Emergency Tooth Extraction Near Hollins
Mill Mountain Dentistry By Opulent Dental treats dental emergencies, including tooth extractions, for patients from Hollins, VA. Our office at 5000 Brambleton Avenue is usually 20 to 25 minutes away via Plantation Road and Williamson Road (US-11). Because of the drive, call before you leave so we can be ready for you.
We always evaluate whether a tooth can be saved before recommending removal. When a tooth is too broken, infected, or decayed to restore, a timely extraction stops the pain and keeps the problem from spreading to the surrounding teeth and bone.
Before You Leave Hollins
A few steps can make the drive easier and protect the area until you're seen:
- Call first. Describe your symptoms so we can plan your visit and tell you whether to come in right away.
- Manage pain safely. Over-the-counter pain relievers taken as directed on the label can help. Don't hold aspirin against the gum, which can burn the tissue.
- Use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek, 15 to 20 minutes at a time, to limit swelling.
- Avoid chewing on the painful side and skip very hot, cold, or sugary foods.
- Bring a list of your medications, especially blood thinners, since they affect how an extraction is planned.
If swelling spreads toward your eye or neck, or you have trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest emergency room rather than driving to a dental office.
Wisdom Tooth Emergencies and Hollins University Students
Wisdom teeth usually come in between the late teens and mid-twenties, which is why they're a common source of sudden dental pain for college students. When a wisdom tooth is impacted or only partly through the gum, food and bacteria can collect under the gum flap and cause an infection called pericoronitis - swelling, a bad taste, and pain that can make it hard to open your mouth fully.
If you're a Hollins University student with these symptoms, call us. Depending on the tooth's position and how severe the infection is, treatment may start with cleaning and medication followed by removal later, or the tooth may be extracted at the emergency visit. Read more about wisdom tooth problems and how they're treated.
What to Expect at Your Emergency Visit
We'll take an X-ray to see the tooth's roots and any infection, numb the area thoroughly, and explain whether the tooth can be saved or needs to come out. Simple extractions are typically completed in a single visit. A tooth that has broken off at the gumline or is impacted may need a surgical extraction, which we'll explain before we begin.
Recovery When You Live Across the Valley
Since you'll be driving home afterward, plan to rest for the remainder of the day and avoid strenuous activity for at least 24 hours. Keep the gauze in place as directed, eat soft foods, and avoid straws and smoking so the protective blood clot stays in the socket. If bleeding won't slow down, you develop a fever, or pain gets worse after a few days instead of better, call us right away.
For urgent problems that may not need an extraction, such as a cracked filling or sudden sensitivity, see our emergency dentist for Hollins patients.
If a tooth is removed, we can talk through replacement options, including dental implants, once the area has healed.
Questions From Hollins Patients
Emergency Extractions for Hollins Patients
From Hollins, the drive to our Cave Spring office follows Plantation Road and Williamson Road (US-11) south through Roanoke and usually takes 20 to 25 minutes. Because of that distance, call before you leave so we can have everything ready when you arrive.
Mill Mountain Dentistry By Opulent Dental
5000 Brambleton Ave, Roanoke, VA 24018, United States
Hours of Operation
- Mon–Thu07:30 AM–05:30 PM
- Fri07:30 AM–02:30 PM
- Sat & SunClosed