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10154 Jefferson Hwy
River Ridge, LA 70123
(504) 738-5171 Pay Now
Kerry T. Plaisance, Jr, DDS • W. Keith deJong, DDS

Emergency Dentist — River Ridge, LA

Professional Care When You Need It Most

At deJong & Plaisance Family Dentistry, we understand how sudden and frightening emergency situations can be, especially when it comes to something as fragile and vital as oral health. If you or a family member is experiencing severe dental pain or injury, don’t wait – contact our practice in River Ridge as soon as possible to schedule an appointment! We don’t want anyone to have to wait for the relief they need, which is why our team strives to see emergency cases as soon as possible.

 

Why Choose deJong & Plaisance Family Dentistry for Emergency Dental Care?

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

First and foremost, you should call our office and schedule an emergency appointment if you ever find yourself in an urgent situation. Our team will assist you as quickly as possible to ensure you get the relief you deserve. In the meantime, we’ve included some helpful tips below on how to deal with the most common dental emergencies we see.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

No two cases are the same, which is why it’s impossible to predict the cost of your dental emergency until you come in for an exam. The type of care you need will depend solely on the nature and extent of your problem. Rest assured – our team will thoroughly explain the pricing information and your available financing options to ensure you know what to expect. The last thing we want is for you to find surprises on your bill!

 

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies aren’t entirely preventable, but there are many steps you can take to significantly lower your risk of one occurring. Avoiding particularly tough or sticky foods can help patients lessen their risk of experiencing a dental emergency, as can wearing a sports guard when participating in athletic events. Most importantly, make sure to attend regular check-ups with our staff! We can help you prevent small areas of damage from developing into serious concerns in the future.

 

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Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? A toothache can have many causes. Sometimes it’s because of decay, while in other cases it can be due to an infection. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should contact us to schedule an emergency appointment for your toothache:

  • Extreme discomfort that lasts more than 24 hours
  • Sharp pain when biting down
  • Dental sensitivity that lasts more than 30 seconds
  • A small bump has developed near the painful tooth
  • The tooth in question looks darker than the surrounding teeth
  • Signs of a serious infection (i.e., swelling, fever, fatigue)

How you should handle a toothache: You can rule out a piece of food stuck between the teeth by flossing and rinsing with warm water. A pain reliever can help you manage a toothache, and you can apply a cold compress to your cheek if the gums have become swollen.

How we treat toothaches: To identify the cause of your toothache, we’ll need to conduct an oral examination. Depending on the reason, we may recommend anything from fillings to root canal therapy to tooth extractions.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? It depends! It’s not usually considered an emergency. However, you should still seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent complications like severe damage or decay.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Collect any broken-off pieces and place them in a container for safekeeping. Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area around the tooth. If there’s a jagged edge that might cut the inside of your mouth, cover it up with dental wax or some sugarless gum as a temporary measure.

How we treat chipped teeth: Usually, we can fix a chipped tooth with custom-shaded composite resin. If you’ve chipped a highly visible tooth and are worried about the appearance of your smile, you can ask about getting a veneer.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Porcelain Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Yes! It doesn’t matter if the crack is small – it can still put your tooth at risk of infection and further damage. You should always make an appointment to see your dentist after sustaining a blow to the face, especially if you experience pain or sensitivity.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Carefully rinse your mouth with warm water to wash away any lingering bacteria. If needed, you can apply a cold compress and take over-the-counter pain medication to ease your discomfort. While you wait for your appointment, be sure to avoid chewing or eating on the injured side of your mouth.

How we treat cracked teeth: Most cases of cracked teeth are addressed with custom-made dental crowns. However, we might be able to use composite resin if the damage is minor enough. If your tooth is damaged beyond repair, an extraction might be the best option.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? It depends! There are many reasons why you may experience sensitivity, including exposed tooth roots or enamel erosion. Although mild cases are not usually considered urgent, you should visit our emergency dentist if your sensitivity:

  • Becomes severe or painful
  • Lasts multiple consecutive days
  • Only impacts one to two teeth

How you should handle sensitive teeth: Give us a call and explain your symptoms! Over the phone, an experienced team member will provide tips to help you manage your sensitivity at home. We often recommend drinking lukewarm water, taking over-the-counter pain medication as needed, and avoiding spicy or acidic foods.

How we treat tooth sensitivity: The treatment method we recommend will depend on the cause of your sensitivity. Based on your situation, you may benefit from desensitizing toothpaste, prescription mouthwash, topical fluoride treatment, antibiotics, a gum graft, or root canal therapy.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Knocked-Out Tooth

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? Absolutely! Time is of the essence in this situation, which means you need to act quickly if you want a good chance of saving your tooth. Contact our office right away to schedule an emergency appointment!

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: It’s possible to put a knocked-out tooth back in the mouth. We have the best chance of success if you get to our dental office in less than an hour. Only handle the tooth by touching the crown instead of the root, and put it back in its socket if you can. Otherwise, store it in milk.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: If the tooth is still mostly intact, we might be able to reimplant it. Over time, it’ll naturally fuse with the surrounding bone tissue. However, you may want to explore your replacement options (i.e., dental bridges or implants) to avoid serious issues that come with untreated tooth loss.

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? Yes! A lost crown or filling can expose the inner layers of your tooth, causing extreme pain and sensitivity. Even if it doesn’t hurt, you should visit your emergency dentist right away to prevent further complications.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: The exposed tooth might be sensitive, so you should apply clove oil as needed. To avoid an infection, make sure that the area around the tooth remains clean and free of food. You can put a lost crown or filling back on the tooth by using sugarless gum or dental cement. Keep in mind this is only a temporary solution!

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: Our team may be able to recement the restoration back into place if it’s still mostly intact. However, a replacement might be the best solution if your filling or crown is too damaged or weakened.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Broken Dentures  

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Although it may not seem like it, broken dentures are a dental emergency! Even if you notice minor damage, like a small crack, you should contact our River Ridge dental team.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture It might be tempting, but you shouldn’t wear your retainer since this can cause it to break further or damage the soft tissue in your mouth. Instead, store it safely in a clean container.

How We Treat Broken Dentures There are some cases where the damage is minor enough that we can repair your broken denture at our office. If the break is more severe, however, then we will need to start the process of having a new one made.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTURES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Absolutely! After all, there is a chance that we can save your tooth from needing to be extracted, but we need to intervene with the necessary treatment ASAP in order for that to happen.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth The key is to avoid anything that could loosen your tooth even further, like chewing on that side of your mouth or wiggling it with your tongue or finger.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth As we mentioned above, we may be able to save your tooth, which involves providing it with the necessary support. If that’s not feasible, then we will gently remove your tooth and put a dental bridge or implant in its place.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue  

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? It’s a dental emergency in the sense that you need to handle the situation quickly. With that said, this can usually be done at home, so a same-day visit to our River Ridge dental office isn’t typically necessary.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue Go to the sink and use clean, room-temperature water to rinse your mouth as well as the cut. Then, grab a clean towel, dampen it with water, and place it against the wound to help stop the bleeding.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue Although we don’t typically treat soft tissue injuries, you should go to the ER if you’ve been applying pressure for 10 minutes and the wound continues to bleed.

Jaw Pain  

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Sometimes! If your jaw pain has persisted for more than 24 hours or it’s making it difficult to eat, sleep, or talk, then you should absolutely get in touch with our River Ridge emergency dentist.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain There are a few things you can do to help alleviate your jaw pain, including sticking to soft foods, using a cold compress, and taking OTC pain medication as directed.

How We Treat Jaw Pain First, we need to conduct X-rays and examine your bite, jaw, etc. From there, we can determine if your wisdom teeth need to be removed, if you need a mouthguard to prevent teeth grinding, or if you need an entirely different treatment.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth  

If a piece of food or debris is lodged between your teeth, try rinsing your mouth thoroughly with warm saltwater (you can make this mixture at home by simply dissolving some salt in a cup of hot water and waiting a few minutes for it to cool down). Afterward, use some floss to gently clean between your teeth. If that doesn’t work, get in touch with our team!