Dental problems range from minor annoyances to time-sensitive emergencies that require immediate professional attention. If you are experiencing sudden, severe pain, uncontrollable bleeding, a tooth that has been completely dislodged, or swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, these situations should be treated as urgent. Other conditions — such as a large fracture that exposes the tooth’s inner tissues or a rapidly spreading infection — also need prompt evaluation to prevent permanent damage.
Common emergency scenarios include throbbing toothaches that wake you at night, teeth knocked out by trauma, broken restorations that leave sharp edges, and swollen soft tissues that suggest an abscess or spreading infection. Even when symptoms seem moderate, timely care can mean the difference between saving a natural tooth and needing removal. Early assessment limits complications and improves the options for effective repair.
Our Kihei team understands how unsettling dental emergencies can be, and we prioritize getting patients the care they need quickly. Dodson Brothers Dentistry treats urgent cases with the same focus on comfort and precision used in routine care, so you receive thoughtful, well-coordinated treatment as soon as possible.
When you arrive for emergency care, the first objective is to determine the severity and immediacy of the problem. A focused history and clinical exam establish whether an issue is life- or health-threatening, whether immediate pain control is needed, and which diagnostic steps — such as digital X-rays or intraoral imaging — will clarify the underlying cause. This triage approach helps ensure that the most serious conditions receive attention first.
Pain control and stabilization are primary goals during an emergency visit. Our team will use appropriate local anesthesia and other comfort measures to reduce pain quickly while we plan definitive care. In many cases, temporary measures are applied to protect the tooth and surrounding tissues until a permanent restoration can be completed.
After initial stabilization, we discuss treatment options in clear, practical terms so you can make an informed decision. Wherever possible, the plan prioritizes preserving natural tooth structure and restoring function. If a referral to a specialist is the safest or most efficient pathway to resolution, we coordinate that handoff to minimize delays.
While professional care is essential, simple first-aid steps at home can reduce pain and improve outcomes. For a tooth that has been completely knocked out, handle the tooth by the crown (not the root), rinse it gently if soiled, and try to reinsert it into the socket if you can do so without forcing it. If reinsertion is not possible, keep the tooth moist by placing it in milk or, if unavailable, saliva; this helps preserve the periodontal ligament cells until you can see a dentist.
For a fractured or chipped tooth, save any broken fragments and rinse the mouth with warm water to remove debris. Apply a cold compress to the cheek to limit swelling and use over-the-counter pain relief if appropriate and not contraindicated. For persistent or severe pain, avoid placing aspirin directly against the gums; it can cause localized tissue irritation.
If you notice signs of infection — increasing swelling, fever, or a foul taste in the mouth — seek urgent care. Do not attempt to lance or drain swellings yourself. These symptoms can indicate a spreading infection that requires professional antibiotics and drainage when indicated, along with definitive dental treatment.
Definitive care depends on the nature and extent of the problem. Small fractures and lost fillings are often resolved with repair or replacement restorations such as new fillings or tooth-colored bonding. When a tooth’s outer structure is compromised but the root remains healthy, a crown can restore form and function; temporary restorations may be used to protect the tooth until a final crown is fabricated.
If the dental pulp (the nerve and blood supply inside the tooth) is inflamed or infected, root canal treatment is a common and effective option to eliminate infection while preserving the tooth. In contrast, when a tooth is too damaged to be saved or poses a risk to adjacent structures, extraction may be the safest course. Modern extraction techniques focus on minimizing trauma and facilitating predictable healing.
Following extraction or where tooth loss has already occurred, several replacement options exist, including implant-supported restorations, fixed bridges, and removable prostheses. Each choice carries distinct benefits and considerations related to durability, maintenance, and long-term oral health. Our goal in emergency care is to stabilize the situation and lay out a clear path to full rehabilitation when you are ready.
Recovery after an emergency procedure often requires simple but attentive aftercare. Follow postoperative instructions closely — including directions for oral hygiene, activity restrictions, and medication use — to support healing and reduce the risk of complications. Attend scheduled follow-up visits so the team can monitor recovery, remove sutures if present, and plan any necessary restorative steps.
Long-term prevention starts with addressing the factors that contributed to the emergency. Protective measures such as custom-fit mouthguards for sports, occlusal appliances for bruxism, timely treatment of decay and failing restorations, and regular dental checkups all reduce the likelihood of future urgent problems. Education about safe habits and early intervention for warning signs can make a meaningful difference.
Coordination with specialists — for example, oral surgeons or endodontists — may be part of the recovery and prevention strategy. We strive to provide clear recommendations for follow-up care so you understand the timeline, expected outcomes, and how best to protect your oral health going forward.
In summary, timely attention to dental emergencies preserves health, eases pain, and widens the range of treatment options available to you. If you or a family member faces an urgent dental problem, don't hesitate to seek professional help promptly. For more information about emergency dental care or to discuss a recent injury, contact Dodson Brothers Dentistry — our team is prepared to guide you through evaluation, immediate relief, and restorative planning.
Pain is your body's way of signaling that something is not quite right and though there are many reasons for oral pain, one of the most common complaints and reasons for seeking urgent dental care is a toothache. Whether you simply need a dental filling, a crown, or require a root canal procedure to save your tooth, we'll alleviate your discomfort and restore the look and function of the involved tooth.
Dental trauma can result in a defect as minor as a small chip in tooth enamel to a more extensive and painful crack or fracture. With sufficient force, a tooth can even be displaced or completely knocked out of its socket. With prompt emergency care, many injured teeth can be restored and saved.
The last teeth in your mouth to develop, wisdom teeth often do not have enough room to fully erupt or may be positioned in the wrong direction. These issues can affect your dental health as well as overall well-being. Our office provides skilled care to address the complications caused by problematic wisdom teeth.
A broken or lost dental prosthesis or restoration can cause embarrassing gaps in your smile as well as compromise your ability to eat and speak with ease. If you've lost or broken a dental filling, denture, crown, or other dental appliance, you can rely on our office to perform a prompt repair or provide a durable and cosmetically pleasing replacement as quickly as possible.
At the office of Dodson Brothers Dentistry, emergency appointments are always available. Of course, in addition to providing top treatment for dental emergencies, we also welcome patients searching for high quality and affordable care. We offer a complete range of the latest and best cosmetic and dental services for every member of your family.
If you are suffering from a toothache or have sustained a dental injury, it is important to visit the dentist as soon as possible before more serious complications arise. Whether your dental emergency is painful, if it affects the appearance of your smile, or if you suspect that an infection is present, our office will make every effort to see you as promptly as possible for care.
At the office of Dodson Brothers Dentistry, we treat your dental emergency as our top priority. Our caring team will respond to your emergency call right away, making sure you get the gentle, state-of-the-art care you need without delay.
As your trusted emergency dentist in Kihei, we provide the highest quality of care to mitigate the stress, anxiety, and discomfort of dental problems. Our dedicated team will help you start feeling better as soon as we receive your emergency call.
At the office of Dodson Brothers Dentistry, we provide skilled and experienced care to effectively resolve a broad range of dental emergencies, restoring a patient's oral health while protecting their overall wellbeing.
However, even so, specific dental emergencies pose significant threats to one's health. These situations require immediate, emergency room care. Serious and potentially life-threatening dental emergencies include significant oral and facial trauma such as jaw fractures, deep wounds or lacerations to the face and mouth, an abscess or infection that causes widespread facial or submandibular swelling, or affects breathing and swallowing.
At the office of Dodson Brothers Dentistry, we provide prompt, skilled, and experienced care to address dental emergencies. We understand that finances are always a concern and do our best to provide options in care that are both affordable and respect your budget.
Once we've had the opportunity to examine your smile, we can give you a clear picture of any existing dental issues, along with a quote for what the cost of treatment will be. The cost of care all depends upon the extent and complexity of issues affecting the health or appearance of your smile and the types of procedures that are required.
To help alleviate any additional stress or delay, you can count on our staff to work with you to optimize coverage for your dental care and to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses. For patients without insurance, we strive to make things easier as well! We invite you to visit our financial information page or speak to an expert in our business office.
Dental emergencies are often painful and debilitating experiences. For this reason it's important to have an emergency dentist in Kihei, who welcomes patients with urgent dental needs while providing the prompt care required to restore oral health.
Here are just some of the reasons why so many patients choose our office for emergency dental care and to meet their family's dental needs:
We're dedicated to helping patients enjoy good oral health and beautiful smiles. We look forward to helping you keep your smile in tip-top condition. You can rest assured that our highly skilled office team will provide you the highest quality of state-of-the-art dental care and have you smiling again in no time!
To make an appointment or for more information on our office and the many state-of-the-art services we provide, give us a call today.
A dental emergency is any oral condition that requires prompt professional attention to prevent serious harm, prolonged pain, or permanent tooth loss. Common examples include severe, unrelenting pain, uncontrolled bleeding, a tooth that has been completely dislodged, visible swelling that interferes with breathing or swallowing, and rapidly spreading infection. Large fractures that expose the tooth’s inner tissues and wounds from facial trauma also meet the threshold for urgent care.
Timely evaluation increases the likelihood of preserving natural teeth and limits complications from infection or further injury. Emergency triage helps prioritize life- and health-threatening issues while delivering effective pain control and stabilization. Our Kihei team at Dodson Brothers Dentistry focuses on quick, coordinated care to protect oral and overall health when time matters most.
If a permanent tooth has been knocked out, pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the root. Rinse the tooth gently with water if dirty, but do not scrub or remove attached tissue fragments, and attempt to reinsert it into the socket only if you can do so without force. If reinsertion is not possible, keep the tooth moist by storing it in milk, a tooth preservation solution, or saliva until you can reach a dentist.
Time is critical for successful replantation, so seek emergency dental care immediately—ideally within an hour. Bring the tooth and any fragments to the appointment and be ready to describe the mechanism of injury. Rapid professional evaluation improves the chance of saving the tooth and restoring function.
Begin by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water to reduce debris and gently floss around the painful area to remove trapped food particles. Apply a cold compress to the cheek to limit swelling and use approved over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen according to package directions and your medical history. Avoid placing aspirin or other medications directly on the gums because that can irritate soft tissues.
Significant or increasing swelling, fever, or a foul taste in the mouth can indicate an infection that needs urgent treatment. Do not attempt to lance or drain swellings yourself, as this can worsen the condition. Seek prompt dental care so the team can assess for spreading infection and recommend appropriate antibiotics, drainage, or definitive dental therapy.
Save any broken fragments and rinse the area with warm water to clear debris. If sharp edges are present, protect the tongue and cheek with dental wax or sugarless gum and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relief can help until you reach the office, but avoid putting medications directly on the exposed tooth or gum tissue.
At the emergency visit, the dentist will assess whether the pulp is involved and whether temporary protection or immediate restoration is needed. Small chips are often repaired with tooth-colored bonding while larger fractures may require a crown or, if the pulp is compromised, root canal therapy prior to final restoration. Early stabilization helps preserve tooth structure and improves restorative outcomes.
The emergency room is the appropriate choice for life-threatening situations such as severe facial trauma with suspected skull or facial bone injury, uncontrolled bleeding that does not stop with direct pressure, or breathing difficulties from swelling. If an injury involves significant head trauma, loss of consciousness, or symptoms suggesting a medical emergency, call emergency services or go to the nearest ER. Emergency departments can address immediate medical stabilization and coordinate imaging or surgical triage.
For most isolated dental injuries—knocked-out teeth, severe toothaches, or localized infections—contacting a dentist is the preferred path because dental offices provide targeted treatment to preserve teeth and control oral infection. If necessary, dental teams will coordinate with hospitals or specialists for care that requires operating-room resources or advanced medical support. Prioritize safety and seek the closest appropriate medical resource when systemic symptoms or airway compromise are present.
An emergency visit typically begins with a focused history and triage to determine the severity and immediacy of the problem. The clinical exam may include visual inspection, palpation, and digital X-rays or intraoral imaging to identify fractures, infection, or root involvement. Triage ensures that life- or health-threatening issues receive priority while establishing the most effective diagnostic plan.
Pain control and stabilization are immediate goals, using local anesthesia and comfort measures as appropriate to reduce suffering. Temporary protective treatments—such as sedative dressings, splints, or provisional restorations—are commonly placed until definitive care can be scheduled. The dentist will explain recommended options, expected timelines, and any necessary referrals to specialists for complex cases.
The ability to save a badly damaged tooth depends on factors such as the extent of structural damage, whether the dental pulp is involved, the condition of the supporting bone and periodontal ligament, and the time elapsed since injury. Prompt treatment improves the chance of saving teeth that are fractured, luxated, or partially avulsed. Diagnostic imaging and pulp vitality assessment help guide the prognosis.
Treatments to preserve damaged teeth include bonding for minor fractures, crowns for extensive structural loss, root canal therapy when the pulp is inflamed or infected, and splinting for loosened teeth. When a tooth cannot be reliably restored or poses a risk to adjacent structures, extraction may be the safest option followed by planning for replacement. The emergency visit focuses on stabilizing the situation and outlining definitive restorative steps.
Over-the-counter analgesics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can reduce pain and inflammation when taken according to the label and your health considerations. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek to limit swelling and avoid hot compresses when an infection is suspected. Keep the mouth clean by rinsing with warm salt water and avoid chewing on the affected side to reduce irritation.
Avoid placing topical medications or aspirin directly on exposed gums or teeth because localized tissue damage can result. If you have allergies, medical conditions, or take prescription medications, check with a healthcare professional before combining products. Seek urgent dental care if pain is severe, progressive, or accompanied by fever or breathing difficulty.
Dental infections and abscesses are treated by controlling the source of infection and addressing systemic signs when present. Emergency management may include incision and drainage for localized collections, prescription antibiotics to limit spread in cases with systemic involvement, and analgesics to manage pain. Definitive dental treatment—such as root canal therapy or extraction—is typically scheduled promptly to remove the nidus of infection.
Close follow-up is important to ensure resolution and to monitor for complications, especially when infections approach fascial spaces or produce systemic symptoms. In complex or rapidly spreading infections the dental team will coordinate care with medical providers or refer to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Early professional treatment reduces the risk of serious sequelae and speeds recovery.
Prevention focuses on identifying and managing risk factors before they lead to urgent problems. Regular dental checkups, timely repair of failing restorations, fluoride and sealant strategies, and early treatment of decay help prevent sudden failures. For athletes and patients who grind their teeth, custom-fit mouthguards and occlusal appliances protect teeth from traumatic forces and wear.
Safe habits—such as avoiding hard or nonfood objects, wearing protection during contact sports, and seeking prompt care for minor dental concerns—also lower emergency risk. If you have an urgent dental issue or need guidance about protective options, contact Dodson Brothers Dentistry at (808) 214-9488 to schedule an evaluation at our Kihei office.
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