth thoroughly with clean, cool water. Then, apply pressure to the cut on your gums, lips, or tongue with a damp, clean washcloth (or gauze, if you have it).

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue The cut should stop bleeding within 10 minutes of applying pressure. If it doesn’t, then you should call 911 or head to the ER to get the medical attention you need.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Although jaw pain usually doesn’t warrant same-day care, you shouldn’t hesitate to call us. That way, we can learn more about your symptoms, schedule an appointment at our office, and share how you can alleviate the discomfort you’re experiencing in the short-term.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain In addition to using a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time and taking OTC pain medication as directed, we recommend avoiding doing anything that has the potential to exacerbate your symptoms, like eating raw almonds, hard pretzels, and other crunchy foods.

How We Treat Jaw Pain Ultimately, the answer depends on the root of the problem. For some patients, precise BOTOX injections are enough to cause the jaw muscles to relax and, in turn, alleviate the discomfort they’re experiencing.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

If something gets stuck between your teeth, like a piece of food, it’s important that you remove it right away. Instead of reaching for a toothpick or tweezers, rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm saltwater (this will help loosen the debris). Then, use a strand of floss to gently clean between your teeth.