Loading...
Loading...
Dental pain or trauma? We deliberately build buffer time into our daily schedule to accommodate urgent cases and provide same-day care.
When you're in severe pain, you shouldn't have to wait days for an appointment. Call us immediately and we will do our absolute best to see you today. We understand that dental emergencies don't happen on a convenient schedule.
We know firsthand that a sudden dental emergency can be an incredibly painful, alarming, and highly stressful experience. Whether you've woken up with an excruciating, throbbing toothache or suffered an unexpected physical trauma that cracked a tooth, getting professional help rapidly is critical.
At Dr. Muller Dentistry, we prioritize dental emergencies. We actively build buffer time into our daily St. John's schedule specifically so we can do our absolute best to accommodate urgent, severe cases and provide same-day palliative care to get you swiftly out of pain.
Our clinic is fully equipped with advanced diagnostic tools to instantly determine the exact root cause of your pain. Dr. Muller will quickly assess the damage, numb the area with profound local anesthesia to provide immediate relief, and immediately discuss the most effective treatment plan with you to permanently resolve the issue.
Not every dental issue is an emergency — but the following situations require immediate attention. If you're experiencing any of these, call us right away:
Intense, throbbing pain that doesn't respond to over-the-counter painkillers, especially if it keeps you awake at night or prevents you from eating.
A tooth completely knocked out of its socket from a fall, sports injury, or accident. Time is critical — we need to see you within 60 minutes.
A visible crack or break in a tooth, especially with sharp pain when biting. This can expose the nerve and lead to rapid infection if untreated.
Swelling in the jaw, cheek, or around the eye caused by a dental infection. If swelling affects breathing or swallowing, go to the ER immediately.
Bleeding from the gums or mouth that won't stop after applying firm pressure with gauze for 15–20 minutes.
A fallen-out crown or filling exposes the inner tooth to bacteria, temperature, and pressure. Keep the crown safe and call us to get it re-cemented quickly.
While you wait to see us, here's what you can do at home to manage the situation and protect your tooth:
Time is critical — the first 60 minutes are everything. Pick up the tooth by the crown only (the white part you see when you smile). Never touch the root. If it's dirty, rinse it gently under water for no more than 10 seconds — do not scrub it. Try to place it back into the socket and hold it in place by gently biting on a clean cloth. If you can't reinsert it, keep the tooth submerged in a small cup of cold milk or your own saliva. Do not let it dry out. Call us immediately and get to our office as fast as you can.
Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clean the area. If there is swelling, apply a cold compress (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel) to the outside of your cheek — 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off. Save any broken pieces of tooth if you can find them. Avoid chewing on that side entirely. Take ibuprofen (Advil) for pain — never apply aspirin directly to the gum as it causes chemical burns. If there's a sharp edge cutting your tongue or cheek, cover it with a small piece of sugar-free gum or dental wax until you reach us.
Rinse with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) to reduce bacteria and soothe the area. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed on the packaging. Do not place any painkiller directly on the gum tissue. If the pain is throbbing and keeps you awake, it likely indicates an infection inside the tooth that requires professional treatment — over-the-counter medicine will not fix the underlying cause. Avoid very hot, very cold, or sweet foods and drinks until you see us.
An abscess is a dental infection that has formed a pocket of pus, usually at the root of the tooth. You may see a small bump on the gum that looks like a pimple. Rinse with mild salt water several times a day to draw the infection toward the surface and reduce discomfort. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your face. Do not try to pop or drain the abscess yourself. If swelling is spreading rapidly, if you develop a fever, or if the swelling is making it difficult to breathe or swallow, go to the hospital emergency room immediately — this can be life-threatening.
If a crown falls off, try to keep it safe and clean. You can temporarily place it back on the tooth using a small amount of denture adhesive or toothpaste — do not use superglue. If a filling has fallen out, you can place a small piece of sugar-free gum over the exposed cavity as a temporary cover. Avoid chewing on that side. This isn't as urgent as trauma, but you should still call us within a day or two to prevent further damage or infection.
We know you're in pain, so we move fast. Here's what to expect when you walk through our door:
Dr. Muller will examine the affected area, take any necessary x-rays, and determine exactly what's causing your pain. We use digital x-rays that provide instant results — no waiting around for film to develop.
Our first priority is always getting you out of pain. We'll numb the area with local anesthesia so you can finally relax. Depending on the situation, we may prescribe antibiotics to control any infection, pain medication for at-home recovery, or begin immediate treatment.
Once the immediate crisis is managed, Dr. Muller will sit down with you and explain exactly what happened, what needs to happen next, and all of your options. We never pressure you into a decision. If the tooth needs a root canal, an extraction, or a crown, we'll explain why, what it costs, and how long recovery takes — in plain language, not dental jargon.
This is one of the most common questions we get, and the answer matters. In most dental emergencies, coming to us is faster and more effective than going to the ER. Hospital emergency rooms can prescribe painkillers and antibiotics, but they don't have dental chairs, dental x-ray machines, or the instruments needed to actually fix the tooth. You'll wait for hours and leave with a prescription — not a solution.
At our clinic, we can diagnose the problem with digital x-rays, numb the area, perform emergency root canals, temporarily re-cement a crown, splint a loose tooth, drain an abscess, extract a tooth that can't be saved — and do it all in the same visit.
However — and this is important — go to the hospital ER immediately if you experience any of the following:
Swelling that affects your breathing or ability to swallow
Uncontrolled bleeding that won't stop with firm pressure
Facial trauma with suspected broken jaw
High fever accompanying facial swelling (sign of spreading infection)
In these cases, the ER is equipped to manage the immediate life-threatening situation. Once stabilized, follow up with us for the dental treatment itself.
While accidents happen, many dental emergencies are preventable with good habits:
Wear a mouthguard during contact sports (hockey, basketball, martial arts)
Don't chew ice, hard candy, or popcorn kernels — these are the top three tooth-crackers
Keep up with regular cleanings and checkups — we catch cracks and infections before they become emergencies
Replace old, large fillings before they weaken and fracture the remaining tooth
If you grind your teeth at night, ask us about a custom night guard to protect your teeth while you sleep
Never use your teeth as tools — opening bottles, tearing tape, or holding objects
Dental emergencies get worse with time, not better. Call Dr. Muller Dentistry now and let us take care of you today.