Emergency Dentist in Riverview, FL

What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?

If you're in pain, bleeding, or have experienced trauma to your mouth, don't wait. A dental emergency can lead to more serious complications if left untreated.

Common emergencies we treat include:

• Severe or persistent toothache
  
• Cracked, chipped, or broken teeth
  
• Knocked-out (avulsed) tooth
  
• Lost fillings or crowns
  
• Abscesses or infections
  
• Broken dentures or appliances
  
• Gum swelling or bleeding
  
• Trauma to the mouth or jaw
  

When in doubt, call us. Our team can assess your symptoms and guide you on the next steps.

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Until you can be seen, here are some helpful steps to minimize pain or prevent further damage:

• Toothache: Rinse with warm water and take over-the-counter pain relievers.
  
• Knocked-out tooth: Keep the tooth moist in milk or saliva and bring it with you immediately.
  
• Broken tooth: Save any pieces and rinse your mouth with warm water.
  
• Lost filling/crown: Keep the area clean and avoid chewing on that side.
  
• Swelling or abscess: Apply a cold compress and contact us right away.
  

Never delay treatment for pain, swelling, or trauma. Early intervention is key to saving your tooth and avoiding more complex care.

Same-Day Appointments and Urgent Care

We reserve time in our daily schedule for dental emergencies. If you call us early in the day, we'll do everything possible to see you that same day.

Our team will quickly:

• Relieve pain
  
• Evaluate the cause
  
• Begin treatment or provide temporary relief
  
• Recommend follow-up care if needed
  

We're here to help, not to judge. Whether it's been years since your last visit or your emergency is the result of an accident, we're focused on helping you feel better fast.

Emergency Dental Care for Kids

Dental injuries and toothaches are common among children and teens. Our children's dentistry team offers calm, gentle care for pediatric dental emergencies, including chipped teeth, tooth pain, and knocked-out baby teeth.

Insurance and Payment for Emergencies

Our Riverview office is fee-for-service, but we file PPO insurance claims as a courtesy. Many dental emergencies are partially or fully covered by insurance, especially when pain or trauma is involved.

Don't have insurance? We offer financing options to help you get the care you need:

• CareCredit
  
• Cherry
  
• PatientFi
  
• Proceed Finance
  

First-Aid Guide by Emergency Type

Knowing what to do in the first few minutes can protect your smile and improve treatment outcomes. Here is a more detailed guide for common dental emergencies.

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

A knocked-out permanent tooth is one of the most time-sensitive dental emergencies. The tooth has the best chance of being saved if it is put back in place within 30 to 60 minutes.

• Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), not the root.
• Gently rinse the tooth with milk or clean water if it is dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue.
• If possible, place the tooth back into the socket and hold it in place with light finger pressure or a clean cloth.
• If reinsertion is not possible, keep the tooth moist in a container of milk, saliva, or a tooth preservation solution. Do not store the tooth in plain water.
• Call our office immediately and get to us as fast as safely possible.

Cracked or Broken Tooth

A cracked tooth may or may not hurt, but even small cracks can grow deeper over time and expose the sensitive inner layers of the tooth to bacteria.

• Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clean the area.
• Save any broken pieces of the tooth in milk or saliva.
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling.
• Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed and call our office.

Severe Toothache

A persistent, throbbing, or radiating toothache is your body telling you something needs attention. It may indicate deep decay, a fracture, a failing restoration, or an infection.

• Rinse your mouth with warm water and gently floss around the tooth to remove any trapped food.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen if you can tolerate it.
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek if there is swelling.
• Do not place aspirin directly on the gum or tooth (it can burn the tissue).
• Call our office to schedule an evaluation as soon as possible.

Lost Filling or Crown

A lost filling or crown is not usually painful right away, but the exposed tooth is vulnerable to fracture, sensitivity, and further decay if not addressed.

• Keep the crown, if you have it, in a small container to bring to your appointment.
• Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth.
• You can protect the tooth temporarily with dental cement or sugar-free gum (available at most drugstores).
• Call our office to schedule prompt repair or replacement.

Abscess or Facial Swelling

A dental abscess is a bacterial infection that can spread quickly. If you notice swelling in your face, gum, or jaw, or if you have a bad taste in your mouth combined with tooth pain, treat this as urgent.

• Rinse gently with warm salt water several times a day.
• Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
• Do not try to drain the abscess yourself.
• Call our office right away. If swelling reaches your eye, spreads down your neck, or affects your breathing or swallowing, go to the emergency room.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Cuts, tears, or puncture wounds to your gums, lips, cheeks, or tongue can bleed heavily but usually respond well to basic first aid.

• Rinse gently with a mild salt water solution.
• Apply firm pressure with a clean, damp gauze pad or cloth for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
• If bleeding does not stop after 20 minutes of pressure, seek emergency care.

What NOT to Do in a Dental Emergency

Well-intentioned mistakes can make an emergency worse. Avoid these common errors:

• Do not wait for the pain to go away on its own. Dental pain rarely resolves without treatment, and delay usually makes the problem more complex and expensive to fix.
• Do not scrub a knocked-out tooth. Scrubbing damages the ligament fibers that help the tooth reattach.
• Do not store a knocked-out tooth in plain water. Water damages the root cells; milk or saliva keeps them alive.
• Do not place aspirin directly on a tooth or gum. This can cause chemical burns to the soft tissue.
• Do not use household glue or superglue to reattach broken teeth or crowns.
• Do not try to drain an abscess yourself. This can spread the infection.

When to Go to the ER Instead of Our Office

Most dental emergencies are best treated at a dental office. However, some situations require a hospital emergency room:

• Jaw fracture or suspected broken bone
• Uncontrolled bleeding that does not stop with 20 minutes of pressure
• Swelling that affects your ability to breathe or swallow
• Facial swelling that is spreading rapidly or reaching your eye
• Head injury with dental trauma (possible concussion)
• Severe facial trauma from an accident

An emergency room can stabilize you medically, but they typically cannot perform definitive dental treatment. Once stable, follow up with our office as soon as possible so we can complete the repair.

After-Hours Dental Emergencies

Our office is open Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. If you have a dental emergency outside of office hours, here is what to do:

• Call our office at (813) 741-0483. Voice messages are checked and returned as soon as we can respond.
• Use the first-aid steps above to manage pain and protect the tooth or area until you can be seen.
• For a knocked-out permanent tooth, do not wait for office hours. Go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care so a medical provider can help stabilize the area.
• For severe swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, go directly to the emergency room.

What Emergency Dental Care Might Cost

The cost of emergency care depends on what treatment you need. A basic emergency exam and X-ray is typically the least expensive part of your visit. More involved treatment (a filling, extraction, root canal, or crown) adds to the cost.

We will always talk you through what your treatment will cost before we start, and we will help you understand any insurance benefits or financing options that apply. If you cannot afford the full treatment right away, we may be able to provide temporary relief and stage the definitive care over time.

How to Prevent Common Dental Emergencies

Not every emergency is preventable, but many are. Simple habits can significantly reduce your risk:

• Keep up with regular cleanings and exams so small problems are caught early.
• Wear a mouthguard for contact sports, hockey, boxing, or any activity with a risk of impact to the face.
• Wear a nightguard if you grind or clench your teeth.
• Avoid using your teeth as tools (opening bottles, tearing packaging, biting nails).
• Be cautious with hard foods such as ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, and bones.
• Address small cavities, cracks, or loose restorations promptly before they become urgent.

Contact Our Emergency Dentist in Riverview Now

Don't suffer through pain or risk long-term damage. If you need emergency dental care, call EverySmile Dental Riverview right away. We'll get you in as quickly as possible and provide immediate relief.

Call: (813) 741-0483

Email: riverview@everysmiledental.com

Request Appointment: Contact Us

Office Location: 10825 Boyette Rd, STE A, Riverview, FL 33569