Emergency Dentist in Wilmington, DE
When it comes to emergencies, it’s always best to be prepared. Dental emergencies are no exception, and while you can’t plan for every possible tooth injury that may occur, you can know what you’ll do and how you’ll respond if the time ever comes.
The best two ways to prepare for future dental injuries are to practice excellent preventive dentistry habits to protect your teeth and to have a trusted and experienced emergency dentist ready to call.
At the dental office of Dr. Bruce Matthews, we’re always standing by to treat your dental emergencies should they occur. Our treatment team offers gentle, compassionate care for your painful and injured teeth, and we will make time to see you immediately if you sustain a dental emergency.
We hope you never need an emergency dentist in Wilmington, DE, but know that we are just a phone call away if you ever do. Reach out to us at (302) 475-9220, and we will typically schedule a dental visit that same day.
We Treat All Dental Emergencies in Wilmington, DE
If you injure a tooth, you may wonder if your injury is severe enough to warrant a trip to your dentist after-hours or on the weekend. However, it’s always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to dental emergencies. Many emergencies require immediate treatment for the best result, so the right thing to do is still to call your Wilmington dentist so we can talk through your situation with you.
If we need to see you for immediate treatment, we’ll ask you to come in ASAP. If your injury is minor or the wound site is stable, we may schedule a dental appointment for the following morning. No matter how harmless or small your injury looks from the outside, you should always get in touch with us—many tooth injuries can extend internally and be hard to spot.
We commonly treat dental emergencies such as:
- Dental infections or abscesses
- Broken teeth
- Painful toothaches
- Swollen, bleeding, or painful gums
- Damaged dental restorations
- Knocked-out (“avulsed”) teeth
- Chips, cracks, fractures, or splinters in teeth
Even if you’re unsure whether you need emergency dentistry, call us anyway! We would rather be overly cautious than postpone dental treatment because you thought everything was fine.
Fixing a Damaged Tooth
We always use the least invasive and most natural-looking method for repairing a damaged tooth. 
If you have a knocked-out tooth, we may be able to restore the natural tooth if you act quickly and bring the tooth to our dental office in good condition. Rinse your tooth with warm water and store it in a glass of milk or inside your cheek until you reach our dental office.
In situations where the tooth is no longer viable, we will discuss your tooth replacement options with you, including a dental implant. Dental implants act as your tooth’s root and are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement.
The most common treatments our Wilmington emergency dentists will rely on to fix a broken, decayed, or damaged tooth include:
- Dental fillings — We use tooth-colored composite to seamlessly repair your tooth so no one will know you have a filling.
- Tooth crowns — If you have a damaged or decayed tooth that needs more than a filling, our porcelain crowns cover and protect it, helping you avoid extraction.
- Emergency root canals — When an infection causes pain and threatens your tooth’s health, we comfortably remove the infection, restoring your oral health.
- Cosmetic bonding — Using the same material we use for dental fillings, we can improve your smile’s appearance and protect your tooth from further damage.
Remember, if your tooth breaks into pieces and you can recover them, you should rinse the pieces off with water and delicately transport them to your dental appointment in a bag or cup. We will do everything possible to restore your tooth using its natural materials and restorations for stability.
Looking for an Emergency Dentist in Wilmington, DE?
Just as we encourage you to always prepare for a potential dental injury, our clinical team here at the dental office of Dr. Bruce Matthews is ready to treat you if you ever need help.
If you or a loved one breaks a tooth or experiences another type of dental emergency, don’t hesitate to call us at (302) 475-9220 to speak with a caring member of our dental team. We’ll schedule you for emergency treatment and get you back to good oral health.
Dental emergencies should be handled immediately, and we make it a priority at our practice to uphold same-day appointments for such incidents. If you call our office during business hours, we ensure that you will be seen the same day. We even respond to your emergencies after our doors close for the day-- emergency calls to our office during non-business hours are answered immediately by one of our four doctors.
