Flexible financing — because your smile shouldn't wait
We work with CareCredit and Sunbit to make treatment affordable. Apply in minutes with no hard credit pull.
We work with CareCredit and Sunbit to make treatment affordable. Apply in minutes with no hard credit pull.
A dental emergency does not wait for a convenient moment. Whether you’ve cracked a tooth biting into something hard, woken up to throbbing jaw pain, or taken an unexpected blow to the mouth, the urgency is real, and waiting it out almost always makes things worse. Pain, swelling, and damaged teeth tend to escalate quickly, and what might start as a manageable situation can become a far more involved and costly one if care is delayed. The good news is that you do not have to navigate an emergency alone.
At White Pine Family Dental, our doctors have been caring for Reno patients for over 30 years, and dental emergencies have been part of the picture from the very beginning. Dr. Kenneth Prince built this practice in part by taking emergency calls around the clock, because he understood early on that pain does not follow office hours. When you call with an urgent dental need, you will hear from our team promptly, receive honest guidance over the phone, and be seen as quickly as possible. We are a family-owned practice with one goal: to make our patients’ lives better.
A dental emergency generally involves any situation where you are experiencing severe pain, visible damage, active bleeding, signs of infection, or risk of tooth loss. According to the American Dental Association, common emergencies include severe toothaches, knocked-out or broken teeth, lost fillings or crowns, abscesses, and injuries to the mouth or gums. If the problem is causing you significant pain, is getting visibly worse, or involves a tooth that might not survive without prompt care, treat it as an emergency and call us.
Adult dental emergencies come in many forms, and each one calls for a different response. The following are among the most common situations our Reno patients come to us with:
Regardless of the specific situation, the guiding principle is the same: call us, describe what is happening, and let us help you determine your next step.
When you call White Pine Family Dental with an emergency, you will not be put on hold and you will not be redirected to a voicemail. Our team prioritizes urgent situations and works to get you in the same day whenever possible. We will walk you through what to do before you arrive to help protect the tooth and manage discomfort, and we will have everything ready when you get here.
Our approach is focused on two things: relieving your pain as quickly as possible and preserving your tooth whenever we can. That might mean a careful exam and X-rays to assess the extent of damage, an emergency filling or temporary crown, root canal treatment to clear infection and save the tooth, or a tooth extraction when preservation is not an option. Our sedation dentistry options are also available for patients who feel anxious or overwhelmed during emergency procedures.
Knowing what to do in the first few minutes can make a meaningful difference in the outcome. Here are practical steps for the most common situations:
For a severe toothache: Rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water. Use dental floss to gently remove any food lodged near the tooth. Apply a cold compress to your cheek to reduce swelling and contact our office right away. Never place aspirin or any painkiller directly against your gum tissue, as this can cause burns.
For a knocked-out tooth: Locate the tooth, handle it by the crown only, and rinse the root gently with water without scrubbing. Try to place it back in the socket and hold it in place, or transport it in cold milk. Every minute counts. Call us immediately.
For a cracked or broken tooth: Rinse with warm water, apply gauze if there is bleeding, and use a cold compress on your face to manage swelling. Save any tooth fragments and bring them with you.
For a suspected abscess: Do not attempt to pop or lance the swelling. Rinse with warm saltwater to soothe the area and call us or go to an emergency room if swelling is severe or spreading to your jaw or neck.
For any dental emergency, the American Dental Association recommends contacting your dentist immediately and avoiding home remedies that can cause further harm.
While not every emergency can be prevented, a number of common ones can. Routine dental exams and check-ups allow us to catch small problems, like hairline cracks or early-stage decay, before they escalate into urgent situations. Wearing a mouthguard during sports or recreational activities significantly reduces the risk of trauma to the teeth and mouth. Avoiding habits like chewing ice, hard candies, or popcorn kernels protects against unexpected fractures. And staying current on restorations, such as aging dental fillings or dental crowns, prevents the kind of sudden failure that turns an ordinary day into an emergency.
The best dental emergency is the one that never happens. Our team is here to help you stay ahead of problems before they become urgent.
What should I do if my tooth is knocked out? Pick up the tooth by the crown, not the root. Rinse it gently with water without scrubbing. If possible, place it back in the socket and hold it there. If not, keep it in cold milk and get to our office as quickly as possible. Teeth reimplanted within an hour have the best chance of survival.
Is a severe toothache a dental emergency? Yes. Intense or persistent tooth pain often signals infection, nerve damage, or decay that has reached the inner pulp. These conditions do not resolve on their own and typically worsen without treatment. Call us as soon as possible.
Can I go to the emergency room for a dental problem? An emergency room can address severe swelling, facial trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, or difficulty breathing. However, hospital ERs are not equipped to perform dental procedures. For any tooth-related emergency, your best first call is to a dentist.
What if my crown or filling falls out? Exposed tooth structure is sensitive and at risk for further damage or infection. Over-the-counter dental cement can temporarily protect the area, but you should schedule care with us promptly rather than leaving the tooth unprotected.
How quickly can I be seen for a dental emergency at White Pine Family Dental? We prioritize emergency patients and do our best to accommodate same-day appointments. When you call, describe your situation clearly and we will find the earliest possible time to see you.
Does dental insurance cover emergency visits? Many dental insurance plans include coverage for emergency evaluations and treatments, though coverage varies by plan. We work with a wide range of insurance carriers, and financing options are available for patients who need them.
When a dental emergency strikes, you deserve fast, compassionate care from a team that takes your situation seriously. At White Pine Family Dental, our doctors bring over 30 years of experience treating Reno patients, and we have been responding to dental emergencies since the earliest days of our practice. Dr. Prince built his career on the belief that patients in pain deserve a real answer and real care, and that philosophy continues to guide everything we do. We are a family-owned, patient-focused practice where you are known by name, not by a chart number.
Whether you are dealing with a knocked-out tooth, an abscess, a broken crown, or pain you cannot explain, we are ready to help. We work with most major insurance plans and offer financial options to make care as accessible as possible. If you or a family member is experiencing a dental emergency, do not wait. Contact us today to be seen as soon as possible.
Swelling of the face can be a sign of serious infection. If your child’s face is swollen, take your child to your dentist or physician.
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Phone: (775) 825-6655
Fax: (775) 825-8691
