By definition, an emergency requires prompt and careful attention. That’s exactly what you’ll find when you make Dr. White your emergency dentist in Asheville. If you or a loved one is dealing with a dental emergency, call us immediately. We will be able to advise you and schedule a same-day appointment if necessary. We’re proud to offer same-day help for hurting smiles so you don’t have to wait to get the help that you need.
Why Choose Dr. John White, DDS for Emergency Dental Care?
Same-Day Appointments Available for Emergency Patients
Compassionate Dentist with Years of Experience
Dental Insurance Welcome & Flexible Financing Available
As with any emergency—medical or dental—the key is to be prepared. Knowing what to do in case of an emergency is half of the preparation. Here’s what to do in a dental emergency:
Step 1: Call us right away so we can schedule a same-day emergency appointment for you. We’ll also guide you through basic first aid to manage your symptoms until you can reach us.
Step 2: Visit your Asheville emergency dentist Dr. White for an emergency exam, where he will evaluate your situation and alleviate any discomfort you’re feeling.
Step 3: Dr. White will then review his findings with you and fully explain which treatments he recommends. Together, you’ll create a custom treatment plan.
Step 4: Whether you need a filling, root canal, tooth replacement, or something else entirely, our team will get to work right away to protect and repair your smile, always keeping your comfort and safety as our top priorities.
In cases of dental emergency, Asheville dentist Dr. John White can help. There are, however, times when you should head to the nearest hospital emergency room. If you are experiencing excessive bleeding, if you have a concussion from a hard blow to the face or head, or if you think that you may have broken your jaw, then seeing an E.R. doctor is appropriate. Our team will be here to help once your overall health is not at risk.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Some people wonder whether or not they even have a dental emergency. Of course, some situations are more obvious emergencies than others, such as a knocked-out tooth. Other situations, like a lost dental crown or broken dentures, may not need immediate care, but should still be treated with urgency. That’s why it’s so important for you to call our office if you’re unsure if your situation counts as a dental emergency, so one of our knowledgeable team members can guide you through first aid and pain management steps over the phone. Below, you’ll find some basic information on the most common dental emergencies we treat.
Are you struggling with a chipped, cracked, or fractured tooth? Maybe you have a loose restoration, or you’re experiencing a sharp, stabbing pain when you bite down. Whatever the case may be, we want you to be able to focus on getting the care you need, not stressing about the cost. In this next section, you’ll find some helpful information on the topic, including why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all price.
Why Every Dental Emergency is Different
To put it simply, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment. That means there isn’t a one-size-fits-all price either! In order to determine the cost of emergency dentistry in Asheville, we need to first determine the type of dental injury you’ve sustained and which treatment (or combination of treatments) is needed to restore your healthy, pain-free smile. Then, we can provide you with an estimate of the cost and review the financial solutions available, including dental insurance.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Good news: many dental insurance providers cover between 50% and 80% of the cost of essential restorative treatments, including dental fillings and crowns. So, you may not have to pay for the entire price out-of-pocket! Of course, waiting periods, annual maximums, and other restrictions need to be considered as well. If you’re not familiar with your coverage, that’s okay – we accept all insurance plans and would be happy to assist in the process.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, then ask us about CareCredit! This trusted third-party financier offers convenient payment plans so you don’t have to pay for the entire cost of your emergency dental treatment in one lump sum. Instead, you can break up the total price into smaller, more budget-friendly payments. If this sounds like the financial solution you’ve been looking for, don’t hesitate to give us a call so a friendly member of our team can provide you with further details.
How Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Many common dental injuries, including cracked and knocked-out teeth, are largely preventable. The key is breaking bad habits, like smoking, while prioritizing healthy ones, like brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently. It’s also of the utmost importance that you schedule a dental checkup and cleaning at our office every six months. That way, any oral health problems that do arise are diagnosed and treated early on.
Important reminder: If you start to experience any abnormal dental symptoms, including pain when biting down, you should call us right away so we can determine if it’s due to tooth decay, gum disease, or another serious oral health problem.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Dental emergencies often come unexpectedly, so you may have some unanswered questions. That’s why we’re here to help! Here are the answers to some of the most popular questions we receive about dental emergencies in Asheville. If you don’t see the information that you’re looking for below, just give us a call. We’d be happy to answer your questions and get you scheduled for a same-day appointment.
Will my toothache go away on its own?
Toothaches don’t generally go away on their own, so it’s best to schedule a checkup with a dentist to ensure that nothing serious is going on. There are many different causes for toothaches, so you’ll want to rule them out before they become more severe. Doing this can help you to catch underlying problems before they become more serious.
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
It can be difficult to get quality sleep when you are dealing with a toothache at night. Until you can see your emergency dentist in the morning, keep your head elevated. This will prevent blood from rushing to your head and intensifying your toothache. Additionally, take over-the-counter pain relievers as needed and avoid foods that are acidic, cold, or hard right before bed. Cold compresses can also help to dull discomfort.
Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?
Most emergency rooms aren’t able to address dental emergencies effectively. However, there are a few main exceptions where the ER is an ideal option. You should head to your local ER if you have experienced a jaw fracture or dislocation, a serious cut or laceration to the face or mouth, or an abscess or infection that is swollen to the point where it is affecting your breathing or swallowing. In pretty much any other situation, you should seek treatment from a dentist instead.
Can I pop a dental abscess on my own?
You should never attempt to pop a dental abscess on your own. You should always get in touch with a dentist right away, as a tooth abscess is considered a dental infection and is therefore a dental emergency. Popping the abscess on your own will only expose your mouth to more bacteria and irritate the area. Additionally, putting off treatment can allow the infection to spread not only within the mouth, but other areas, like the neck, throat, and head.
Toothaches
Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? While not every toothache is an urgent situation, this condition can sometimes be an indication of an underlying issue or infection that will need to be treated right away. If you experience any sharp pain when chewing, persistent discomfort, extreme sensitivity, or a small bump on the gums near the affected tooth, be sure to notify our team right away for emergency treatment.
How You Should Handle a Toothache: Try flossing around the tooth as well as rinsing with salt water to both alleviate discomfort/swelling and dislodge any objects that might be stuck. If this doesn’t help, contact us and schedule an appointment so we can help. Use a cold compress to minimize any swelling and take over-the-counter pain relievers.
How We Treat Toothaches: If the issue is due to gingivitis, our team can provide you with gum disease treatment. You may also benefit from other services like fillings, antibiotics, and prescription mouthwash. However, for more severe situations, we might perform root canal therapy to remove an infection or extract an impacted wisdom tooth.
Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Though this isn’t always a painful emergency, you should still seek dental care as soon as you can. Even a small chip on your enamel can leave the area susceptible to bacteria and infection.
How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth: If possible, retrieve any broken pieces of your tooth so that you can bring them with you to your appointment. Rinse your mouth out with water to remove any debris and bacteria. If you see any jagged or sharp edges on the tooth, try covering it with dental wax or even sugar-free gum to protect your soft oral tissues, such as your lips, cheeks, and tongue.
How We Treat Chipped Teeth: Our team will typically fix a chipped tooth with composite resin from direct bonding. But if the injury is at the front of your smile and more visible, then you might consider opting for veneers instead for a longer-lasting solution.
Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? A cracked tooth is typically painful, so you’ll want to inform our office right away for help. Leaving the damage untreated can also leave your smile vulnerable to further injury or harmful bacteria, which can end up spreading throughout your mouth and vital organs. Cracks aren’t always visible, so be sure to visit us if you notice pain after a physical impact on the tooth.
How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth: Carefully rinse your mouth with salt water to remove and disinfect any bacteria. You can also take over-the-counter painkillers and/or apply an ice pack. Until you can see us, stay away from chewing or eating on that side of your mouth.
How We Treat Cracked Teeth: Treating your cracked tooth requires that we first evaluate the severity of the damage and its location. Based on our findings, we will likely use composite resin to fix any minor cracks. We might also turn to dental crowns if your tooth requires added stability or full tooth replacement if the damage is too severe, causing the tooth to require extraction.
Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Since there’s a possibility that your dental sensitivity is the result of untreated tooth decay or an infection, we recommend calling our Asheville dental team within a day or two.
How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth: Until we pinpoint the source/extent of the problem, the only thing you can really do from home is to try and avoid exacerbating your sensitivity. We recommend switching to a desensitizing toothpaste, avoiding hot and cold foods and beverages, and taking OTC pain medication as instructed.
How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth: For patients with naturally sensitive teeth, the solution may be adjusting your at-home oral hygiene regimen to include a desensitizing toothpaste and prescription mouthwash. If, however, it stems from untreated tooth decay, then we will remove the damaged tissue and restore your tooth with a tooth-colored filling, dental crown, or root canal therapy.
Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? If one or more of your teeth were knocked out, you need to schedule an appointment with our Asheville emergency dentist right away – ideally within 60 minutes. That way, we have the highest chance of saving your tooth.
How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: There are two important steps you need to take: contacting our team and preserving the root of the tooth. To accomplish the latter, make sure to pick it up by the crown (not the root) and submerge it in a container of milk or saliva. If this isn’t feasible, you can also try placing the tooth back in its socket. However, you shouldn’t force it back into place since this can result in further damage.
How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth: As we mentioned above, we need to see you for treatment within 60 minutes for the highest chance of saving your natural tooth. If this isn’t possible, then we will restore the look and function of your smile with a dental bridge or dental implant instead.
Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Yes, a lost filling or dental crown does require same-day treatment from our Asheville emergency dentist. Otherwise, your tooth can break or develop an infection. We need to intervene before that happens!
How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: One of your top priorities should be preventing additional damage to the tooth. That’s why we encourage patients not to chew on that side of their mouth in the meantime. You may also find it helpful to take OTC pain medication as needed to combat any discomfort stemming from your dental injury.
How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns: Lost fillings and dental crowns can both be replaced with new ones. However, we also have the option to re-cement your old dental crown back in place if it wasn’t severely damaged during your dental emergency.
Is a Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Broken dentures should never be worn, as they can end up harming your gums and other soft oral tissues. To avoid injury and regain support for your smile, make sure to schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as possible.
How to Handle a Broken Denture: Avoid trying to repair your dentures by yourself, as doing so can result in worsening the situation. Instead of wearing them again, keep them in a protective container that you can bring with you to your appointment. Make sure to eat softer foods until you’re able to get your dentures back.
How We Treat Broken Dentures: In many cases, our team will be able to readjust your dentures or repair them with composite resin. However, if the damage is too great, we’ll likely have to either replace them with new ones or consider rebuilding your missing teeth with dental implants instead.
Are Loose Permanent Teeth a Dental Emergency? Your teeth should never be loose, so you’ll want to see your emergency dentist right away if you’ve noticed this. Having it fall out entirely can end up increasing the risk of needing restorations, so make sure to schedule a visit immediately, even if you don’t feel discomfort.
How You Should Handle a Loose Permanent Tooth: Do your best not to disturb the tooth by touching it with your fingers or tongue. Avoid eating hard or sticky food and be sure NOT to chew on that side of your mouth. Keep your tooth safe and undisturbed until we’re able to help you.
How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: Our team can potentially preserve your tooth with services like gum disease treatment. However, if it can’t be saved, then you might have to get it removed. We’ll then be able to help replace it with options such as a dental implant.
Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? These kinds of injuries are typically alarming, especially if there’s some bleeding. If you’re having difficulty getting the situation under control, then you’ll need to visit your local ER first. If you suspect a tooth or your gums are negatively impacted, make sure to come see us for treatment.
How you Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Head straight to the local emergency room if your situation is life-threatening or there’s severe bleeding. Otherwise, try to control your condition by using gauze and light pressure on the wound. You can also use a cold compress to help alleviate swelling and discomfort.
How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Our team will typically help clean the wound and place sutures to close it. We’ll also want to evaluate the rest of your mouth to ensure none of your teeth are damaged. We can also offer custom sports mouthguards that can help cushion and protect your smile in the future.
Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? There are various reasons why you might experience jaw pain, some of which are minor and won’t consider emergency treatment. That said, if your discomfort is interfering with your daily life, then you’ll want to visit our team for help as soon as possible.
How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Remember that if you suspect your jaw is dislocated or broken, you’ll want to visit your local ER right away first. If not, try taking pain relievers as directed, use an ice pack to minimize swelling and discomfort, and eat softer foods until you can get treated.
How We Treat Jaw Pain: Our team will examine your mouth and take X-rays to determine the root cause of your jaw pain so we can develop the proper treatment plan to resolve the issue. If it's due to an impacted wisdom tooth, then we can simply extract it.
Make sure you don’t use sharp tools when trying to dislodge an object stuck in your mouth, such as tweezers or toothpicks. Instead, try to rinse your mouth first before flossing between your teeth to remove it. If these steps aren’t able to resolve the issue, then you can come to visit our team for help.
