Emergency Dentist - Bonita Springs, FL

Dr. Gilbert’s Credentials & Qualifications

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Bonita Springs Florida dentist Rich Gilber D M D

Pelican Landing is the Best Choice for Dental Emergencies

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Advanced CT Scans
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Broke a temporary bridge… Dr. Gilbert laid my options out clearly and was patient while I decided what to do. I chose for his group…

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What to Do in a Dental Emergency

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Learn More We have designed an operatory exclusively for dental emergencies
  • Call Our Dental Emergency Hotline
  • Get a Same-Day Appointment
  • Receive a Thorough Evaluation
  • Relieve the Pain
  • Agree on a Treatment Plan
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What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Are you experiencing dental pain or concerning symptoms? Even if you’re unsure if your situation qualifies as an emergency, don’t wait to give us a call. One of our highly experienced and caring team members will always be available to contact, even after hours, so you can get the help you need right away. We’ll schedule you as soon as possible and give you personalized first-aid instructions to manage your emergency until you reach our dental office. At your same-day emergency appointment, we’ll perform a quick but thorough examination, complete with all the necessary X-rays and CT scans. Once we’ve determined the extent of the problem and the best way to treat it, we’ll work to get you out of pain as soon as possible. Then, we’ll make a treatment plan with you to completely repair your smile and protect it for the long run.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Please select the icon or symptom that most closely represents your dental emergency. When you click on it, you’ll find useful information about the likely causes, what you should do, and what we will do when you visit us. If you don’t see your issue listed here, don’t hesitate to call us and we’ll be more than happy to help.

Understanding The Cost of Emergency Dentistry

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Learn More Our entire dental team works hard to provide fair fees you can understand
  • Usually Less than $100 Initial Exam
  • Much Lower Cost than Medical ER
  • Insurance Could Cover Some Costs
  • We Provide a Written Estimate
  • Prevention is the Key Savings
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Understanding The Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Wondering how much it will cost to treat your dental emergency? That will depend entirely on the nature of your situation. Some dental emergencies can be fixed with quick, simple, and cost-effective solutions like a filling or antibiotics. However, other cases may require more complex treatments like root canal therapy or tooth extractions, which come with other associated costs like tooth replacements and custom-made crowns. We won’t be able to estimate the overall cost of your dental emergency until we evaluate you and understand the root of the problem. Rest assured that we’ll always review your treatment options and their costs with you before we begin.

Preventing Dental Emergencies

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Learn More Regular check-ups & cleanings are the best way to prevent dental emergencies.
  • Get Biannual Checkups & Cleanings
  • Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits
  • Be Smart About What You Eat & Drink
  • Protect Your Teeth When Playing Sports
  • Use Tools, Not Teeth for Household Chores
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Preventing Dental Emergencies

One of the easiest ways to prevent dental emergencies is to come visit us for a regular checkup and cleaning every six months. Even if your teeth look and feel fine, these biannual appointments give us the best chance of detecting issues like cavities, gum disease, infections, and more long before they can cause a dental emergency. Of course, the main goal of these visits is to prevent oral health issues from developing in the first place!

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Dental Emergency Frequently Asked Questions

Click on any question below to learn the answer.

QWill My Toothache Go Away on Its Own?

Remember, teeth can’t heal themselves. Leaving dental issues like cavities and gum disease untreated will simply allow them to get worse over time. If your toothache suddenly goes away, don’t cancel your appointment! A tooth that suddenly goes numb could indicate that the nerve has been infected or injured. In these cases, even if the tooth is no longer painful, it’s still at risk of falling out or spreading the infection to the nearby teeth! Don’t wait for your toothache to get worse — schedule an appointment with us as soon as you begin to notice any new, unusual, or concerning dental symptoms so we can prevent the issue from getting worse.

QCan An Emergency Room Pull My Tooth?

Extracting a tooth may sound simple, but it actually requires advanced training and education to be done properly. As such, only a licensed dentist can perform a tooth extraction. Since most ERs don’t have a dentist on-staff, at best they will be able to help you manage your pain and prescribe antibiotics. However, you’ll need to come visit us if your tooth needs to be extracted. Hopefully, we will be able to avoid extraction and preserve your natural tooth with a root canal instead, which is much better for your oral health, your smile, and your wallet.

QHow Much Does It Cost to Get Out of Pain?

Generally speaking, it’s much less expensive to treat a dental emergency than a medical one, especially if you visit us before heading straight to your local ER. Exactly how much you can expect to pay to get out of pain will depend entirely on the nature of your emergency. Some require quick and inexpensive treatments like a filling or prescription mouthwash, while more complex treatments and custom-made solutions like root canal therapy or dental crowns will cost more. You’ll also need to take into account your health or dental insurance to see if you have any coverage for the treatments you need. Don’t worry, we always go above and beyond to help our patients minimize their out-of-pocket expenses!

QCan You Go to the ER for a Dental Emergency?

According to research conducted by the American Dental Association, most emergency rooms don’t have on-staff dentists or the right equipment to provide thorough dental treatment. Instead, patients are typically prescribed painkillers or antibiotics. Since these do not address the underlying issue, the study found that about 39% of these patients will return to the ER again later with the same problem or worse. Before you take your dental emergency to an ER, we highly recommend that you give us a call first. We’ll likely be able to save you a tremendous amount of time, money, and headache while providing the dental care you need to get your oral health back on track.
That being said, there are certain situations where you should visit and ER first before coming to us to repair your smile, like:
  • Dislocated or broken jaw
  • Oral bleeding that hasn’t stopped after 10 minutes
  • Swelling in the mouth, neck, or jaw that’s hindering swallowing or breathing

QWhat Should I Include In a Dental Emergency Kit?

Since not every dental emergency can be avoided, it’s best to be prepared with a dental emergency kit that contains helpful items like:
  • A small storage container or clean plastic baggie to store knocked out teeth, teeth pieces, or lost restorations.
  • Sterile gloves, gauze, and cotton balls
  • Travel-sized toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouthwash
  • Floss and interdental brushes
  • Temporary dental cement and dental wax from your local pharmacy
  • A tooth-preservation kit with the ADA Seal of Approval
  • An ice pack or cold compress
  • Over-the-counter pain relivers like Ibuprofen
  • Our contact information so you can reach us right away

Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? While all toothaches or dental pain should be looked at by a dentist in a timely manner, most aren’t an emergency. However, your toothache may be a warning sign of a serious oral health issue that needs immediate attention if you also have:  

  • Severe pain that lasts more than 1-2 days or interrupts your daily life
  • An earache or signs of infection, such as fever or fatigue
  • Swelling gums or pimple-like bump on the gums
  • Darkening or discoloration of the painful tooth
  • Sharp pain when biting down or pain when opening your mouth wide

How you should handle a toothache: Leaving a serious toothache untreated can lead to severe, even life-threatening complications. First, try flossing around the painful tooth. Then, rinse your mouth out several times with warm saltwater to clear away any bacteria and debris. You can apply an ice pack or cold compress for 10-minute intervals and take over-the-counter pain relivers like Ibuprofen to ease swelling and discomfort. Never put aspirin directly onto your teeth or gums.

How we treat toothaches: It’s essential that we examine your tooth to figure out why it hurts and the best way to treat it. Toothaches can be caused by a wide variety of problems, such as a cavity, gum disease, a tooth infection, or injury to the enamel or inside of the tooth. How we’ll treat your toothache will depend entirely on what’s causing it. This could include a filling, a dental crown, antibiotics, periodontal therapy, root canal therapy, or a tooth extraction.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy Learn More About Tooth Extractions Learn More About Periodontal Therapy

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth an emergency? Unless your tooth is badly damaged or causing you intense pain, chipped enamel is not typically considered an urgent emergency. However, you still need to call us and schedule an appointment right away. Even if the chip is small and not bothering you right now, leaving it untreated leaves your tooth vulnerable to serious damage and decay.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: The American Dental Association recommends rinsing your mouth out with warm water right away. This will wash out any pieces of your tooth that you may accidentally swallow or choke on. It will also keep bacteria and plaque away from the compromised part of your tooth. If you experience tooth sensitivity, you can cover the chipped part of your tooth with dental wax or sugarless gum.

How we treat chipped teeth: In most cases, a chipped tooth can easily be restored with a small filling or direct bonding. If the chip is on a very visible tooth, such as a front tooth, and you’re concerned about aesthetics, a porcelain veneer may be a good option.

Learn More About Direct Bonding Learn More About Porcelain Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth an emergency? From an accidental fall, to a sports injury, to biting down on a popcorn kernel, there are plenty of ways you may crack a tooth. Severely cracked or fractured teeth are typically considered an emergency, but small cracks can usually wait to be treated until the next available appointment. A cracked tooth needs to be treated right away to prevent the damage from getting worse and to protect the inner parts of the tooth from infection. Remember, not all cracks in the teeth are visible or easy to spot — if you notice tooth sensitivity or pain when biting down sometime after taking a blow to the face, you may have hidden damage.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Collect pieces of the tooth if possible. Rinse your mouth out with warm water to clean it and keep bacteria away. You can use a cold compress/ice pack to ease swelling or take over-the-counter pain relivers as directed to manage pain. Until you can reach our dental office, avoid chewing on the injured side of you mouth. If needed, you can cover sharp edges of the cracked tooth with sugarless gum or dental wax.

How we treat cracked teeth: If the damage to your tooth is minimal, we may be able to use direct bonding or tooth-colored composite resin to fill in the damage and restore the shape of your tooth. However, for more severe damage, we’ll likely need to place a crown to restore its function and prevent further problems. In the even that the tooth is so broken that it can’t be saved, we may need to perform an extraction.

Learn More About Direct Bonding Learn More About Dental Crowns Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are sensitive teeth an emergency? Teeth become sensitive if the layers underneath the enamel or on the tooth’s roots are exposed. Mild tooth sensitivity doesn’t usually require emergency care and may be caused by issues like a cavity, overuse of teeth whitening products, teeth grinding, or a highly acidic diet. However, sensitive teeth qualify as an emergency if the pain they cause is:

  • Severe or disruptive
  • Long-lasting (lingers for more than 30 seconds)
  • Only impacts one or two teeth

How you should handle sensitive teeth: First, give us a call. Over the phone, we’ll help you determine if you can treat your tooth sensitivity at home with lifestyle changes or if you need to come in for a dental emergency. As you wait for your appointment, drink plenty of lukewarm water to keep your mouth clean, avoid eating spicy, acidic, or sweet foods and drinks, and take over-the-counter pain relievers if we instruct you to do so.

How we treat tooth sensitivity: Since many problems can result in sensitive teeth, we’ll need to determine the root cause before recommending a treatment. Sensitivity caused by weakened or eroded enamel can typically be addressed with simple solutions like desensitizing toothpaste, a fluoride treatment, or a filling. However, if your teeth are sensitive due to issues like broken enamel, a tooth infection, or gum disease, you may need a crown, root canal therapy, or periodontal therapy. 

Learn More About Dental Fillings Learn More About Dental Crowns Learn More About Root Canal Therapy Learn More About Periodontal Therapy

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth an emergency? Yes! Just because a permanent tooth has been knocked out doesn’t mean that it’s gone for good. If you act quickly and correctly, we may be able to replant the tooth back into its socket.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: You need to get to our dental office within 30-60 minutes after knocking out a tooth for the best chances of successful treatment. Only handle a knocked-out tooth by the crown (the top part of the tooth) and avoid touching the roots. It needs to be kept moist to stay viable, but don’t store it in plain water, as this could damage the sensitive tissue of the roots. If you can, carefully insert the tooth back into its socket and hold it there with your tongue. If this isn’t possible, you can hold the tooth between your gums and cheeks or store it in a container of milk or saliva.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: When you reach our dental office, we may be able to save the tooth if it’s still viable and not too damaged. We’ll reinsert it into the socket and secure it to the neighboring teeth to hold it in place as it reintegrates back into the jaw over time. However, if the knocked-out tooth can’t be saved, we will need to discuss replacement options like dental bridges and dental implants with you right away to avoid the problems that come with untreated tooth loss.

Learn More About Dental Bridges Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? Unless you are in a lot of pain, a lost filling or crown does not usually require immediate attention. However, this problem does need to be treated right away to keep the tooth protected from damage and infection, so we will likely need to see you within a few days.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: Even if it doesn’t hurt, your tooth is now vulnerable to infection, so give us a call right away. If you can, find and keep the filling or crown, then bring it to your appointment. To keep your tooth safe until you can reach us, rinse your mouth out with warm saltwater and brush very gently around the area. You should avoid chewing with that tooth, and you can use dental wax or sugarless gum for a temporary means to stop sensitivity. We may instruct you to try and place the crown or filling back in place — just make sure to clean it off first.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: If the filling or crown is still mostly intact, we may be able to recement it into place. However, if it’s too damaged, weak, or you couldn’t find it, we may need to get you a new filling or crown.

Learn More About Dental Fillings Learn More About Dental Crowns

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency? Many times, a broken denture will need to be repaired right away. After all, they play a key role in your day-to-day life! Whether the artificial teeth or the base have been damaged, call us right away.

How to handle a broken denture: Wearing damaged dentures can injure your gums, soft tissues, jaws, and your remaining teeth. Instead, keep your damaged denture in cleaning solution or water and bring it with you to your appointment. Don’t try to repair them yourself with a store-bought denture kit, since this could easily make things worse.

How we treat broken dentures: Treatment for broken dentures will depend on the severity of damage. Sometimes, we can use composite resin to fill in a small chip or crack in the replacement teeth. In other cases, the denture may need to be readjusted to fit properly. However, we may need to fit you for a brand-new denture if yours can’t be fixed. This may be a good opportunity for you to consider switching to implant dentures!

Learn More About Dentures Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a loose permanent tooth a dental emergency? Your tooth may become loose suddenly because of an injury or gradually over time because of an issue like gum disease or teeth grinding. Either way, if a permanent tooth is wiggly, out of place, or partially dislodged, it’s in danger of falling out and needs to be treated as soon as possible, even if it doesn’t hurt!

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: Similar to a knocked-out tooth, you need to act quickly if you have a lose tooth. As soon as you’re able, give us a call. Until you can reach our dental office, you should avoid putting any pressure on the tooth or touching it with your tongue. Drinking lots of water will help keep the area clean and free of bacteria.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: In most cases, we will be able to splint the tooth to the neighboring tooth or teeth to keep it in place as it heals. If gum disease is the cause of your loose tooth, we may be able to restabilize it by clearing out the infection with periodontal therapy. If your tooth has become loose because you grind your teeth in your sleep (a condition called bruxism), we will create a custom nightguard for you to protect your teeth while and relax your jaw. Sometimes, we may also recommend a bite adjustment to take pressure off the tooth as it heals. In the event that we can’t save the tooth, we will discuss tooth replacement options with you, such as a dental bridge or dental implant.

Learn More About Periodontal Therapy Learn More About Dental Bridges Learn More About Dental Implants

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? Cuts in the mouth can bleed a lot and can be quite alarming, but your dentist may be able to help you with this dental emergency.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Clean the area gently with water to wash away debris and bacteria. Apply pressure with a clean washcloth or piece of gauze until the bleeding stops. Apply an ice pack or cold compress to bring down swelling and numb pain.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: If needed, we can stitch the wound closed and help keep the area clean. However, if bleeding hasn’t stopped within 10 minutes, go to your local ER.

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? Jaw pain can easily interfere with your everyday life, and it can eventually lead to serious oral health issues. Many problems can cause jaw pain, including teeth grinding, TMJ disorder, impacted wisdom teeth, and a broken or dislocated jaw. If your jaw pain is significant, don’t hesitate to give us a call so we can help you determine what to do next.

How you should handle jaw pain: How you should handle your jaw pain will depend heavily on your unique situation, so we’ll give you specific instructions for handling it over the phone. Generally, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers according to their directions and apply an ice pack to ease swelling and discomfort. However, if your jaw is broken or dislocated, you should go to your local ER first, and we’ll be happy to fix up your smile after.

How we treat jaw pain: A nightguard for bruxism can help combat the pressure caused by teeth grinding and protect your teeth and jaws. In some cases, jaw pain is the result of prolonged bite issues like overbite or underbite, which can sometimes be corrected with orthodontic treatment. If your wisdom teeth are impacted and causing jaw pain, we’ll work with you to extract them. We also offer TMJ/TMD therapy such as occlusal adjustments to get you out of pain and avoid serious complications. If you need to go to the ER first for a broken or dislocated jaw, we’ll fix damaged or lost teeth once you’ve been discharged.

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism Learn More About Orthodontics Learn More About Wisdom Tooth Extractions Learn More About TMJ/TMD Therapy

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Having something lodged between your teeth can be irritating and annoying. However, it can also lead to gum damage, enamel erosion, and infections if a stuck object isn’t removed. When dealing with something stuck between teeth, never use tweezers, toothpicks, or anything else sharp to dislodge debris, as you could suddenly injure your soft tissues. Instead, try flossing and rinsing your mouth out with water to loosen the object. If you continue to have trouble, give us a call so we can schedule you for an appointment.