Emergency Dentist 24/7 Las Vegas, NV

It can be tempting to put off handling a dental problem, especially when it happens on the weekend. Toothaches, bleeding, and swelling frequently occur due to infections, accidents, injuries, or after having dental work performed. However, when symptoms are severe or do not improve with some home treatment, you may need emergency dental care. Emergency Dental of Las Vegas provides emergency dental services round the clock, including weekends.

Weekend Dental Emergency

When you are dealing with pain and other uncomfortable symptoms, it can be difficult to decide whether your situation can wait for regular business hours. The American Dental Association provides guidance about what constitutes a dental emergency and what symptoms, while uncomfortable, may be able to wait for treatment.

If you experience the following symptoms, you may need emergency dental care:

• Bleeding that is still uncontrolled or excessive after 15-30 minutes
• Swelling so severe that it makes it difficult to swallow or breathe
• Injuries to the face or mouth that cause broken or fractured bones or cartilage
• Severe pain that does not get better after taking over-the-counter medicine for pain, such as Advil or Tylenol
• An injury that causes a tooth to be wobbly or come out or leaves a sharp piece that could injure the soft tissue of the mouth
• Loss of or damage to previous dental work like fillings, crowns, braces, dentures, spacers, and bridges, especially when the damage creates sharp or loose pieces that could create further complications

The following issues are less likely to require emergency dental care:

• Most swelling or pain improves or stops with general home treatment
• Cavities and chipped or broken teeth that do not cause severe pain, bleeding, swelling, or make it hard to breathe
• Adjustment of dental work like filling, crowns, and dentures if they do not cause severe symptoms
• Suture removal after dental surgery
• Loose baby teeth in children
• Routine dental work like cleanings and exams

If you are not sure whether your symptoms are severe enough to require emergency treatment, contact our 24-hour emergency patient care team.

Dental Emergency Causes

Injuries to the mouth or teeth are a common reason to seek weekend emergency dental care. Causes of injuries include accidents like falls, bicycle or motor vehicle crashes, workplace accidents, and recreational or athletic injuries, especially when suitable safety equipment like helmets and mouthguards are not used. Other causes of dental emergencies can include:

• Cuts, contusions, or infections in the soft tissue in the mouth on the palate, tongue, or gums
• Broken, chipped, or fractures in teeth from biting hard objects, including ice, hard candy, or popcorn kernels, or using teeth to open or loosen packages or bottles
• Damage to dental appliances like braces or dentures or previous dental work, like fillings, crowns, and bridges; side effects after dental procedures such as surgery, tooth extraction, or root canal
• Problems like teeth grinding (bruxism), jaw clenching, and TMJ disorders; chronic conditions like acid reflux and sleep apnea; and medications like immunosuppressants or steroids.

Assess Your Dental Problem

Even minor dental issues are an inconvenience at the best of times, and when they impair daily function and occur on a Saturday or Sunday, it can be downright stressful. Symptoms like pain, swelling, bleeding, cuts, and broken teeth can often make it difficult to talk, eat, and participate in other daily activities. So, it is essential to stay calm and evaluate the issue so you can decide on what actions are appropriate.

• If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency assistance immediately. These include difficulty breathing or swallowing due to swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, and broken or fractured bones in the face or mouth.
• Record your symptoms. Common symptoms include bleeding, discoloration, or swelling of soft tissue such as cheeks, gums, palate, and tongue; pain in teeth, mouth, sinuses, jaw, or ear; sensitivity to foods that are hot, cold, acidic, or sweet; and dry mouth or bad breath that brushing teeth does not help.
• Note the source of your symptoms. You may be able to see bleeding or swelling that centers around the cause of the issue. However, it can be harder to pin down the location of sensitivity, pain, and other symptoms. Note any cavities, broken or loose teeth, discoloration, sores, or cuts in the mouth or gums.
• Contact a dentist as soon as you can. Not all dental problems are emergencies, but in most cases, delaying treatment longer than necessary not only prolongs pain but can increase the risk of infection and long-term problems like bone or tissue loss.

At Emergency Dental of Las Vegas, we treat emergency dental problems every day. Some of the most common dental problems include:

• Toothache. This is pain in or around a tooth, usually caused by decay, injury, or infection. A toothache can be anything from mild sensitivity to heat and cold all the way to severe pain that throbs or radiates to the jaw or ear. The treatment for a toothache varies depending on the cause of the pain.
• Cavities. These involve a hole where the enamel of a tooth has decayed because of acids and sugars. Cavities often start small with little or no pain but grow larger and create sensitivity and pain. Treatment generally means removing the decay from the tooth and filling the hole with a special material that prevents the decay from spreading and restores function.
• Infections. These are caused by bacteria or viruses entering the tooth or soft tissue in the mouth. An infection can be chronic, like gingivitis, or more short-term, like an abscess. Symptoms of infections can include pain, swelling of tissue, or bad breath even after brushing. Untreated infections may spread and can lead to long-term bone or tissue damage. Treatment may include antibiotics and procedures to treat the underlying cause of the infection.
• Chipped, fractured, or broken teeth. Symptoms depend on how many underlying layers of the tooth are exposed by the damage. Sometimes, there are no symptoms besides the physical damage, but damaged teeth often cause pain, swelling, infection, or cuts to cheeks, tongue, or gums. A damaged tooth may need to be filled, crowned, bonded, or extracted, depending on the severity, location, and cause of the damage.
• Lost or damaged teeth, fillings, crowns, dentures, or other dental work. These involve teeth or dental work that has been damaged, worn down, or dislodged due to wear or injury. Missing or damaged teeth or dental work can reduce the ability to eat or talk, as well as leave teeth and gums at higher risk of further injury and infection. Treatment includes replacing or repairing the lost or damaged item to restore function and avoid further complications.

Home Treatment for Dental Problems

If your symptoms are not life-threatening, you can try treating yourself at home. For pain, take over-the-counter medicine like Advil or Tylenol. Always follow the instructions on the label. If you are bleeding, press sterile gauze against the area with a firm but gentle pressure. Bleeding normally resolves within 15-30 minutes. Swelling and the discomfort it causes may improve from a warm salt water rinse or cold compress, whichever feels better.

You can continue to gently brush your teeth and floss as long as you avoid contact with the affected area. However, there are some things you should avoid, including:

• Hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and drinks or those that cause pain. For example, sometimes raw fruits and vegetables or other harder foods can be difficult to chew with pain or a broken tooth.
• Smoking, vaping, and chewing tobacco. Tobacco products can leave behind pieces of tobacco or paper that may aggravate inflamed tissue, carry harmful bacteria, or get stuck in cuts or cavities. In addition, the heat and chemicals from cigars, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vape pens can increase inflammation and pain.

Same-Day Appointments With a Las Vegas Weekend Dentist

You can often schedule a same-day appointment for assessment by a weekend dentist, and in many cases, you can also receive treatment at the same time. Depending on the necessary treatment, some cases may need a second appointment. For example, if there is an abscessed tooth that needs a filling, you may need to take antibiotics before it is safe to fill the cavity.

Once you arrive at Emergency Dental of Las Vegas, the process is a lot like a visit to your regular dentist's office. Our experienced staff can get you checked in and assess the cause of your problems. Our office has access to the same tools and medicine used for most dental procedures, and you may receive an x-ray or other imaging. Then, the dentist creates a treatment plan, which may include one or more of the following procedures.

• Filling a cavity. The dentist removes the decayed parts of the tooth, cleans and disinfects the rest, fills the hole with a durable material, and shapes the hardened filling to be unobtrusive and aesthetically pleasing. There are different kinds of materials used, and which one the dentist uses can depend on the size and location of the cavity.
• Tooth abscess. Your dentist examines the infected area to determine how extensive the infection is. Then, they may drain the abscess and clear away the pus. If the infection has spread, a root canal may be needed. You may receive a prescription for antibiotics, and in some cases, you may need to come back for the filling or other treatment.
• Root canal. When decay or infection has spread to the root of the tooth, more intensive treatment is needed to remove the damaged tissue. In a root canal, the dentist leaves the tooth in place but cleans out the pulp and decayed parts of the tooth. The remaining part of the tooth is disinfected and sealed to prevent further infection or decay, and then a crown is often placed to protect the rest of the tooth.
• Extraction. In extraction, the dentist completely removes the tooth, usually due to severe damage or decay, when a root canal is not a good option. A bridge or spacer may be required to prevent shifting or damage to nearby teeth and make chewing easier. You may also have stitches at the site of the extraction, which can require additional care.
• Dental work repair or replacement. Dental restorations like fillings, bridges, and crowns and dental appliances like dentures, spacers, and retainers wear down over time and can lose their fit or become damaged. This may leave sharp edges that risk injury to the mouth or teeth, cause pain and swelling, and increase the chance of infection. Damaged or lost dental work often needs immediate treatment to avoid such complications.
• Remove stuck items. Small pieces of food can get stuck in the gums or between teeth. In addition, chewing on non-food items like pencils can cause plastic to become lodged in tight spaces in the mouth. Often, this can be removed with a toothbrush, floss, mouthwash, or toothpick, but when that does not work or the item causes pain, swelling, or infection, you may need a dentist to remove the item and treat any resulting symptoms.

Payment Options

At Emergency Dental of Las Vegas, we know that unplanned expenses can be stressful, and we offer many options to make sure you can get the emergency dental care you need. We accept most insurance plans, as well as multiple payment options such as cash, debit card, credit card, Care Credit, and others.

In addition, the Emergency Discount Dental Care Plan provides a 20%-60% discount on emergency dental services and can be used right away when you sign up. Financing is also available through EDS-Finance. No minimum credit score is required to apply, and it covers up to $50,000 in emergency dental care.

Weekend Emergency Dentist in Las Vegas

Finding a dentist open on Saturday and Sunday is simple. The emergency patient support team at Emergency Dental of Las Vegas is available 24/7 to help you schedule an appointment with a dentist who is open on weekends, verify insurance, and help with discounts and financing options. To get started, call 1-844-885-1538 to speak with a representative or search our emergency dental care provider network.