Severe tooth pain, abscesses, and dental infections require immediate attention. When you’re dealing with a dental emergency that involves infection or severe toothache, Dr. Long provides same-day evaluation and treatment to relieve your pain and address the underlying problem. Our focus is on tooth infection emergencies that threaten your oral health and require extraction or drainage procedures.
A dental abscess occurs when bacteria infect the inner pulp of a tooth or the surrounding gum tissue, creating a pocket of pus that causes intense pain, swelling, and sometimes fever. Left untreated, these infections can spread to other areas of your face, jaw, or even your bloodstream. When a tooth infection has progressed beyond what root canal therapy can address, extraction becomes necessary to eliminate the source of infection and prevent further complications.
Dr. Long is experienced in managing acute dental infections, including draining abscesses and performing emergency extractions when teeth cannot be saved. His approach prioritizes your immediate relief while planning for optimal long-term tooth replacement options, ensuring you understand both the emergency treatment and the restoration options available once healing is complete.
Emergency treatment addresses the source of your pain directly, whether through abscess drainage or extraction of the infected tooth. Dr. Long is comfortable managing severe infections and will provide the care needed to eliminate your discomfort and stop the infection from spreading to other areas.
Untreated tooth infections can spread to surrounding bone, soft tissue, and even other parts of your body. Emergency intervention stops the infection's progression, preventing serious complications like jawbone damage, sinus involvement, or systemic infection that could require hospitalization.
When extraction is necessary, we provide a comprehensive plan that includes bone grafting at the time of extraction to preserve your jawbone for future implant placement. This forward-thinking approach ensures you'll have the best foundation for permanent tooth replacement approximately three months after healing.
Dr. Long performs a thorough examination including digital imaging to assess the extent of your infection, determine the condition of the affected tooth, and identify whether extraction is necessary. This evaluation provides the information needed to address your emergency effectively and discuss your treatment options clearly.
If an abscess is present, Dr. Long drains the infection to provide immediate relief and prevent further spread. Appropriate antibiotics may be prescribed to help your body fight the remaining bacteria. This initial infection control is essential before proceeding with extraction if the tooth cannot be saved.
When a tooth is too damaged or infected to save, extraction removes the source of infection and eliminates your pain. Dr. Long performs extractions with precision and care, ensuring your comfort throughout the procedure using appropriate anesthesia and proven techniques.
At the time of extraction, a bone graft is placed in the empty socket to preserve your jawbone volume and density. This preservation procedure maintains the bone structure necessary for implant placement later, preventing the deterioration that occurs naturally after tooth loss.
Once your extraction site has healed—typically three to four months—we can place a dental implant to permanently replace your extracted tooth. This implant-based replacement provides the most natural-looking and longest-lasting solution, functioning exactly like your original tooth without affecting adjacent teeth.
Severe infections at the root of a tooth or in the surrounding gum tissue that cause intense pain, swelling, and pus formation. Abscesses require immediate drainage and often extraction if the tooth cannot be saved through other means.
Persistent, severe tooth pain that indicates advanced decay, infection, or nerve damage. When pain reaches emergency levels and the tooth cannot be preserved with root canal therapy, extraction may be the most appropriate solution.
Teeth with infection that has progressed beyond what conservative treatment can address. These situations require extraction to eliminate the infection source and prevent spread to surrounding bone and tissue.
Our emergency services focus specifically on tooth infections and extractions that require immediate intervention. We do not provide treatment for cosmetic dental emergencies such as broken veneers, lost cosmetic bonding, or chipped teeth that don’t involve infection or severe pain. If you’re experiencing a general dental emergency that doesn’t involve infection requiring extraction, we can refer you to appropriate providers who handle those situations.
Dr. Robert Long’s training and experience in both emergency extractions and implant dentistry ensure you receive comprehensive care that addresses both your immediate crisis and your long-term restoration needs. He is comfortable managing severe infections and complex extraction situations, providing the decisive treatment necessary to resolve dental emergencies effectively.
Dr. Long’s approach combines immediate pain relief with strategic planning for optimal tooth replacement. He understands that dental emergencies are stressful and painful, which is why he prioritizes clear communication about what’s happening, what treatment is needed, and what your options are for restoration once the emergency is resolved. His goal is to eliminate your pain, address the infection, and ensure you leave with a clear understanding of the path forward.
Find answers to common questions about our practice and services
Yes, we make every effort to see emergency patients the same day they call. Dental infections and severe tooth pain require prompt attention, and we prioritize scheduling for patients experiencing these urgent situations. Call our office as early as possible to ensure availability.
Antibiotics may be prescribed to help control infection, particularly if there is significant swelling or signs that the infection is spreading. However, antibiotics alone cannot eliminate a tooth infection—the source of infection (the tooth itself) must be addressed through drainage and extraction if the tooth cannot be saved.
This depends on the extent of infection and damage to the tooth. Dr. Long will evaluate your specific situation and discuss whether the tooth can be saved through root canal therapy or if extraction is the most appropriate treatment. His priority is recommending the option that best addresses your health and provides the most predictable long-term outcome.
Emergency extraction costs vary based on the complexity of your case. We provide clear cost information during your emergency visit and can discuss payment options. When bone grafting is performed at the time of extraction, additional fees apply, but this investment preserves your bone for future implant placement.
After extraction and bone grafting, you’ll heal for three to four months before implant placement can occur. During this time, the bone graft integrates and creates a solid foundation for your future implant. We provide detailed post-operative instructions and schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your healing progress.
Not all extracted teeth require replacement, but leaving gaps—particularly in visible areas or where chewing occurs—can lead to shifting of adjacent teeth, bite problems, and continued bone loss. Dr. Long will discuss whether replacement makes sense for your specific situation and explain the benefits of implant restoration versus other options or no replacement.
