Emergency Dentist in Columbus, OH

At Shiflett Family Dental, we understand that tooth pain can be some of the worst pain imaginable. There's nothing worse than a throbbing tooth that keeps you up at night and affects your ability to perform throughout the day. Many dental emergencies can cause you to miss work or school, and even if you go to work or school, you can't possibly perform your best if you are in pain. At our dental office in Clintonville, we do our best to get patients with pain in as soon as possible, often completing necessary treatment that same day. Dental pain is only one possible dental emergency that can occur, and we want you to call us if you are experiencing any dental emergency. It's just better to be safe than sorry in dental emergency situations.

When Do You Need Emergency Dental Care?

Although most people probably associate dental pain with dental emergencies, there are many other reasons to contact our office. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it's best to call us for an emergency appointment:

• Severe pain or toothache
• Mouth or gum injury
• Knocked out tooth
• Broken tooth
• Cracked tooth
• Lost filling
• Lost dental crown

When you call, we will either schedule a time for you to come into the dental office or we will advise you on the next steps to take.

The team at Shiflett Family Dental works diligently to eliminate your dental pain. We understand fear plays a large role in why people sometimes don't seek the dental treatment they need. Dr. Shiflett and the staff are friendly, comforting, and efficient. We are dedicated to providing you as comfortable a solution as possible for your dental pain.

What Causes Severe Dental Pain?

Dental pain can manifest itself for a variety of reasons. Frequently, the pain comes from an infected or abscessed tooth that has had a large cavity or fracture. In this case, Dr. Shiflett will recommend either a root canal or extraction at our Columbus, OH, dental office, based on your situation.

Severe dental pain can also come from your jaw joint (TMJ). If you are clenching or grinding at night, you may wake up with significant pain in your TMJ or jaw muscles. To read more about TMJ and how it is associated with nighttime clenching and grinding, read our page about TMJ pain and sleep apnea.

How Can I Prevent Tooth Pain in the Future?

At Shiflett Family Dental, we do our best to educate patients on the power of prevention. There are a number of ways to potentially avoid a dental emergency in the first place. These include getting your teeth cleaned every 6 months at Shiflett Family Dental, having regular exams and x-rays twice a year, brushing your teeth twice a day, and flossing your teeth every day. Preventive measures can truly be the key to avoiding many common dental emergencies.

Of course, there are always things that are out of your control, but we feel it is important to be as proactive as possible about your dental health. It can save you time, money, and pain!

What If My Child Has a Tooth Knocked Out?

When kids play, they play hard. Unfortunately, while on a play date or during a sporting event, a child may have a tooth knocked out. When this happens, time is of the essence.

The best course of action is to rinse the tooth off quickly if it has dirt on it and put it back in the socket. Even if you are afraid you are inserting the tooth backward, you should do your best. The tooth has a much higher likelihood of survival if placed back in the mouth immediately rather than waiting until you get to our dental office. Even if it is inserted incorrectly, Dr. Shiflett can fix it when you arrive at the office. Be sure to call our office immediately, as this is a true dental emergency.

If you are uncomfortable putting the tooth back in the socket, you should place the tooth in a solution right away. Many athletic trainers, paramedics, and schools have ready-to-go solutions such as Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) or Save-A-Tooth on hand. Alternatively, you can place the tooth in milk or saliva and bring it to the office with you. 

Obviously, prevention is the best medicine, so Dr. Shiflett recommends that athletes of any age wear a mouth guard.

If you have a dental emergency in Columbus, OH, or would like to get on the path to preventing one, call our dental office at (614)262-1807. We strive to help you as soon as we possibly can, and we look forward to creating a long-term relationship with you and your family.