Dental emergencies are not always dramatic, but they do share a common thread: they require prompt assessment to prevent lasting harm. Pain that wakes you from sleep, sudden swelling around the face or jaw, a tooth that has been knocked out or severely chipped, and bleeding that won’t stop are all signs that you should seek urgent dental care. Early action often makes the difference between saving a natural tooth and needing more extensive treatment later.
Being able to distinguish between a true emergency and an issue that can wait a day or two helps reduce anxiety and ensures patients receive the right level of care. If a problem is causing severe pain, visible trauma, or noticeable changes in the surrounding soft tissues, treat it as urgent. Even if the cause isn’t immediately obvious, rapid evaluation protects both comfort and long-term oral health.
Our team understands how unsettling an unexpected dental problem can be, and we emphasize clear guidance so patients know when to come in. For residents of Lancaster and the surrounding communities, timely access to care helps limit infection risk and preserves treatment options that might otherwise be lost to delay.
When a patient calls with an urgent concern, we use a structured approach to determine the best immediate course of action. First, we assess symptoms by phone to identify signs of infection, uncontrolled bleeding, severe pain, or trauma that risks further harm. This initial screening helps our team decide whether the patient should be seen immediately, scheduled for the next available appointment, or given home-care instructions until a thorough exam is possible.
Once you arrive at our office, the clinical team conducts a focused evaluation to identify the source of the problem and any factors that could complicate treatment—such as medical conditions or medication interactions. Our goal during triage is to stabilize acute symptoms, manage pain and infection risk, and develop a clear plan for definitive care. We communicate each step so patients understand priorities and what to expect next.
Because emergencies vary in urgency and complexity, we maintain flexible scheduling blocks to accommodate patients in need. This way, people with the most acute needs can receive timely attention, while others get appointments scheduled in an appropriate timeframe without unnecessary delay.
Several dental problems frequently prompt emergency visits. Severe toothaches often stem from pulpal inflammation or deep decay and can be accompanied by sensitivity to hot or cold, throbbing pain, or swelling. Trauma—such as a broken or avulsed (knocked-out) tooth—requires different immediate actions to maximize the chance of saving the tooth. Soft tissue injuries, sudden swelling, and rapidly progressing infections also require prompt evaluation to prevent spread and complications.
Basic first-aid measures can reduce pain and protect tissues until professional care is available. Rinsing with warm salt water can soothe irritated gums and help clear debris from wounds. For a knocked-out permanent tooth, keeping it moist and avoiding cleaning the root surface aggressively improves the likelihood of successful re-implantation; placing the tooth back into its socket when possible or storing it in milk or saliva are recommended interim steps. Cold compresses applied to the face can limit swelling after blunt trauma.
If bleeding won’t stop after gentle pressure, or if swelling rapidly worsens and impairs breathing or swallowing, these are signs of a serious infection or vascular injury that require immediate attention. In such cases do not delay—seek urgent care right away. For less severe concerns, acting within 24 hours is often sufficient to manage symptoms and preserve treatment options.
We encourage patients to call with questions rather than guessing about the seriousness of a condition. Clear, timely communication helps us direct appropriate care and reduces unnecessary emergency visits while ensuring those who need immediate help receive it.
Emergency treatment has two immediate aims: relieve discomfort and protect oral structures from further damage. Pain control may begin with local anesthetic during an in-office exam, allowing a careful assessment and targeted treatment. In cases of infection, a clinician may prescribe antibiotics and provide instructions for monitoring symptoms. Controlling infection promptly minimizes risks to systemic health and can simplify subsequent restorative work.
Treatment for damaged teeth depends on the severity of the injury. Minor chips or surface fractures can often be repaired with dental bonding or composites that restore form and function quickly. Larger breaks may require a crown to protect the remaining tooth structure, while internal damage to the dental pulp can necessitate root canal therapy to save the natural tooth. When a tooth cannot be preserved, removal may be the safest option followed by a restorative plan to replace the missing tooth.
We use up-to-date diagnostic tools and conservative treatment philosophies to tailor care to each patient’s needs. The immediate procedure may be interim—designed to stabilize the situation—followed by a comprehensive plan to restore long-term health and aesthetics. Throughout, we prioritize patient comfort and clear explanations so people feel informed and involved in decisions about their care.
After emergency treatment, the next phase is recovery and long-term restoration. Healing times vary depending on the treatment provided; patients who receive extractions, root canal therapy, or restorative work will get specific aftercare instructions to support recovery and reduce complications. Follow-up appointments allow us to monitor healing, complete definitive restorations, and address any lingering concerns.
When a tooth is lost or must be removed, several reliable replacement options exist. Modern implant therapy restores function and preserves surrounding bone, while fixed bridges and removable prostheses provide alternative solutions depending on individual circumstances. Our approach is to discuss the pros and cons of each option and collaboratively determine the best path forward for function, comfort, and appearance.
Prevention is an important part of reducing future emergencies. Regular dental checkups, protective measures such as mouthguards for athletes, and prompt attention to pain or sensitivity can catch problems early. We work with patients to identify risk factors—like bruxism or untreated decay—and put practical strategies in place to minimize the likelihood of urgent problems down the road.
Facing a dental emergency is stressful, but swift, informed action preserves options and reduces risk. Our team at Po Dentistry combines prompt triage, compassionate care, and modern treatment methods to address urgent oral health needs efficiently and safely. Whether you experience sudden pain, facial swelling, or trauma to a tooth, seeking evaluation quickly improves outcomes.
If you or a family member are experiencing an urgent dental concern and would like more information about what to expect or when to seek care, please contact us for guidance. We’re here to help and will work with you to determine the most appropriate next steps for your situation.
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 Po 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 Po 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 Lancaster, 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 Po 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 Po 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 Lancaster, 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 problem that causes severe pain, uncontrolled bleeding, swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, or sudden loss or loosening of a tooth. Common examples include traumatic injury to the teeth or jaws, a rapidly spreading infection, a knocked-out tooth, and acute pain that interferes with sleep or daily activities. Not every urgent dental problem requires an emergency-room visit, but timely professional evaluation is important to prevent lasting damage.
If you are unsure whether a situation is an emergency, assess symptoms such as heavy bleeding, difficulty breathing, high fever, or numbness spreading beyond the mouth; these signs warrant immediate medical attention. For severe but localized dental pain or trauma, contact a dental office right away so you can be triaged and treated as soon as possible. Prompt care improves the chance of saving a tooth and reduces the risk of complications.
If a permanent tooth has been completely knocked out, act quickly because the chances of saving the tooth decrease with time. First, find the tooth and handle it by the crown only, avoiding the root. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it with water for a few seconds without scrubbing or removing attached tissue.
Try to reinsert the tooth into the socket and hold it in place, or keep the tooth moist by placing it in milk or saliva if reinsertion is not possible. Seek emergency dental care immediately; treatment within an hour offers the best likelihood of successful reimplantation. If you cannot reach a dentist right away, go to an emergency room for temporary stabilization and instruction on further steps.
While awaiting professional care, you can take several safe measures to reduce pain and inflammation. Rinsing with warm salt water can help clean the area, and applying a cold compress to the outside of the cheek can reduce swelling and numb pain. Over-the-counter analgesics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be helpful when taken according to the product directions and any guidance from your healthcare provider.
Avoid placing aspirin directly against the gum or tooth, as this can irritate tissue. If pain follows an injury or is accompanied by fever, facial swelling, or difficulty breathing, seek immediate care because these signs may indicate a serious infection. Keep the area clean and avoid chewing on the affected side until you can be evaluated.
The emergency room is the right choice when oral trauma is accompanied by life-threatening issues such as uncontrolled bleeding, airway compromise, severe facial swelling that interferes with breathing or swallowing, fainting, or signs of a stroke. Emergency departments can provide immediate medical stabilization and handle conditions that require hospital resources. They may also advise or arrange transfer to specialized dental or maxillofacial services if needed.
For painful but localized dental problems like a fractured tooth, lost filling, or isolated abscess without systemic symptoms, calling an emergency dentist typically leads to faster, more targeted treatment. Many dental offices are equipped to perform urgent dental procedures that address the source of pain and preserve oral health, avoiding unnecessary hospital visits whenever clinically appropriate. Po Dentistry can often manage urgent dental issues directly and will advise when hospital-level care is required.
Whether a damaged tooth can be saved depends on the type and extent of the injury and how quickly you receive care. Minor fractures and chips are often repairable with bonding or a crown to restore form and function, while more severe damage that reaches the tooth's nerve may require root canal treatment to preserve the tooth. Root canal therapy has a high success rate when performed promptly and appropriately.
In some cases, a tooth may be too compromised to restore and extraction becomes the safest option to protect surrounding structures. If extraction is necessary, modern tooth replacement options such as dental implants, fixed bridges, or dentures can restore appearance and chewing function. Early assessment and timely intervention give you the best chance of saving a natural tooth or achieving an optimal replacement outcome.
Swollen or bleeding gums are not always an emergency, but they can signal a serious problem when symptoms are rapid, severe, or accompanied by fever, facial swelling, or difficulty swallowing. Acute periodontal infections or abscesses can progress quickly and may spread to surrounding tissues or deeper spaces in the head and neck. Persistent bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure should be evaluated promptly.
For mild gum bleeding related to brushing or flossing, improving oral hygiene and scheduling a dental exam is appropriate. However, if swelling is painful, increases rapidly, or is associated with systemic symptoms, seek urgent dental care so the underlying cause can be diagnosed and treated. Early treatment reduces the risk of systemic involvement and helps preserve gum and tooth health.
If a crown or filling becomes dislodged, save the restoration and bring it with you to the dentist because it may be possible to reattach it. Rinse the restoration gently if it is dirty, and store it in a clean container or milk to keep it moist until you see the dentist. Avoid chewing on that side of the mouth and protect exposed tooth structure with dental wax or a piece of sugarless chewing gum if available, taking care not to swallow it.
A prompt dental visit allows the clinician to assess the tooth for decay, fracture, or infection and determine the appropriate repair, which may include re-cementing the crown, replacing a filling, or placing a protective restoration. Leaving the tooth exposed increases the risk of sensitivity, infection, and further damage. Timely evaluation and treatment help restore function and reduce the chance of more extensive procedures later.
Dental infections are managed based on severity and the source of the infection; treatment focuses on eliminating the source, controlling the infection, and relieving symptoms. Options may include draining an abscess, performing root canal therapy to preserve the tooth, or removing a tooth that cannot be saved. When indicated, a clinician may prescribe antibiotics to help control the spread of infection, particularly if there are signs of systemic involvement.
After initial emergency treatment, follow-up care is important to ensure the infection has resolved and to complete definitive restorative work if necessary. Monitoring and additional procedures, such as a crown after root canal therapy or replacement of an extracted tooth, are planned once the acute phase is under control. Good communication and adherence to post-treatment instructions support a successful recovery.
During an emergency visit, the team will perform a focused history and clinical exam to determine the cause of pain or trauma and to prioritize care. The clinician may take diagnostic x-rays, evaluate soft tissues, and assess for signs of infection or structural damage. Pain control is a primary goal, and options may include local anesthesia, temporary stabilization, or short-term medications to manage discomfort.
Once the immediate issue is addressed, the dentist will explain recommended next steps, which might include definitive restorative treatment, endodontic therapy, or referral to a specialist if advanced surgical care is required. The office staff will arrange appropriate follow-up appointments and provide instructions for home care and signs that require more urgent return. For appointments, you can contact the office at (717) 569-7319 for existing patients or (717) 279-5286 for new patients.
Many dental emergencies can be prevented with routine care and sensible precautions. Maintain regular dental checkups and cleanings to identify and treat decay or bite problems before they become acute, and follow daily oral hygiene practices to reduce the risk of infection. Use a mouthguard for contact sports or high-risk activities and avoid chewing hard objects like ice, pens, or very hard candies that can fracture teeth.
Managing underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, and addressing grinding or clenching habits with a night guard can also reduce emergency risk. Keep a list of emergency contact numbers and know how to preserve an avulsed tooth so you can act quickly if an injury occurs. Early attention to dental changes or persistent symptoms helps avoid more serious problems down the line.
Our goal is to help every patient experience the benefits of good oral health and a beautiful smile. We value the trust you have placed in our office and strive to provide solutions that meet your dental needs and expectations of care.
