Emergency Dental Services in Kingsport, TN
We treat your dental emergency in Kingsport, TN
If you have ever had a dental emergency, you know how dramatically it can impact your life. You also know how upsetting it can be to have a toothache and feel like you can’t get the relief you need—can’t sleep and can’t function during the day.
If you have a dental emergency, the first thing you need is relief, and you need it yesterday! That is why Dr. Hagan in Kingsport tries to make time every day to help our current patients who are in pain or have a dental emergency. However, our office is by appointment only, and we cannot guarantee availability of appointments.
There are all sorts of dental emergencies. Some require immediate attention, either to relieve pain or to save a tooth. Other problems need attention as soon as possible but aren’t as severe. If you aren’t sure what type of emergency you have, we encourage you to contact our dental team as soon as possible. We will always make the best determination for you.
If you would like to find about dental emergencies, continue reading or contact our dental office.
It is always our goal to ease your pain and restore your smile's health. We never want you to suffer through a dental emergency alone.
- Dental Emergencies in Need of Immediate Attention
- Dental Emergencies to Treat as Soon as Possible
- What Is Root Canal Therapy?
- When a Broken Restoration Is a Dental Emergency?
- We Are Here for You
Dental Emergencies in Need of Immediate Attention
Note: If you have a severe injury that affects your face or jaw or has caused you to lose consciousness, please go to an emergency room or call 911.
You or your child get a tooth knocked out while playing sports
Time is of the essence when a tooth is knocked out because if we see you quickly enough, we have a good chance of saving the tooth. We recommend handling the tooth carefully and avoiding disturbing any connective tissue. Keep the tooth moist by placing it in a cup of milk, warm water, or even saliva.
You have such a severe toothache you can’t function
Severe tooth pain is a sign that something is very wrong. In some cases, severe tooth pain can indicate a root canal infection. Whatever the cause of the pain, we need to see you as soon as possible to provide relief and save the tooth.
There are always exceptions, however. So, we recommend you contact our dental office if you notice oral health changes or an injury to the soft tissues around your gums. A member of our team will advise you.
You have face or jaw swelling
Face or jaw swelling, whether it is accompanied by pain or not, is a dental emergency. This can indicate severe decay or an infection, and infections can spread or compromise the integrity of your tooth
Dental Emergencies to Treat as Soon as Possible
You lose a crown or filling
This is a problem that usually isn’t associated with a lot of pain, but the sooner we see you, the better chance we have of saving the existing crown. We can’t replace a lost filling, but we can create a new restoration, so you don’t do further damage to the tooth.
You have mild discomfort in a tooth
Any kind of pain is a problem and needs to be taken care of to avoid making the problem worse. However, you may not need to drop everything to come to see us. Call us, and we’ll listen to your concerns and then tell you what you can do until we arrange an appointment.
Please note that these are just general examples, and we certainly don’t want you to spend a lot of time figuring out what type of emergency you have. We know that any emergency is upsetting, so please call us right away so we can help. If you need immediate attention, we will see you the same day. Otherwise, we can give you instructions on how to handle the situation until we can see you.
What Is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is the best way to treat a root infection, meaning the root and pulp of your tooth needs treatment.
A root infection can be extremely painful, especially left untreated. Your dentist in Kingsport, gently removes the infected root and surrounding pulp and closes your tooth with a healing agent and a temporary filling. You come in for a follow-up visit to seal this tooth with a permanent filling or a dental crown—the latter if your tooth sustained damage from the infection.
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that goes over a treated tooth to absorb bite impact and help prevent breakage.
The best defense against root infection is visiting your dentist and hygienist regularly. You should also brush and floss at least twice per day at home.
At Hagan Dentistry, we work hard to prevent—and help you prevent—dental health issues and dental emergencies.
When a Broken Restoration Is a Dental Emergency
At Hagan Dentistry, we understand that it can be challenging to know what to do if you have lost or broken a filling or crown on your tooth. Often people are tempted to ignore lost fillings if they aren’t having any pain or sensitivity associated with it.
However, we recommend that you go to visit the dentist any time you have a broken or lost filling. A filling that comes loose or breaks can mean that there is an underlying problem with the tooth, such as new decay. Furthermore, a tooth that has a missing filling or crown is much more likely to break or decay than a tooth with an intact and well-functioning filling. Also, leaving a tooth with a lost or broken filling can lead to that tooth or other teeth shifting over time, which can affect your appearance and your bite.
So even if your broken or missing filling is not hurting you now, it doesn’t mean that it won’t do so in the future. It usually pays off to address a problem with a filling quickly as this can save you money and save you from pain in the future.
You definitely want to see your Kingsport dentist as soon as possible if you have any severe pain or blood associated with a broken or missing filling or crown.
We Are Here for You
Hagan Dentistry understands that dental emergencies don’t often happen at convenient times. We leave time available every day for patients that may have unexpected dental emergencies – whether it be a broken filling or anything else. These appointment times are available for both our current patients and for patients that have never been to our practice before. Our caring team will find a time that works for you so that we can address your dental concerns. But our office is by appointment only, and we cannot guarantee availability.
We Treat Dental Emergencies in Kingsport
If your emergency occurs during regular business hours, please call our office to talk to one of our knowledgeable team members. If it is after hours, current patients of the practice can call the main number at (423) 239-8021, leave a voicemail, and Dr. Hagan will call you back as quickly as possible.
At Hagan Dentistry, we never want you to struggle alone through a dental emergency, and we are here for your entire family!