Emergency Dentist in Urbandale, IA

What to Do Before You Get to Us

What you do in the first hour can make a real difference. While you wait for your appointment:

• Call us first. Phone 515-224-5999 and describe your symptoms so we can prepare for your visit.
• Control bleeding. Press a clean gauze pad or cloth gently on the area for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Save a knocked-out tooth. Hold it by the crown, not the root. Rinse it briefly with water without scrubbing, and try to place it back in the socket. If that isn’t possible, keep it in a small container of milk and bring it with you. Get to us as soon as you can, ideally within the hour. If it is a child’s baby tooth, don’t try to put it back in.
• Keep broken pieces. Bring any fragments of a chipped or broken tooth in a clean container.
  Reduce swelling. Hold a cold compress against your cheek for 10 minutes at a time.
• Manage the pain. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label. Never put aspirin or any painkiller directly on the gum, because it can burn the tissue.
• Protect the tooth. Avoid chewing on that side, and stay away from very hot, cold or hard foods.

When to Go to the ER Instead

Some situations need hospital care first. Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 if you have:

• Swelling that spreads toward your eye or neck, or makes it hard to breathe or swallow
• Bleeding that won’t stop after 15 minutes of firm pressure
• A suspected broken jaw or a head injury

Once you are stable, we can treat the dental side of the injury.

What Happens at Your Emergency Visit

1. Assessment. We ask about your symptoms, examine the area and take digital X-rays to find the cause.
2. Your options. Your dentist explains what is wrong, what treatment is recommended and what it will cost before anything begins.
3. Treatment. Our first priority is relieving your pain and stopping the problem from getting worse. That may mean treating an infection, repairing the tooth, a root canal or an extraction.
4. Follow-up. Some emergencies need a second visit, for example to place a permanent crown. We will book that before you leave and give you clear aftercare instructions.

Emergency Dental Costs, Insurance and Payment

The cost of emergency care depends on what treatment you need. We will always give you an estimate before we start.

Many dental insurance plans cover emergency visits, and our team can help you check what your plan includes. If you don’t have insurance, you can still be seen. Ask us about financing options or our membership plan.

Getting a problem treated early usually costs less than waiting until it needs more involved treatment.

After Your Treatment

• Take any medication exactly as prescribed.
• Stick to soft foods for a few days and chew on the other side.
• Rinse gently with warm salt water to keep the area clean.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol while the area heals.
• Call us if pain, swelling or bleeding gets worse, or if you develop a fever.

Lowering Your Risk of a Dental Emergency

Not every emergency can be prevented, but a few habits help:

• Keep up with regular dental exams so small problems are found early.
• Wear a mouthguard for contact sports.
• Don’t chew ice, hard candy or pens, or use your teeth to open packaging.
• Get sensitivity or a mild ache checked before it turns into an emergency.

Emergency Dentist Serving Des Moines and West Des Moines

Our office is at 14111 Douglas Pkwy, Suite 103, Urbandale, IA 50323, convenient for patients across Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive and Waukee. If you are dealing with tooth pain or a dental injury, call 515-224-5999 and we will help you get seen as quickly as possible.