Emergency Dentist – Honolulu, HI

We’re Here When You Need Us

Man holding his cheek in pain before emergency dentistry in Honolulu

At Dentaworks Hawaii, our team is equipped to provide immediate care to those experiencing dental emergencies. No matter the problem, we want to get you out of pain quickly and restore your smile to its natural beauty. From chipped and broken teeth to lost dental crowns, knocked-out teeth, and broken dentures, we’re here when you need us, so don’t be afraid to call our office to schedule an appointment with our emergency dentists in Honolulu.

Why Choose Dentaworks Hawaii for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Calming and Compassionate Dental Team
  • Progressive Technology for Greater Comfort & Accuracy
  • High-Quality Restorations That Look Natural

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Honolulu emergency dentist giving a patient a dental exam
  • Call to schedule an appointment: The first step you need to take is to call our dental office to alert us of your situation. We’ll work to schedule an appointment as well as offer ways to minimize any pain you might be experiencing.
  • Undergo thorough examination: Our team will take diagnostic images as well as perform a thorough visual exam to determine the underlying root of the problem.
  • Review our findings: After compiling our findings, we will create a personalized treatment plan designed to get your smile back on track.
  • Deliver timely care: Our team wants to help you out of pain, so we will work quickly to help you find relief while also repairing and rebuilding your smile.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Unsure if what you’re experiencing is a dental emergency? Always feel free to call our office and let us know; however, you can also review the list below to find out what we treat and how we plan to address it.

Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency?

Your teeth, like the rest of your body, often use pain to tell you something is wrong. If you have a tooth that hurts, don’t try to ignore it. It may be a sign of decay reaching deep into the tooth. Instead of suffering needlessly, you should contact our team immediately for the next available appointment. We can diagnose the source of your pain and provide much-needed relief.

How You Should Handle a Toothache

After making the call to our office, you may take over-the-counter pain medication to control your discomfort. A cold compress can also help numb the area as well as keep swelling to a minimum. If possible, try flossing around the hurting tooth to make sure nothing is stuck between it and the surrounding teeth. Rinse with warm saltwater to gently clean your mouth. If you must eat, avoid having hot, cold, or sugary substances, and don’t use that area to bite or chew.

How We Treat Toothaches

Our first order of business is to get you out of pain with a local anesthetic. If your toothache stems from a deep cavity, we will need to remove the decayed structure, which may include the pulp or nerve center of the tooth. This procedure is called root canal treatment. After that, we will restore the tooth with a filling or dental crown, depending on how much damage the tooth has sustained.

Learn More about Root Canal Treatment

Learn More about Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More about Dental Crowns

Chipped Teeth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?

A chipped tooth, although usually just a cosmetic problem, can stand out in the wrong way in your smile, which means you can address it as a dental emergency. Plus, the tooth could be sharp or be unable to function because of the damage. As a result, give us a call right away in this situation.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth

If you can, try to find all the pieces of your tooth and bring them to us. In the meantime, cover the tooth with some sugar-free gum or dental wax, which is available at most drugstores in the oral care section. This covering will protect your other teeth and soft tissues from any sharp edges or points.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth 

In many cases, a chipped tooth can be corrected with a veneer or filled in through direct bonding. In more severe situations, a dental crown may be necessary to fully restore the tooth.

Learn More about Veneers

Learn More about Dental Crowns

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Cracking a tooth weakens its structure, which means it could fracture even more. Plus, cracks can allow oral bacteria to access inner layers of the tooth. As a result, if you break a tooth, you should have us check the damage right away, even if it doesn’t necessarily hurt.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth

You can keep the tooth clean by rinsing warm saltwater. If necessary, take pain medicine from the drugstore to stay comfortable. Do not eat with that area of your mouth if you must have meals. We recommend having only soft foods to avoid the risk of further damaging the tooth.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth 

Treatment will depend on the extent of the crack. For a fracture that is purely cosmetic, we can cover this flaw with a veneer or direct bonding. In other cases, a dental crown can hold the tooth together and protect it from additional damage. Be aware that if the crack reaches below the gumline, the tooth will likely need to be extracted and replaced with either a dental implant or bridge.

Learn More about Veneers

Learn More about Dental Crowns

Learn More about Tooth Extraction

Learn More about Dental Implants

Very Sensitive Teeth  

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency?

Not always. For example, if you’ve always struggled with dental sensitivity – even though your teeth and gums are healthy – then scheduling a same-day visit likely isn’t necessary. If, on the other hand, the sensation is new or is present in tandem with other abnormal symptoms, you should contact us ASAP to explain your symptoms, including when they started.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth

Although you can’t treat the root of the problem at home, you can alleviate your symptoms in the short-term. That starts with avoiding acidic, sugary, spicy, hot, and cold foods and extends to drinking lukewarm water. If necessary, you can take an OTC pain reliever as well (following the directions on the label).

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth

First, we need to take X-rays and visually examine your teeth and gums. Only then can we accurately pinpoint what’s causing your dental sensitivity and, in turn, the best way to move forward. For example, if your tooth is severely decayed, then we may need to intervene with root canal treatment.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Knocked-Out Tooth  

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency?

If you’ve knocked out one or more of your teeth and you reside in Honolulu, then contacting our dental office should be a top priority. In fact, even if your tooth is slightly knocked out of position you need to get in touch ASAP so we have the highest chances of saving your tooth!

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth

First, do your best to find your tooth. When/if you do, it might be a bit dirty, so rinse it off carefully with clean water. Then, you have two options. The first is placing the tooth back in its socket. The second is submerging it in a clean container filled with milk. Although different, these both will help preserve the root surface cells.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth

First and foremost, we will determine if saving your tooth is possible. If it’s not, like in cases where the tooth was badly damaged amid the dental emergency, we will need to move onto the next best option: replacing your tooth with a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Lost Filling or Crown  

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency?

When a restoration comes loose, you might not feel any pain at all. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t warrant an immediate visit to our Honolulu dental office! We recommend coming in immediately so we can restore the look, health, and function of your tooth before it’s damaged further.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown

After calling us to schedule an appointment, rinse your mouth thoroughly with clean, room-temperature water (this will help prevent bacteria, plaque, and the like from collecting on your tooth). Additionally, stick to soft foods and don’t chew on that side of your mouth. If you have your restoration, then do your best to keep it in good condition.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns

Usually, a lost filling is always handled simply by replacing it with a new one. With dental crowns, on the other hand, there are two options. If you have your restoration and it’s in good condition, we may be able to re-cement it back in place. Otherwise, we will start the process of having it replaced with a new one.

Broken Denture

Loose Permanent Tooth

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Jaw Pain

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Dental team member showing a tablet to a patient

Your dental emergency is unique. Even if you and another person suffer from chipped teeth, there is a good chance that both of you will not pay the same price. Various factors must be considered, which is why an initial appointment is important. Once we have all the information, we can work with you to identify ways to help you save so that your restorative care doesn’t require you to pay high out-of-pocket costs.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Man brushing his teeth next to his young daughter

If you’re looking for ways to reduce your chances of visiting the emergency dentist’s office, here are a few helpful tips to consider:

  • Eat healthy foods and limit your sugar and starch intake
  • Maintain good oral hygiene
  • Keep your six-month dental checkups and cleanings
  • Wear a mouthguard while playing sports or if you suffer from teeth grinding
  • Give up bad habits like smoking and/or biting your fingernails

Dental Emergency FAQs

Can I pop a dental abscess on my own?

Remember, dental abscesses are often due to a serious infection. As a result, attempting to pop it (or actually popping it) can lead to several consequences, including bacteria spreading to your neck and throat. The best thing to do if you notice a pimple-like bump or blister on your gums is to call our Honolulu dental team ASAP.

Will my toothache go away on its own?

It is possible for the pain to subside with time. However, this isn’t the good news you may initially think it is. This change in symptoms is usually the result of the infection “killing” the tooth, making it impossible to register pain. At this point, the infection can spread to your surrounding teeth and gums, wreaking havoc on the look, health, and function of your smile. That’s why the best thing to do is schedule an exam with our emergency dentist when the symptoms first arise.

Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?

Since emergency rooms don’t typically have dentists on-staff, you should head there for toothaches, dental sensitivity, and similar dental injuries. Of course, it’s a different story if you’re experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms. If you’re having trouble breathing, your face is extremely swollen, you can’t seem to swallow, or your jaw is fractured, then you should absolutely go to the hospital or call 911 right away.

What does throbbing tooth pain mean?

Throbbing tooth pain could be the result of everything from a small crack to a significant infection. In other words, throbbing tooth pain warrants an immediate call to our Honolulu dental office. Until your appointment, do what you can to alleviate your discomfort, like sticking to lukewarm water, avoiding crunchy foods, and taking OTC pain medication as directed.

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

Even if your chipped tooth doesn’t hurt, we recommend giving us a call to explain what happened and schedule an appointment before the end of the week. We also recommend keeping a close eye on your symptoms and avoiding anything that could cause it to break further, like eating crunchy foods.

Can superglue be used to repair broken dentures?

Although superglue is an effective adhesive, it contains toxins that are not safe to ingest. So, you definitely shouldn’t use it (or any other household products) to try and repair your restoration. Instead, call us ASAP so we can repair or replace it.

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