General Dentistry
Emergency Dentistry in Atlanta, GA
Fast, compassionate care when dental pain or injury can’t wait.
A dental emergency can be painful, stressful, and frightening, and it almost never happens at a convenient time. You don’t have to face it alone or wait in agony. At Atlanta Dental Center, we set aside time for urgent care so you can be seen quickly, whether you’re dealing with a severe toothache, a broken or knocked-out tooth, or sudden swelling.
Your Complete Dental Destination
Serving the Atlanta Metro and Midtown Area since 1982
Urgent Care
Emergency Care at Atlanta Dental Center
When something goes wrong with your teeth, prompt treatment can relieve your pain and often save the tooth. Our team is ready to figure out what’s happening, get you comfortable, and start the care you need right away.
We’ll explain your options clearly and never rush you into treatment, but we’ll also act quickly when time matters, as it so often does in a dental emergency. Getting help fast can be the difference between saving and losing a tooth, so the most important thing you can do is call as soon as a problem arises.
Relief When You Need It Most
- Same-day appointments whenever possible
- Fast relief from dental pain
- Care for injuries, infections, and lost restorations
- Compassionate treatment for all ages
What We Treat
Emergencies We Treat
We handle a wide range of urgent dental problems, from sudden pain to physical injuries. If you’re experiencing any of the following, give us a call right away and we’ll guide you on what to do next.
- Severe Toothache We find the cause of the pain and provide fast relief.
- Broken or Chipped Teeth We repair the damage and protect the tooth from further harm.
- Knocked-Out Tooth Time-sensitive care that may be able to save the tooth.
- Lost Filling or Crown We restore protection to a suddenly vulnerable tooth.
Not every ache is a true emergency, but it’s always better to call and ask than to wait and worry. We’ll help you decide whether you need to be seen immediately or can be scheduled for the next available visit.
What to Do
What to Do in an Emergency
A few simple steps can ease your discomfort and protect a damaged tooth until you can be seen. While you’re on your way to us, keep these in mind:
- For a knocked-out tooth, keep it moist in milk or saliva and call us immediately
- Rinse gently with warm water and use a cold compress for swelling
- Take over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the label
- Don’t wait, calling early gives us the best chance to save the tooth
Above all, don’t try to tough it out. Dental problems rarely improve on their own, and prompt care almost always means a simpler, less expensive fix and a much better chance of saving the tooth.
In Pain? Call Us
Don’t Wait on Dental Pain
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, contact our office as soon as possible and we’ll work to see you quickly and get you out of pain. Ignoring a problem almost always makes it worse and more expensive to fix, so reach out the moment something feels wrong and let our team take care of you.
Emergency Dentistry FAQ
- What counts as a dental emergency?
- Dental emergencies include severe or sudden tooth pain, a knocked-out (avulsed) tooth, a fractured or broken tooth, uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth, a lost filling or crown exposing the underlying tooth, dental abscess with facial swelling, and trauma to the jaw or soft tissues. Any of these situations warrants same-day evaluation.
- What should I do if my tooth is knocked out?
- Handle the tooth by the crown only, never the root. Rinse it gently with water if dirty but do not scrub or remove any attached tissue. Place the tooth back in its socket if possible, or store it in milk or the patient’s own saliva. Contact Atlanta Dental Center immediately, as reimplantation within 30 to 60 minutes offers the best chance of saving the tooth.
- How soon can I be seen for a dental emergency?
- Atlanta Dental Center accommodates emergency patients as quickly as possible, typically on the same day. Patients experiencing severe pain, swelling, or trauma should call the office directly for immediate scheduling.
- How can I manage pain before my emergency appointment?
- Rinse with warm salt water (half teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water). Apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek in 15-minute intervals to reduce swelling. Over-the-counter ibuprofen (400-600mg for adults) is effective for dental pain and inflammation. Avoid placing aspirin directly on the gums, as this causes chemical burns to the tissue.
- Will a broken tooth always need a crown?
- Not necessarily. Minor chips can often be repaired with composite bonding in a single visit. A tooth with a larger fracture that compromises structural integrity will typically need a crown. If the fracture extends below the gumline or into the root, extraction and implant replacement may be necessary.
- What if I have facial swelling from a tooth infection?
- Facial swelling indicates a dental abscess, which is a bacterial infection that can spread to adjacent tissues. This requires prompt professional treatment, typically including drainage of the abscess, antibiotic therapy, and either root canal treatment or extraction of the affected tooth. Atlanta Dental Center prioritizes abscess cases for same-day care.
- Can a knocked-out permanent tooth be saved?
- If the tooth is handled properly and reimplanted or stored in milk within 30 to 60 minutes, there is a reasonable chance of saving it. The tooth is splinted to adjacent teeth for stabilization and monitored over the following weeks. Success rates decrease significantly after the first hour.
- Does Atlanta Dental Center treat children’s dental emergencies?
- Yes. Atlanta Dental Center provides emergency care for patients of all ages, including children. Pediatric dental emergencies such as knocked-out primary teeth, fractured permanent teeth, and soft tissue injuries are evaluated and treated with age-appropriate techniques.
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