Emergency Dentist — Shelburne, VT

A Fast Fix for An Achey Smile

Naturally, not all oral issues are mild ones. Some can be pretty severe and require immediate care. In those cases, you should see your emergency dentist in Shelburne. Dr. Maier and her excellent team will ease your dental pain and get your mouth patched up. That way, you can avoid the time, money, and hassle of an ER visit. To learn more, just keep reading or contact our office soon – you won’t regret either choice!

An attractive young woman seeing a dentist for a dental emergency

Why Choose Us for Emergency Dental Care?

  • Same-Day Appointments Available
  • Dental Insurance Friendly & Flexible Financing Welcome
  • Highly Experienced and Trained Dental Team

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

A gloved hand holding a dental tool while a patient receives care in the background

Even if you’ve never had a dental emergency before, you needn’t worry. We at Shelburne Village Dentistry can give you a rundown of how treatment works. In particular, here are some things to expect from your emergency dental visit:

  • A Same-Day Appointment – Once you’ve contacted us, our team will book you for the earliest available timeslot. You may even see us the same day you call! While you’re on the phone with us, we can also provide first-aid tips for your situation.
  • An Emergency Exam – When you first arrive for your visit, Dr. Maier will perform a quick emergency exam. This step lets her learn the source of your oral problem. (Crucially, it also helps her confirm how to relieve your pain.)
  • Review of Findings – After the exam, Dr. Maier will show her findings to you. She’ll then suggest a few possible procedures. Based on your wants, our office will next draft a custom treatment plan just for you. (Of course, we’ll outline the treatment price and timeframe before you commit to anything.)
  • The Care You Need – Our team will quickly address your issue after the treatment plan is drafted. You can expect good results, too, as we can give you fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, and more. Whatever the problem, our office will get your smile back on track.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies aren’t all the same, but some are more common than others. You’d thus be wise to see us if you face one. After all, our team is well-trained to deal with the typical kinds that can occur. You can trust us to give you the quality care you deserve! That being the case, don’t hesitate to call us if you experience any of the following:

Understanding the Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies

A patient calculating the cost of a dental emergency

Maybe you’re worried about emergency dentistry’s price. If so, that’s a common concern – you can’t benefit from a treatment you can’t afford. Truthfully, the cost of dental emergencies varies by patient. You’ll need to consult Dr. Maier for an exact estimate, but rest assured, our team will guide you through cost factors and financing options for your treatment. Once we’ve tallied the expenses, our office will find ways to make your care more affordable. You can read the information below for more details about the cost of treating dental emergencies, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

Every Dental Emergency Is Different

Woman holding a tooth and smiling on a brick background

Part of what makes it difficult to pin a price on a dental emergency prior to a full oral examination is that every urgent situation is different. Even for two patients with very similar toothaches, their treatments could be quite unique – one may only need a root canal, for example, while the other might require a tooth extraction.

In any case, we’ll be sure to review your options with you after getting a better sense of your oral needs, as well as give you a more precise price-point.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Woman in a questioning pose on a grey background

It depends on the specifics of your plan and the type of dental emergency, but generally speaking, most dental insurance policies do cover at least 50% of the costs. We encourage you to double-check your benefits and let us know if you have any questions. Our team deals with dental insurance every working day, so we can help you navigate the details of your plan and would be happy to file any claims!

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Woman at her desk excited that she can afford dental care

We recognize that not everyone in Shelburne has access to dental insurance, which can make certain services cost-prohibitive. But we don’t want you to miss out on urgent dental care because of money! As an alternative to dental insurance, we partner with CareCredit to offer patients flexible financing options. Through a CareCredit plan, you can break your total treatment bill down into smaller monthly payments. If you’re interested in this option, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Dentist pointing at patient’s smile while she looks in the mirror

In the long run, it’s in your best interest to take care of your smile as soon as possible – both physically and financially. Oral health problems don’t go away on their own and will become worse over time. Eventually, the bigger problem will cost more money to treat. Eliminating an infection in one tooth with a root canal, for example, is less expensive than having to extract and replace multiple teeth because the infection continued to spread!

That’s why we urge you to talk to our team if you have any concerns about affording emergency dentistry. We’ll do our best to help you afford the care you need!

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Patient in Shelburne smiling at the dentist, avoiding dental emergencies

As you’d expect, it’s easier to prevent a dental emergency than to manage one. Once your tooth is in pain, the damage has most likely already been done, and fixing it can be both time-consuming and expensive. Fortunately, avoiding an emergency trip to our office is simple—take care of your teeth! Here are some healthy habits to follow to greatly reduce your risk of a dental emergency.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Patient in Shelburne going to the dentist to avoid dental emergencies

Regular dental checkups are vital for keeping your oral health in check. At Shelburne Village Dentistry, we recommend visiting us at least twice a year. These bi-annual appointments allow us to monitor any changes in your teeth and gums, catch issues early, and provide preventive care to keep your smile healthy. Early detection and treatment can prevent minor problems from becoming serious dental issues, reducing the need for more extensive or costly treatments in the future.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home

Patient in Shelburne flossing to avoid dental emergencies

Good oral hygiene is the most basic and powerful method you have for avoiding dental emergencies. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily helps remove food particles and bacteria that can lead to plaque buildup, cavities, and gum disease. For extra protection, you could also begin incorporating a non-alcoholic mouthwash into your routine to help kill harmful bacteria and freshen your breath.

Be Careful with Your Diet

Patient in Shelburne eating healthy to avoid dental emergencies

Your diet also plays a role in your oral health. Eating food creates bacterial plaque, a sticky film that clings to your teeth. Sugary and acidic foods and drinks, like soda and sports drinks, can feed the bacteria in plaque and erode your enamel, making your teeth more vulnerable to decay and sensitivity. If left untreated, cavities can worsen over time leading to pain and infection. Try to focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, dairy, and lean proteins that provide essential nutrients for strong teeth and gums. Drinking water also helps rinse away food particles and bacteria, so be sure to stay hydrated.

Wear a Mouthguard

Patient in Shelburne wearing a mouthguard to avoid dental emergencies

Mouthguards are a great tool for protecting your teeth from damage of all kinds. If you play contact sports, wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard can prevent dental disasters like broken or knocked-out teeth. Additionally, for those who grind their teeth at night, a nightguard can protect your teeth from excessive wear and reduce the risk of cracks and fractures. Both types of mouthguards are designed to cushion your teeth and absorb impact, providing a shield that helps preserve your dental health.

Use Tools, Not Teeth to Open Packaging

Patient in Shelburne biting tape and risking dental emergencies

Using your teeth to open packages or bottles may seem convenient, but it can cause significant damage to your pearly whites. Each time you use your teeth as tools, you risk chipping, cracking, or even breaking them. This habit can also wear down your enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to decay and sensitivity. To protect your smile, always use the right tools for any given job. Keep scissors and bottle openers handy so you’re not tempted to bite into things you shouldn’t!

Toothaches  

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? That depends on the symptoms you’re experiencing. If there is a small bump on your gums, the tooth in question looks darker than the surrounding teeth, it hurts to bite down, or your discomfort has persisted for more than 24 hours, you should schedule an appointment with our Shelburne dental team right away.

How You Should Handle a Toothache First, try using some floss to clean around your tooth. If the discomfort persists, then rinse with warm saltwater, avoid crunchy, sugary, and acidic foods, and take an OTC pain reliever as directed.

How We Treat Toothaches Since a toothache could be the result of everything from a small cavity to an advanced stage of gum disease, we need to conduct a thorough exam first. Then, we can determine the best way to proceed, like restoring your tooth with a tooth-colored filling or dental crown.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AMALGAM-FREE FILLINGS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

Chipped Teeth  

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? If the chip is small and you aren’t in any pain, you should be fine waiting a day or two for an appointment. If that’s not the case, then call us ASAP so we can get you in for same-day treatment.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth First, rinse your mouth with clean, room-temperature water. If you find any large pieces of your tooth, then store them in a small container for safekeeping until your appointment. Additionally, place a piece of sugar-free gum over your tooth to protect your tongue and lips from being cut.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth In many cases, we can use cosmetic dental bonding to restore the missing structure. However, there are some cases where we recommend a veneer instead, like if the chip is substantial in size.

Cracked Tooth  

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? A crack in your enamel puts your tooth at risk for everything from an infection to further damage. That’s why we encourage our patients to schedule an appointment with us ASAP. Additionally, we recommend keeping an eye out for symptoms of a cracked tooth, like pain when biting down, since the damage may be hidden.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth Of course, one of your first steps should be calling our Shelburne dental team. When you do, we will provide you with instructions specific to your situation, like rinsing periodically with clean water, using a cold compress, taking OTC pain medication, or coming to our office right away.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth That depends on if the tooth can be saved. If it can, then we may recommend a dental crown. If it can’t, then we may recommend having it pulled and replaced with a dental implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Tooth sensitivity can be due to various reasons—not all of which are urgent situations. Still, it can sometimes be an indication of decay or even an infection. That’s why you’ll want to get this checked by your dentist early on to avoid any costly complications.

How you should handle sensitive teeth: Until you’re able to visit our office, make sure to rinse your mouth with salt water to both alleviate discomfort and disinfect the area. You might also try using desensitizing toothpaste to help calm the tooth.

How we treat tooth sensitivity: Once you arrive at your appointment, our team will evaluate your sensitive tooth and determine the proper way to address the issue. For worn-down enamel, we can simply provide you with fluoride treatment. If your sensitivity is caused by bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching), then we can offer custom nightguards. We can also apply amalgam-free fillings for teeth with thin enamel.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments

Learn More About Amalgam-Free Fillings

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? A knocked-out tooth is definitely a dental emergency and will need to be addressed right away. For the best chance of saving it, you’ll need to visit your dentist within 30-60 minutes. Until you arrive at our practice for emergency treatment, you’ll need to prioritize keeping the tooth viable for reimplantation.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: Once you’ve found your knocked-out tooth, make sure to handle it from the crown (top side) and avoid touching or disturbing the roots. Carefully rinse it with clean water, but don’t scrub it or use any soap. If possible, try inserting the tooth back into its socket. If not, you can store it in a small container of saline solution or milk to keep it hydrated and viable until you can come to see us.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: If your tooth is still healthy and viable, our team can try placing it back in its socket and splinting it to a nearby tooth for support while it heals. In the cases where this isn’t possible, we’ll then have to discuss replacing it with something lifelike, such as a dental bridge, denture, or dental implant.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? Since dental fillings and crowns aren’t meant to last forever, you shouldn’t have to worry much if your restoration falls out. Still, you don’t want to leave your underlying tooth exposed to bacteria and a higher risk of injury. Notify our team as soon as possible so you can restore your smile.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: Rinse off your filling or dental crown to remove any dirt and debris. Once clean, you might try using toothpaste to place your crown back on your tooth as a temporary solution (the same should not be done with a filling). If you can’t find your restoration, cover your tooth with dental wax or even sugar-free gum to protect your underlying tooth, which can be found at your local drugstore.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: If your restoration is still in good condition, we might be able to place it back on. Of course, we’ll need to determine and address the root cause of the issue so that we can keep it from happening again. If your crown or filling isn’t viable, we’ll likely need to replace it with a new one.

Learn More About Amalgam-Free Fillings

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency? Dentures that are warped or broken will not only be uncomfortable to wear, but they can also cause harm to your soft oral tissues if they remain in your mouth. While this might not be a dental emergency, you’ll want to visit our team to get help sooner rather than later so that we can repair or replace your prosthetics.

How to handle a broken denture: Avoid putting them back in your mouth until we’ve been able to address the situation. Make sure they’re moist by placing them in water or a cleaning solution, which will help retain their shape. Never use household products like superglue to fix broken dentures, as these chemicals are harmful to humans if ingested.

How we treat broken dentures: If the damage isn’t too severe, we might be able to fix your dentures with composite resin. If not, we’ll have to either replace them with new prosthetics or go with an alternative option, like dental implants.

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Are loose permanent teeth a dental emergency? Your natural teeth should never feel loose or about to fall off, so you’ll need to visit your emergency dentist right away for help if this is the case. The sooner you’re able to schedule a visit with us, the better the chance of preserving your loose tooth.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: Refrain from chewing on that side of your mouth and try to avoid pushing the tooth back into its socket, as this can cause more damage. Notify our team instead so that we can pencil you in for an appointment. Take OTC pain relievers and use a cold compress to alleviate discomfort until you can see us.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: We’ll evaluate your mouth and determine if we can splint your tooth to a nearby tooth for support while it heals. If you have underlying issues like gum disease, we’ll need to address this as well to avoid further complications. If we can’t save your tooth, we’ll need to consider tooth-replacement options like dental implants.

Learn More About Dental Implants

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? A wound on the lips, tongue, gums, and around your mouth can be alarming, especially if there’s bleeding involved. Many of these kinds of injuries can be addressed with home remedies. However, if you suspect something is worse, give us a call right away for help.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Rinse off the wound with lukewarm water to clear away debris and bacteria. Apply a clean gauze or washcloth to control any bleeding. You can also use a cold compress to reduce swelling and pain. Take an OTC pain reliever if necessary.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: For a deep cut, we might suggest coming into our office to get sutures. If the lesion is more severe or you’re experiencing issues like a broken or dislocated jaw, then you’ll need to head to your local ER straight away. They can help stabilize your situation before you come to see us for dental care.

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? Jaw pain can be due to various things, such as teeth grinding and TMJ—both of which can be addressed with the help of your dentist. That said, if you’re experiencing something more serious like a broken/dislocated jaw, then go straight to your local ER instead.

How you should handle jaw pain: Take OTC pain medications to alleviate discomfort in your jaw. You can even use a cold compress to minimize aching and swelling. When resting, try elevating your head with extra pillows to avoid blood from rushing to your head.

How we treat jaw pain: Our team will assess your mouth and determine if custom nightguards for bruxism would be necessary, especially if we see signs of teeth grinding and clenching. If the issue is TMJ disorder, then we can provide treatment to alleviate your situation.

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Learn More About TMJ Therapy

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Various small objects can end up getting stuck between your teeth, such as food and debris. Being unable to remove them can leave your gums vulnerable to bacteria and the rest of your smile susceptible to mild aches. The last thing you should do is use sharp tools to dislodge the stuck object, like toothpicks, tweezers, or a fork. Instead, rinse your mouth to loosen the thing and floss to clean between your teeth. If this doesn’t work, then you can visit our team for help.