Emergency Dentist in South Tacoma: Urgent Dental Care When You Need It
Dental emergencies don't wait for convenient times. At Davis Dental Group in South Tacoma, we provide prompt emergency dental care for severe toothaches, broken teeth, knocked-out teeth, dental infections, and other urgent situations. We accommodate same-day emergency appointments, accept walk-ins when possible, and prioritize patients experiencing dental pain or trauma. When you have a dental emergency, call immediately—we'll guide you through next steps and see you as quickly as possible.
Emergency Dental Services:
- Same-day appointments: We prioritize emergency cases
- Walk-ins accepted: When schedule permits
- Pain relief: Immediate treatment to stop suffering
- Tooth-saving procedures: Act fast to save damaged teeth
- After-hours guidance: Emergency contact information provided
- Serving: South Tacoma, Graham, Roy, Spanaway, Frederickson, Eatonville, and JBLM families
Common Dental Emergencies
Severe Toothache
Persistent, throbbing tooth pain indicates possible infection or abscess requiring immediate attention. According to the American Dental Association, untreated tooth infections can spread to other parts of the body, causing serious health complications.
Rinse your mouth with warm water and gently floss to remove any trapped food. Apply a cold compress to your cheek to reduce swelling. Take over-the-counter pain medication as directed. Call us immediately—we'll schedule emergency treatment to address the infection and relieve your pain.
Knocked-Out Tooth
A completely knocked-out permanent tooth requires emergency treatment within 30-60 minutes for best chance of saving it. Handle the tooth by the crown (chewing surface) only, not the root. If dirty, gently rinse with water—don't scrub or remove attached tissue.
Try to place the tooth back in its socket if possible. If you can't reinsert it, keep it moist by placing it in milk, saline solution, or holding it in your cheek. Call us immediately and come to our office right away. Research in the Journal of Endodontics shows that rapid reimplantation significantly improves tooth survival rates.
Broken or Cracked Tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any broken tooth fragments. Apply gauze to any bleeding areas and use a cold compress on your face to reduce swelling. Avoid chewing on the affected side.
Cracked teeth need prompt treatment to prevent the crack from spreading and bacteria from entering the tooth. We can often save cracked teeth with dental crowns or other restorations. The sooner we treat the crack, the better the outcome.
Lost Filling or Crown
A lost filling or crown exposes sensitive tooth structure and allows bacteria to enter. If you lose a crown, try to place it back on the tooth using dental cement or denture adhesive available at pharmacies. Don't use super glue.
For lost fillings, temporary dental filling material from pharmacies can protect the tooth until we see you. Call us for an appointment as soon as possible—exposed teeth are vulnerable to further damage and decay.
Dental Abscess
An abscess is a serious infection causing severe pain, swelling, fever, and sometimes a pimple-like bump on your gum. Abscesses won't resolve on their own and can spread to other parts of your body.
Rinse with mild salt water to draw out pus and reduce discomfort. Call us immediately for emergency treatment. Abscesses typically require root canal treatment or extraction, plus antibiotics to eliminate infection.
Broken Orthodontic Appliance
Broken braces, wires, or other orthodontic appliances can cause mouth irritation. If a wire is poking you, try using the eraser end of a pencil to push it into a more comfortable position. Cover sharp ends with orthodontic wax or a cotton ball.
Contact your orthodontist for broken appliances, but if you're experiencing significant pain or injury to soft tissues, we can provide relief until you see your orthodontist.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Cuts, tears, or punctures to lips, cheeks, tongue, or gums require prompt attention. Rinse your mouth with mild salt water and apply pressure with clean gauze to stop bleeding. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
If bleeding doesn't stop after 15 minutes or the injury is severe, come to our office immediately or visit an emergency room. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes proper wound care to prevent infection.
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
Stay Calm
Panicking makes the situation worse. Take a deep breath and assess the situation calmly. Most dental emergencies can be successfully treated if you act quickly and follow proper steps.
Call Us Immediately
Contact Davis Dental Group right away. Our team will assess your situation over the phone, provide immediate guidance, and schedule emergency treatment. We prioritize dental emergencies and see patients as quickly as possible.
If your emergency occurs after hours, follow the instructions on our voicemail for emergency contact information.
Manage Pain and Bleeding
Take over-the-counter pain medication as directed. Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. Control bleeding by applying firm, gentle pressure with clean gauze. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to clean the area.
Preserve Knocked-Out Teeth
Handle knocked-out teeth carefully, keep them moist, and get to our office within an hour. Time is critical for successful reimplantation.
Protect Damaged Teeth
Avoid chewing on damaged teeth. If a tooth is broken, save the fragments and bring them to your appointment. Cover sharp edges with dental wax or gauze to prevent cutting your mouth.
How We Handle Dental Emergencies
Immediate Assessment
When you call with a dental emergency, we assess the severity and urgency. We provide phone guidance for immediate care and schedule your appointment based on urgency.
Priority Scheduling
We reserve appointment slots specifically for emergencies. In many cases, we can see you the same day. For severe emergencies, we'll fit you in as quickly as possible.
Comprehensive Examination
During your emergency visit, we thoroughly examine the affected area, take necessary X-rays, and determine the best treatment approach. We explain your options and answer all questions.
Immediate Treatment
Our goal is providing immediate relief from pain while addressing the underlying problem. This might include draining abscesses, performing emergency root canals, stabilizing knocked-out teeth, repairing broken teeth, or extracting severely damaged teeth beyond saving.
Follow-Up Care
After emergency treatment, we schedule follow-up appointments to complete any additional procedures needed and ensure proper healing. We provide detailed aftercare instructions and are available if you have concerns during recovery.
Preventing Dental Emergencies
Regular Dental Care
Attending dental cleanings and exams every six months catches problems early before they become emergencies. Many dental emergencies result from untreated cavities, gum disease, or damaged teeth that could have been addressed during routine care.
Wear Protective Gear
If you play contact sports, wear a mouthguard protecting your teeth from trauma. Custom mouthguards from your dentist provide better protection than store-bought versions.
Avoid Hard Foods
Don't chew ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, or other extremely hard objects that can crack teeth. Use scissors instead of teeth to open packages.
Address Problems Promptly
Don't ignore minor tooth pain, sensitivity, or other dental problems. These often worsen into emergencies if left untreated. Call us if you notice any concerning symptoms.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Brush twice daily, floss once daily, and maintain excellent oral hygiene. Most dental emergencies stem from decay or gum disease—both preventable with proper care.
Emergency Dental Care Costs
The cost of emergency dental care varies based on the treatment needed. Simple procedures like replacing a lost filling cost less than complex treatments like root canals or crowns.
Most dental insurance plans cover emergency care. We verify your benefits and help maximize coverage. For patients without insurance or facing unexpected costs, we offer payment plans making emergency treatment affordable.
Don't let cost concerns prevent you from seeking emergency care. Delaying treatment typically results in more complex, expensive procedures later.
Why Choose Davis Dental Group for Emergencies
Same-Day Availability: We prioritize emergency cases and see patients as quickly as possible—often the same day you call.
Experienced Emergency Care: Our dentists have extensive experience treating dental emergencies, providing effective relief and treatment.
Comprehensive Services: We handle most dental emergencies in-house, eliminating referrals to specialists for common urgent situations.
Advanced Technology: Digital X-rays and modern equipment allow rapid, accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Pain Management: We use effective anesthesia and pain management techniques ensuring comfortable emergency treatment.
Compassionate Care: We understand dental emergencies are stressful. Our team provides calm, reassuring care during difficult situations.
Family Dentistry: As your family dental practice, we treat emergency patients of all ages with age-appropriate care.
Military-Friendly: United Concordia accepted. We serve JBLM families with flexible emergency scheduling.
Related Services
Family Dentistry - Comprehensive care preventing emergencies through regular checkups and early problem detection.
Root Canal Treatment - Save infected teeth causing emergency pain with comfortable endodontic therapy.
Dental Crowns - Restore broken or severely damaged teeth after emergency treatment.
Dental Fillings - Repair cavities causing emergency pain before they worsen.
Get Emergency Dental Care Now
Don't suffer with dental pain or damage. Contact Davis Dental Group in South Tacoma immediately for emergency dental care. We'll assess your situation, provide guidance, and schedule treatment as quickly as possible. Prompt treatment prevents complications and saves teeth.
Serving South Tacoma, Graham, Roy, Spanaway, Frederickson, Eatonville, and JBLM military families with immediate emergency dental care.
Call for Emergency Dental Treatment
Contact Us for Urgent Appointment
United Concordia and most major PPO insurance accepted. Same-day emergency appointments available.