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Dental Care When You Need it Most
Your South Philadelphia Emergency Dentist
If you are experiencing a dental emergency in South Philadelphia, it’s important to get help from an experienced dentist right away. The sooner you see a dentist to treat a knocked-out, loose, infected, or decayed tooth, the better the outcome will be for your oral and overall health. Call Mestichelli Barnes Dental Associates right away.
Get Care Right Away
Same-Day Dental Appointments
At our office, we offer same-day emergency appointments for patients in South Philadelphia. We always make room for patients who need urgent treatment, and we will provide you with the care you need to get out of pain and discomfort.
We ask that you call ahead at (215) 334-2000 so that our team can confirm appointment availability, assess your issue and prepare for your emergency visit.
Know When to Seek Help
What is a Dental Emergency?
- If you are experiencing serious oral pain, discomfort or bleeding and you don’t have any way to treat your condition on your own, you are having a dental emergency.
- Oral injuries caused by dental trauma are considered a dental emergency. This includes teeth that have been cracked or broken, or knocked-out, as well as oral lacerations to the gums, tongue, and lips.
- Toothaches can indicate a serious, deep cavity or an infected tooth that must be treated right away to avoid further complications.
- Loose or pulled-out dental work like fillings and crowns also count as emergencies.
If you’re not sure that your condition counts as an emergency, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Call us now to discuss your symptoms and make a same-day appointment at Mestichelli Barnes Dental Associates.
What Should I Do
If I Have a Knocked-Out Tooth?
A knocked-out (avulsed) tooth is one of the most serious and time-sensitive dental emergencies. If your tooth has been knocked out, it must be replaced within 1-2 hours:
- First, recover your tooth. Rinse it with warm water, if necessary, then put it back into the socket or place it in a small container of cold milk. This will keep your tooth pulp alive.
- Call the team at Mestichelli Barnes Dental Associates and let us know you’re coming in to get treatment for a knocked-out tooth.
- Don’t delay by trying to treat your discomfort or bleeding on your own. The sooner you come in for your appointment, the sooner you can get professional care to relieve your pain, and the more likely it is that we will be able to save your tooth.
should I
Go to the er?
In most cases, the answer is “no.” Going to the ER is usually not the right choice for a dental emergency. While dental injuries and emergencies are serious and painful, they are usually not life-threatening. You should only go to the emergency room for life-threatening conditions.
There are a few reasons why you should avoid going to the ER for dental emergencies. First, most ERs don’t have on-staff dentists, so they may not be able to treat you at all, or they may have to call in an outside dentist.
Even if you can get treatment at the ER, you will end up paying a lot more compared to seeing an emergency dentist in Philadelphia. Choosing to come to Mestichelli Barnes Dental Associates could save you thousands of dollars.
However, there are always exceptions. If you genuinely believe your life is at risk, you should go to the ER. For example, if you have a broken jaw or are having difficulty breathing, you should absolutely call 911 and get emergency treatment.
In most cases, though, it’s a better idea to come to Mestichelli Barnes Dental Associates. If you’re not sure whether or not you need emergency dental care in Philadelphia, just contact us to discuss your situation and get the guidance you need.
What should I do
to help with the pain?
If you’ve already scheduled a same-day appointment at Mestichelli Barnes Dental Associates and you’re wondering how to deal with the pain and discomfort until your appointment, there are a few things you can do.
First, we recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or naproxen. You should avoid aspirin if your mouth is bleeding, since aspirin is a blood thinner and can interfere with clotting.
Topical pain relievers like Orajel are also an option if you are in serious pain. You can find these at any drugstore. Apply some of the medicine to the painful area according to the instructions on the package to relieve your pain.
You can also use a cold compress or a baggie of ice to numb the outside of your mouth near the affected area. To prevent tissue damage or issues with blood flow, you should not ice the area for more than 10 minutes before taking a break.
What is your approach
to emergency dentistry?
At Mestichelli Barnes Dental Associates, Dr. Bill Mestichelli and Dr. Michael Barnes practice conservative dentistry. This means that we will always work to save your tooth whenever possible, and tooth extractions are the last resort at our office.
When you arrive at our office for emergency treatment, Dr. Mestichelli or Dr. Barnes will examine your mouth and take steps to treat your pain or discomfort. Once they fully understand the situation, they will discuss your options for treatment, and recommend the appropriate procedure to restore your oral health.
We will always keep your preferences, budget, and situation in mind when recommending the proper restorative dentistry treatment in South Philadelphia. You can trust Dr. Barnes and Dr. Mestichelli to take great care of you, resolve your issue, and get you back to your day-to-day routine after a dental emergency or oral injury.
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