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Emergency Dentist— Metairie, LA

Easing the Aches in Your Damaged Smile

Woman wearing sweater grasping cheek in pain

Even at their “best,” dental injuries are pretty annoying. Their symptoms will throw off your schedule, interfere with daily plans, and even lower your quality of life. These urgent issues only worsen once they hurt and damage your smile’s health. Luckily, we at Nelson Dental Care are here to help with emergency dentistry in Metairie. Our team will see you gladly and quickly to get your aching grin back on track. For more details, just keep reading or book a same-day visit now!

Why Choose Nelson Dental Care for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
  • Sedation Dentistry That Keeps You Calm
  • In-network with Many PPO Dental Plans

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Extremely distraught woman clenching cheek

While a dental emergency can seem scary, you shouldn’t worry much. We’ll walk you through what’ll happen at your upcoming treatment. To that end, here are four things you should expect:

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

If you think you have a dental emergency, please contact us right away. We’ll try to see you as soon as possible and get you the care you need. While you wait, you can also take steps to manage the problem on your own; doing so will prepare you for your visit. All you need to do is click the relevant icon(s) below and use the related tips.

Tooth Extraction

Woman in pain with ice pack on face

Our number one goal is to always preserve your natural teeth, but sometimes, it may be necessary to remove one. This could be the case if:

In any case, Dr. Nelson will use a gentle touch and a generous amount of local anesthesia to make sure that you are completely comfortable during your extraction procedure.

Root Canal Treatment

Animation depicting inside of tooth

A root canal is typically used to treat a tooth that has damage or an infection deep within its innermost chamber where the sensitive nerve resides. Despite what you may have heard in the past, it isn’t a painful procedure. Thanks to modern dental techniques, most of our patients actually say it feels very similar to getting a small filling. In truth, a root canal is actually one of the best tools we have to relieve severe dental pain and save teeth that would otherwise need to be removed. If you’re suffering from a severe toothache, it’s often the best way to treat it!

Learn More About Root Canal Treatment

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies 

A dentist holding a model tooth and a few hundred-dollar bills

The cost of dental emergencies tends to vary, with some patients paying more than others. Your final expense will depend on your issue, so you should consult Dr. Nelson for an estimate. Even so, you can trust us to make your care as affordable as possible. We’ll gladly maximize your insurance benefits and walk you through your treatment’s pricing factors. To keep your treatment within budget, we’ll even lay out our practice’s helpful payment options.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

A woman with a toothy smile and a dentist in the background

Not every dental emergency is avoidable, but you can reduce your risk of having one.  Simply use the following tips:

Dental Emergency FAQs

Will my toothache go away on its own?

Toothaches rarely go away on their own because your teeth can’t heal themselves like the rest of your body. Many times, this pain is a signal of an underlying issue like a cavity, infection, or gum disease. Ignoring a toothache allows it to get worse, creating more severe issues that require more thorough or invasive treatments to fix.

At Nelson Dental Care, we recommend scheduling an appointment as soon as possible if you're experiencing tooth pain. Treating a problem tooth early is the best way to help you find relief without complications.

My chipped tooth doesn’t hurt. Do I still need to visit?

Even if your chipped tooth doesn’t hurt, it’s still important to come see Dr. Nelson. Even a small chip in your tooth can leave the enamel weakened, making it more vulnerable to damage and decay. Not only that, but the sharp edges could irritate or cut your tongue, cheeks, or gums.

Our team can assess the damage and recommend the right treatment to revive your smile. Whether it’s smoothing the edges, dental bonding, or another restoration, we can help preserve your tooth’s health and structure.

Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?

In most cases, it's best to visit us first for dental emergencies, as our office is equipped to handle tooth-related issues more effectively than a general emergency room. However, if you’ve experienced trauma to your face, severe bleeding, or have symptoms of a jaw fracture, visiting the ER should come. Once you’re patched up, we can begin the process of rebuilding your smile one treatment at a time.

What should I keep in my emergency dentistry kit?

Having an emergency dentistry kit can help you manage a dental issue until you can see Dr. Nelson. We recommend including the following items:

  • Gauze for bleeding control
  • Cotton balls
  • Sterile gloves
  • A small container with a lid to transport knocked-out teeth
  • Pain relievers (non-aspirin) and a topical anesthetic like Orajel
  • Dental wax for covering sharp edges from broken teeth or braces
  • Temporary dental cement for lost fillings or crowns
  • A cold compress for reducing swelling
  • Floss for removing debris from your teeth
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