Emergency Dentistry

Dental emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time. Emergencies can leave you feeling stressed, uncomfortable, and unsure of what to do next, such as a:

• Sudden toothache
• Broken crown before an important event
• Knocked-out tooth during a weekend activity 

At Middle Tennessee Prosthodontics, we understand how overwhelming these situations require prompt care, which is why we offer emergency dentistry in Brentwood, TN.

Call: (615) 690-5400

Experienced Emergency Care

Our experienced team is committed to helping patients find relief from pain, prevent further damage, and protect their long-term oral health. Whether you are dealing with severe tooth pain, dental trauma, a broken restoration, or another urgent dental concern, we will do everything possible to see you as quickly as we can, often on the same day.

As one of the area’s most experienced prosthodontic teams, we are uniquely equipped to handle both routine dental emergencies and complex cases involving damaged or missing teeth. Our goal is simple: provide precision care, beautiful results, and peace of mind when you need it most.

Woman getting dental checkup

Need Emergency Dental Care in Brentwood?

If you are experiencing a dental emergency, call our office immediately. Our team can help determine the urgency of your situation, provide guidance over the phone, and schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Call: (615) 690-5400
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Why Prompt Emergency Dental Treatment Matters

When a dental emergency occurs, delaying treatment can often make the problem worse. What starts as a minor issue can quickly progress into a more serious condition that requires more extensive treatment.

Seeking emergency dental care promptly can help:

  • Relieve pain and discomfort
  • Prevent infection from spreading
  • Save a damaged or knocked-out tooth
  • Reduce the risk of permanent tooth loss
  • Protect surrounding teeth and oral structures
  • Minimize the need for more extensive restorative procedures later

Our team focuses on treating the immediate problem while also developing a long-term solution that addresses underlying causes and oral concerns.

Check Out Before & After images From Real Cases

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What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?

Many patients are unsure whether their situation requires immediate attention. While every case is unique, a dental emergency generally involves severe pain, infection, trauma, bleeding, or damage that could threaten a tooth or your overall health.

If you are uncertain whether your condition is an emergency, we encourage you to call our Brentwood office. It is always better to seek professional guidance rather than risk further complications.

Common Dental Emergencies We Treat

Persistent or intense tooth pain is often a sign that something is wrong with your oral health, even if it isn’t visible. The cause may be:

  • Advanced tooth decay
  • Infection
  • A cracked tooth
  • An abscess
  • Trauma to the tooth
  • Exposed tooth roots

Tooth pain rarely resolves on its own. Our team can identify the source of the discomfort and recommend the most effective treatment to provide relief.

A knocked-out tooth is one of the most urgent dental emergencies. Quick action can significantly increase the chances of saving the tooth.

If a tooth has been knocked out:

  1. Pick it up by the crown, not the root
  2. Gently rinse it if it is dirty
  3. Try placing it back into the socket if possible
  4. If not, place it in milk or saliva
  5. Call our office immediately

The sooner treatment is provided, the better the chance of preserving the tooth.

A tooth that has been partially knocked out of position may still be saved if treated promptly. Trauma can damage the supporting tissues around the tooth, making immediate evaluation essential.

We will assess the injury and determine the best way to stabilize and protect the tooth.

A cracked tooth may not always cause pain immediately, but even small fractures can allow bacteria to enter the tooth and lead to infection.

Treatment may involve:

  • Dental bonding
  • Inlays or onlays
  • Dental crowns
  • Root canal therapy
  • Tooth replacement if damage is severe

Because untreated cracks tend to worsen over time, prompt care is important.

Dental restorations are designed to be durable, but accidents and wear can sometimes cause them to become loose, damaged, or fall out.

As prosthodontic specialists, we have extensive experience restoring damaged crowns, bridges, dentures, and implant restorations. Our team can evaluate the restoration and determine whether it can be repaired or should be replaced.

A dental abscess is a serious infection that can threaten both your oral and overall health.

Signs of an abscess may include:

  • Severe throbbing pain
  • Facial swelling
  • Gum swelling
  • Pus drainage
  • Fever
  • Bad taste in the mouth
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Dental infections should never be ignored. In some cases, untreated infections can spread beyond the mouth and become dangerous.

Cuts, lacerations, or injuries involving the lips, cheeks, tongue, or gums can sometimes require immediate dental attention.

Our team can evaluate the injury and determine whether additional treatment is needed to protect your oral health and promote healing.

Dental Problems That May Not Require Same-Day Treatment

Not every dental concern requires immediate emergency care. However, some issues should still be addressed promptly before they become more serious.

These may include:

Occasional sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods may not be an emergency but should still be evaluated if symptoms persist.

A minor chip that does not cause pain can often wait a few days for treatment. However, the tooth should still be examined to ensure the damage is not more extensive than it appears.

A lost filling may not always require same-day treatment, but scheduling an appointment soon can help prevent additional damage.

Broken braces or orthodontic wires are typically not emergencies unless they are causing significant pain or injury.

When in doubt, simply give us a call. We can help determine whether you need immediate treatment or a scheduled appointment.

What to Do During a Dental Emergency

Knowing how to respond before you reach the dentist can often improve outcomes.

  • Rinse with warm water
  • Gently floss around the tooth
  • Avoid placing aspirin directly on the gums
  • Call our office for an evaluation

  • Handle the tooth by the crown
  • Keep it moist
  • Seek care immediately

  • Save any pieces if possible
  • Rinse your mouth
  • Apply a cold compress
  • Contact our office right away

  • Use a cold compress on the outside of the face
  • Contact our office immediately
  • Seek emergency medical care if swelling affects breathing or swallowing

  • Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze
  • Seek immediate medical care if bleeding is severe or uncontrollable

Advanced Emergency Dentistry Technology in Brentwood

When emergencies happen, accurate diagnosis is essential. Our office uses advanced dental technology to quickly identify problems and create effective treatment plans.

Our state-of-the-art CBCT scanner provides detailed three-dimensional images that allow us to evaluate a variety of complex concerns, from tooth fractures to dental trauma.

This technology helps us diagnose problems with exceptional precision.

We utilize the Trios 5 digital scanner to capture highly accurate digital impressions without traditional impression materials. You can expect increased comfort with fastener planning around your condition.

Emergency Dental Care From Experienced Prosthodontic Specialists

Many dental emergencies involve damaged teeth, broken restorations, or tooth loss. These situations often require more than a simple repair.

At Middle Tennessee Prosthodontics, our doctors bring advanced training and extensive experience in restoring damaged smiles. Our practice includes one of the area’s most experienced board-certified prosthodontists and a team with advanced expertise in complex restorative dentistry.

This specialized knowledge allows us to provide comprehensive solutions for:

  • Traumatic dental injuries
  • Broken crowns and bridges
  • Damaged dentures
  • Missing teeth
  • Implant restorations
  • Complex restorative cases

Our focus is not only on addressing the immediate emergency but also restoring long-term function, comfort, and aesthetics.

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Emergency Tooth Replacement Options

Sometimes a damaged tooth cannot be saved. When that happens, our team can discuss tooth replacement solutions that restore both appearance and function.

  • Dental Bridges: Dental bridges can replace one or more missing teeth while restoring your smile and chewing ability.
  • Dentures: For patients missing multiple teeth, dentures can provide a comfortable and functional solution.
  • Implant-Supported Restorations: While we refer implant surgery to trusted specialists, our team provides exceptional implant restorations, including implant-supported crowns, bridges, and dentures.
  • Teeth in a Day Solutions: For qualified patients, advanced full-arch restoration options may be available to restore an entire smile after significant tooth loss.

Sedation Options for Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can be stressful, especially when pain, anxiety, or past experiences make treatment difficult.

We offer sedation dentistry options to help patients feel more relaxed during emergency procedures.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide can help reduce anxiety while allowing you to remain awake and responsive throughout treatment.

IV Sedation

For more complex procedures or patients with significant dental anxiety, IV sedation may be available to help create a more comfortable experience.

Our team will discuss the most appropriate sedation option based on your needs and treatment plan.

How We Restore Your Smile After a Dental Emergency

The immediate goal of emergency dentistry is to relieve pain, stop infection, and prevent further damage. However, many dental emergencies also require restorative treatment to fully rebuild the health, function, and appearance of your smile. At Middle Tennessee Prosthodontics, we don’t simply treat the symptoms of an emergency. We focus on providing long-term solutions that help you regain confidence in your smile.

Depending on your situation, restorative treatment following an emergency may include:

When a tooth has been fractured, weakened, or treated with root canal therapy, a custom dental crown can protect the remaining tooth structure and restore strength and function.

If a crown, bridge, denture, or implant restoration becomes damaged during an accident or injury, we can evaluate the restoration and determine whether it can be repaired or should be replaced. Our team works with a variety of restorative materials, including zirconia, e.max, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and gold restorations when appropriate.

Unfortunately, some teeth cannot be saved after severe trauma or infection. If tooth loss occurs, we offer a variety of tooth replacement options, including dental bridges, dentures, and implant-supported restorations designed to restore both appearance and function.

For patients who experience extensive dental trauma, we take a comprehensive approach to care. Using advanced technology such as CBCT imaging and digital scanning, we can evaluate your entire oral health picture and create a detailed plan to restore your smile as efficiently as possible.

No matter the extent of your dental emergency, our goal is to help you achieve a healthy, comfortable smile with results that look natural and last for years to come.

Compassionate Emergency Dentistry for Brentwood and Middle Tennessee

A dental emergency can leave you feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed. Our team understands that patients seeking emergency care are often experiencing discomfort, anxiety, or uncertainty.

From the moment you contact our office, we strive to provide a supportive and compassionate experience. We listen carefully to your concerns, explain your treatment options clearly, and ensure you feel comfortable throughout the process.

Our mission is to simplify complex dental situations while restoring the beauty and function of your smile.

Emergency Dentistry FAQs

Hospital emergency rooms can help manage severe infections, facial trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, or broken bones. However, most dental emergencies are best treated by a dentist who can address the underlying dental problem.

We make every effort to accommodate emergency patients as quickly as possible and frequently offer same-day appointments.

Keep the crown if possible and call our office right away. We will evaluate the tooth and determine whether the restoration can be reattached or replaced. You can use dental cement found at most pharmacies to secure it until your appointment.

If the pain is severe, persistent, accompanied by swelling, or interferes with daily activities, you should seek prompt dental care.

Yes. Untreated dental infections can spread and potentially affect other areas of the body. Prompt treatment is important.

Even if a cracked tooth isn’t causing pain, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Small cracks can worsen over time and may eventually lead to infection, discomfort, or tooth loss.

In some cases, yes. However, because the underlying tooth is no longer protected, it is important to contact our office promptly. Delaying treatment can increase the risk of further damage or sensitivity.

Schedule Emergency Dental Care in Brentwood, TN, Today

When a dental emergency happens, you deserve prompt care from a team you can trust. At Middle Tennessee Prosthodontics, we provide emergency dentistry services for patients throughout Brentwood, Nashville, Franklin, and the surrounding Middle Tennessee communities.

Whether you are suffering from severe tooth pain, a broken restoration, a knocked-out tooth, or another urgent dental concern, our experienced team is here to help. We combine advanced technology, specialized restorative expertise, and compassionate care to provide the treatment you need when it matters most. Call for prompt care if you are experiencing a dental emergency.

Call: (615) 690-5400

Meet the Doctors

Dr. Bryan McLaughlin

Dr. Bryan McLaughlin

Board-Certified Prosthodontist

Dr. Bryan McLaughlin is a Board-Certified Prosthodontist who combines advanced specialty training with a thoughtful, patient-centered approach. His background in prosthodontics, digital dentures, and complex restorative care allows him to help patients rebuild comfort, function, and confidence in their smiles.

Dr. Nisha Patel

Dr. Nisha Patel

Board-Certified Prosthodontist

Dr. Nisha Patel is a Board-Certified Prosthodontist with extensive experience in advanced restorative care, digital dentistry, and comprehensive treatment planning. She brings warmth, skill, and attention to detail to her care while helping patients work toward healthier, stronger smiles.

Dr. Stephen Peterman

Dr. Stephen Peterman

Board-Certified Prosthodontist

Dr. Stephen Peterman is a Board-Certified Prosthodontist with a strong background in advanced restorative dentistry, military dentistry, and dental education. He is dedicated to helping patients restore comfort, function, and confidence through clear communication and high-quality prosthodontic care.