Aren’t sure if you’re experiencing a dental emergency? We recommend calling our office right away. Our team will help you schedule an appointment to see our emergency dentist in Kalamazoo, MI, so you can get the care you need as soon as possible.

Even if you don’t require urgent dental care, it’s still important for us to determine what’s causing your dental pain and discomfort.

Here are the different types of dental emergencies and how you should handle them until you’re able to see Dr. Bandos.

Severe Toothache

Don’t ignore a toothache! Pain is your body’s way of letting you know something is wrong. Often a severe toothache indicates a deeper underlying problem, such as an infected tooth that needs an emergency root canal. That’s why it’s important that you call our office as soon as possible for a severe toothache.

While a mild toothache can wait a few days, a severe toothache needs immediate attention. During your emergency appointment, Dr. Bandos will examine the inside of your mouth and take X-rays to find the source of your dental pain. Then, she’ll be able to start appropriate treatment to restore your oral health.

Deep Crack in Tooth

A deep crack in your tooth is extremely painful and requires immediate care. Once the crack extends to the tooth’s root, your only option will be to extract the tooth. That’s why it’s so important that you call our office at the first twinge of dental pain.

If we catch a crack in your tooth early we can treat it with a crown or root canal. The longer you wait to schedule an appointment, the crack will get larger until your tooth is no longer salvageable.

You may have a cracked tooth if you experience sensitivity to heat and cold. You may also feel pain and discomfort while chewing. Either of these symptoms requires a call to our office so we can diagnose the source of your pain.

Knocked-Out Tooth

It’s best to see Dr. Bandos within 30 minutes of knocking out your tooth. The sooner you call our office, the better our chances of re-implanting the tooth in your mouth. Don’t wait to seek emergency dental care!

Follow these steps for a knocked-out tooth:

  1. Pick up the tooth by the crown (top), NOT by the root.
  2. Line your sink with a towel so you don’t drop your tooth down the drain by accident.
  3. Gently rinse any dirt off your tooth with water only. Do NOT use soap, scrub, or dry the tooth.
  4. If possible, place the tooth back in its socket. If not possible, submerge the tooth in a container of milk. Your tooth needs to be kept moist.
  5. Call our office to schedule an emergency appointment.

What is Not Considered a Dental Emergency?

There are many situations in which you can wait to see our dentist during our normal office hours. For example, if you lost your dental crown Saturday evening, you can wait until Monday morning to see our dentist.

Here are some other dental situations that aren’t considered emergencies:

  • Lost filling or crown
  • Mild toothache
  • Small chip in a tooth
  • Small crack in a tooth that isn’t causing pain

While the above situations aren’t “emergencies” per se, it’s still important that you schedule an appointment with our office as soon as possible. That way, Dr. Bandos will be able to examine your mouth and repair whatever damage has been done to your teeth before it worsens.

What to Do Before You See Dr. Bandos

If you’re experiencing dental pain or trauma, taking the right steps before your appointment can help protect your tooth and reduce discomfort. While these tips are not a substitute for professional care, they can help you manage the situation until you’re able to see Dr. Bandos.

Manage pain safely: You may take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed.

Reduce swelling: Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek for 10–15 minutes at a time to help minimize swelling and discomfort.

Protect the affected tooth: Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth that’s causing pain. Stay away from very hot, cold, or hard foods until your appointment.

Keep the area clean: Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water to reduce bacteria and soothe irritated gums. Do not vigorously rinse or probe the area with sharp objects.

Most importantly, don’t delay emergency dental care. Waiting too long can allow infection or damage to worsen, which may limit your treatment options. If you’re unsure whether your situation requires urgent dental care, it’s always best to call our office so we can guide you on the next steps.

Schedule an Emergency Appointment

Dr. Katherine Bandos is proud to serve as an emergency dentist in Kalamazoo, MI. To schedule an appointment for urgent dental care, please call Kalamazoo Smiles at (269) 353-3700. For non-emergencies, you may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.

This blog post has been updated.