Emergency Dentist Athens

Urgent Dental Care for Your Family

Whether it’s a child, an adult, or a senior, there’s always a chance someone will suffer an urgent oral issue. That’s why Dr. Hill Lindsey and our dental team stay prepared and offer emergency dentistry in Athens to our patients. By doing so, we’re always ready to give you much-needed pain relief and repair your grin. Learn more by reading below or by booking a same-day visit!

Woman wincing and holding her jaw in pain while talking to emergency dentist in Athens

Why Choose Athens Dental Associates for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
  • Sedation Dentistry for Comfort
  • Attentive & Skilled Dental Team

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Woman in purple blouse wincing and holding her cheek in pain

Maybe you’re dealing with a dental emergency for the first time. If so, you don’t need to worry or panic. Our dental team will gladly walk you through the treatment process. So, expect these four things from an emergency dental visit:

  • A Same-Day Visit – When you call, we’ll book you for the earliest possible visit. (You’ll likely see us the same day!) Our staff can also give you first-aid tips over the phone.
  • An Emergency Exam – Dr. Hill Lindsey will conduct an emergency oral exam as the visit begins. This step lets her learn the extent and source of your problem. (It also confirms how we can relieve your pain.)
  • A Review of Findings – Following the exam, Dr. Hill Lindsey will share her findings with you. She’ll then suggest suitable procedures and draft a treatment plan.
  • Needed Dental Care – Our office will solve your oral issue according to your treatment plan. We’ll be ready no matter what, whether you need a filling, crown, root canal treatment, or something else.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

It’s always best to visit us when these typical (yet urgent) oral issues occur. Our dental team is trained and equipped to handle such problems. In particular, give us a call if you suffer any of the following (click the icons to learn more about how we can help with each problem):

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Smiling receptionist taking credit card payment from patient

Many people avoid scheduling an emergency dental appointment because they are concerned about one thing—the bill. This is perfectly understandable, but the truth is that putting off treating a dental issue will always result in it costing more. In other words, getting in touch with us when you first notice that something is wrong will benefit your smile and your wallet! Rest assured, we will go the extra mile to make navigating the financial side of your treatment easy too. To start, we’ve provided some helpful information about the cost of emergency dentistry below.

Every Dental Emergency is Different – Here’s Why

Smiling dentist reviewing X-ray with patient

If you’re wondering why there isn’t a flat fee for emergency dental care, it’s because there are several different factors that need to be considered, including the type of dental injury, how severe the damage is, and which restorative treatment is needed to restore your healthy, pain-free smile. With all of that said, you don’t have to worry – we will provide you with an estimate of the cost at your visit. We will also review the financial solutions available to prevent the financial side of your treatment from causing you stress.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Dental insurance forms on desktop in office

Dental insurance plans often include a free emergency exam, and they usually cover between 50% and 80% of the cost of essential restorative care. Of course, waiting periods, annual deductibles, and other red tape need to be considered in the process. If you’re having trouble understanding what is and isn’t covered, don’t hesitate to let us know! We’d be happy to take a look at your plan, provide you with an estimate of your out-of-pocket expenses, and file the claims for you.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Patient working at a desk with prop tooth and calculator

If you are uninsured, ask us about the other financial solutions available! At our Athens office, patients can take advantage of:

  • CareCredit Flexible Financing – With CareCredit, you don’t have to pay for the entire cost of your emergency dental care at once. Instead, you can choose one of their convenient payment plans and space out the price into smaller, budget-friendly chunks.
  • Our Smart Savings Membership Club – When you enroll in our in-house plan, you enjoy numerous perks, including a 15% discount on all procedures completed at our office. Plus, there isn’t any red tape to work around, like annual maximums and waiting periods.
  • Special Offers – Throughout the year, we offer specials, like a free initial exam. That way, they can save while getting the top-tier dental care they deserve. If you are interested in learning about our latest offers, give us a call!

Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Dentist, dental assistant, and patient smiling at reflection in mirror

Dental problems only get worse over time, meaning they require more extensive (i.e. expensive) procedures to treat. That’s why being proactive and taking advantage of our flexible emergency appointments is highly recommended for your health, comfort, and wallet. Don’t hesitate to reach out when you first notice that something is wrong too – whether it’s pain when biting down or gums that bleed when you floss.

It’s also important that we mention here just how crucial committing to good oral hygiene habits at home is. After all, brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently can dramatically reduce your chances of needing emergency dental care. So, if you haven’t already, incorporate these best practices into your daily routine.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Smiling dentist talking to patient in exam room

Rest assured, our team at Athens Dental Associates is here to help when you need us – whether it’s because your gums are bleeding when you floss or you completely knocked out a tooth. That said, we want to help you avoid common dental injuries like these as well. That’s why we’re sharing some habits we recommend adopting to keep your smile happy and healthy. Read on to learn what they are!

Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months

Woman smiling at dentist during exam

The first habit we recommend adopting is coming to our Athens dental office every six months for a dental checkup and teeth cleaning. This is crucial because tooth decay, gum disease, and other common oral health problems can develop and progress without any symptoms at all. So, to catch and treat them quickly, we need to take X-rays and conduct an oral exam periodically. The cleaning portion of your visit is also crucial because it allows us to remove harmful substances, like plaque.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

Closeup of man brushing his teeth

Maintaining a solid oral hygiene regimen at home is important for numerous reasons – from keeping your breath fresh to preventing plaque buildup. The key is incorporating the right steps, with the right tools, and for the right amount of time. For example, you should use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste to brush your teeth for two full minutes each morning and evening. Similarly, you should use an ADA-approved mouthwash for 30-60 seconds each day.

Avoid Extremely Crunchy Foods

Woman smiling while eating lunch in kitchen at home

Unfortunately, extremely crunchy foods can cause your enamel to chip or crack. So, it’s best to avoid candy canes, lollipops, hard pretzels, peanut brittle, and the like. Instead, incorporate foods into your diet that are nutrient-dense, softer in consistency, and delicious. A few examples include oatmeal, plain yogurt, and bananas. This will dramatically reduce the chance of dental damage while also keeping your teeth and gums healthy from the inside out.

Wear a Mouthguard During Sports

Patient holding clear mouthguard

Whether you play football, you like rollerblading, or you enjoy lifting weights, you should have a custom mouthguard made. That way, your teeth are protected from things like unforeseen impact, a bad fall, or chronic clenching.

Speaking of chronic clenching… you should visit us if you clench or grind your teeth at night. That way, we can take impressions of your mouth and use those to create a custom nightguard.

Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

Man smiling at reflection in mirror with dentist

Although your teeth are strong, they aren’t meant to be used as tools. So, don’t use them to open bottle caps, remove plastic wrapping, bite your nails, or chew on ice cubes. We also recommend avoiding tobacco products, not chewing gum that is loaded with added sugar, and steering clear of anything else that has the potential to negatively impact your smile.

More to Explore

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Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Toothaches do warrant a visit to our office before the end of the week. In some cases, a same-day visit is necessary, like if the pain has persisted for several days, there is a pimple-like bump on your gums, or you’re experiencing severe discomfort when biting down.

How You Should Handle a Toothache Handling a toothache properly really boils down to what not to do. In addition to not chewing on that side of your mouth or eating extremely crunchy, sticky, or sugary foods, don’t put off scheduling an emergency exam with us.

How We Treat Toothaches To determine the answer, we need to determine the root of the problem. That said, tooth-colored fillings, dental crowns, and root canal treatment are three of the most common restorative treatments. We utilize CEREC technology as well, so the entire process of restoring your tooth may only take one appointment!

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Chipped Tooth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Remember, a chipped tooth cannot heal on its own. So, even if you aren’t in pain, you should schedule an appointment with us within a day or two of the incident.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth Naturally, you shouldn’t chew on that side of your mouth. You also shouldn’t eat hard pretzels, popcorn, or any other crunchy foods. If the edge of your tooth is sharp, cover it with some sugar-free gum to protect the soft tissue in your mouth too.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth Cosmetic dental bonding is a great option for patients with small chips. If the break was more substantial in size or occurred on a molar, then we will need to explore your other treatment options, like a veneer or metal-free restoration.

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Since a crack in your enamel can get worse with time, and there’s a chance that an infection will develop, we strongly recommend contacting our Athens emergency dentist ASAP to schedule an exam.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth First, contact us to schedule an appointment. Second, rinse your mouth periodically with clean, room-temperature water to reduce the chances of infection. Third, don’t chew anything on that side of your mouth and, if needed, take OTC pain medication as directed.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth Fortunately, we can sometimes use a same-day dental crown to restore the strength and appearance of your tooth. If that’s not possible because the tooth cannot be saved, then we will have to remove it. Don’t worry – your mouth will be completely numb for the procedure, and we can fill the gap in your smile with a dental bridge or implant afterward.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Sudden, severe tooth sensitivity may signal underlying issues like decay, gum recession, or an exposed nerve. While it’s not always an emergency, it’s best to see us sooner rather than later, especially if you’re in extreme pain.

How you should handle sensitive teeth: Rinse your mouth with warm, salty water, and avoid extremely hot, cold, acidic, or sweet foods. Over-the-counter desensitizing toothpaste can also provide temporary relief. If the pain continues or gets worse, give us a call.

How we treat tooth sensitivity: When you arrive for your appointment, we’ll first evaluate the source of your sensitivity. Common treatments include fluoride varnishes to strengthen enamel, bonding to cover exposed areas, or filling cavities. If gum recession is the cause, a gum graft may be needed to protect the tooth roots and alleviate discomfort.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Learn More About Root Canal Treatment

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? Yes, a knocked-out tooth is one of the most urgent dental emergencies! Seeing us as fast as possible increases the likelihood of saving your tooth. Ideally, you’ll need to see us within 30 to 60 minutes after the injury for the best chance at a positive outcome.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth:

  • Carefully pick up the tooth by the crown (the top part), avoiding the root.
  • Rinse it gently with water if dirty, but don’t scrub or apply soap.
  • Try to reinsert the tooth into its socket if possible; if not, keep it moist by placing it in a container of milk or between your cheek and gums.
  • Avoid letting the tooth dry out, as this decreases the chances of successful re-implantation.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: When you arrive at Athens Dental Associates, we’ll assess the tooth’s condition and attempt to reinsert it into the socket if we can. To stabilize the tooth, we may use a splint, allowing it time to heal. If re-implantation isn’t possible, we’ll discuss replacement options like implants or bridges to restore your smile.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? A lost filling or crown isn’t usually a critical emergency, but it does require quick, professional treatment. Otherwise, the exposed tooth could be damaged or become infected.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: Keep the area around your tooth clean and avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. If possible, use dental cement or sugarless gum to cover the exposed area temporarily. Avoid using permanent or toxic adhesives like superglue to try to reattach the restoration yourself.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: Once we see you, we’ll examine the affected tooth and determine if the crown or filling can be reused. If it’s in good condition, we may re-cement it. However, if it’s too damaged, we’ll need to send a new impression to our dental lab to create a replacement restoration.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency? Yes, a broken denture can disrupt eating and speaking, making it an urgent dental issue, especially if you rely on your prosthetics daily.

How to handle a broken denture: Don’t try to repair the denture yourself! It can be tempting, but this could make the damage worse. Instead, collect and store all the pieces safely before calling our office.

How we treat broken dentures: When you arrive, we will examine your denture and, if possible, perform a quick repair. If the damage is extensive, we may send it to a partnered dental lab for repairs or to create a new prosthetic to ensure it fits comfortably.

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a loose permanent tooth a dental emergency? Yes, it is considered a dental emergency because it may be the result of injury or advanced gum disease.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: Avoid touching or wiggling the tooth with your fingers or objects. Also, try to eat soft foods to avoid making the issue worse and contact us immediately.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: The treatment will depend on the cause. If it’s due to an accident or trauma, we may use a splint to stabilize the tooth while it heals. For gum disease, we’ll provide a deep cleaning and possible periodontal treatment to improve support.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Dental Implants

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? These injuries can be dental emergencies depending on their severity. If there’s extreme pain or heavy bleeding, give us a call.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Rinse your mouth with clean water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If bleeding continues after 10-15 minutes, find an emergency room instead of coming to see us.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: We will clean the affected area and may place sutures if needed. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to prevent infection, depending on the injury.

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? Jaw pain can indicate an emergency, especially if accompanied by swelling, difficulty moving your jaw, or clicking sounds. Taken together, these symptoms could suggest TMJ issues or an infection.

How you should handle jaw pain: Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and take over-the-counter pain relievers to manage discomfort until you can visit our office.

How we treat jaw pain: At our office, we’ll examine the cause of your jaw pain and recommend solutions like bite adjustments or TMJ treatment. It’s important to treat the root cause of your jaw pain and not just the symptoms!

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Learn More About TMJ Therapy

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is something stuck between your teeth a dental emergency? Usually, it’s not an emergency unless it causes pain or damage to your teeth or gums. However, if this is the case, come see us as soon as possible.

How you should handle something stuck between your teeth: Before your appointment, try to use dental floss to gently remove the debris. However, you should avoid using sharp objects like pins or toothpicks, as they can do more harm than good to your gums and enamel.

How we treat something stuck between your teeth: When you arrive at our office, we can carefully remove the object with specialized tools if it’s still stuck. We’ll also check for and treat any damage to reduce the risk of complications.