Is Wisdom Tooth Removal An Emergency?

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Categories: Dental emergency, Urgent care, Wisdom tooth

OnCall Dental in Fresno CA knows how hard it can be to identify a dental emergency. With so many potential sources for pain and discomfort in the mouth and teeth, how can you know when something is a symptom of a larger, long-running problem, and when it’s an emergency that needs to be treated immediately?

Wisdom teeth tend to fall into both of these categories, depending on the circumstances and the situation. This is the main reason for the difficulty in diagnosis; most people don’t know if wisdom teeth require immediate care or not.

Err On The Side of Dental Care

In order to mitigate any risks, we always encourage our patients to err on the side of caution. Emergency dental care doesn’t only stem and mitigate the effects of a single ailment; it can also go a long way toward improving your dental health for years to come. An immediate fix during a crucial moment might prevent systemic issues from affecting your teeth and gums.

How Can Wisdom Teeth Be An Emergency?

In many ways, of course! Mainly, an erupted wisdom tooth can push against the existing teeth and misalign them. This can cause issues ranging from a difficulty brushing and flossing, all the way to tooth loss. It’s a wide scale, but it’s better to extract a wisdom tooth as early as possible to prevent any issues. Wisdom teeth can also cause pain at the eruption site and leave gum tissue inflamed. This can lead to issues like gum disease or an infection requiring a root canal.

Though wisdom teeth can start out as minor inconveniences – and some people don’t even suffer any symptoms – most of the time, it can evolve into a full-blown, painful emergency before you have time to think. If you wake up with intense pain in your back teeth, have trouble opening your mouth to chew, or feel any other symptoms of a major infection, we recommend visiting us for a wisdom tooth extraction as soon as possible. This is doubly important for young adults, as wisdom teeth tend to come out between the ages of 17-25 and can define our dental journey moving forward.

OnCall Dental in Fresno CA wants all our patients to trust our emergency dental care. Our team is ready to help you with extractions or any other issues you might have. Walk-ins are always welcome! Contact us today!

Contact OnCall Dental (Tap to open in Google Maps):


OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704
559-900-2332

Why Choose An Emergency Specialist?

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist

At OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, we know how stressful and anxiety-inducing emergencies can be. In the heat of the moment, you might be tempted to simply drive to the nearest dentist to deal with your missing or broken tooth. And, while this is sometimes the only option, we recommend you find a specialist to help you.

But, why? After all, a general dentist can deal with emergencies just as efficiently as an emergency dentist, right? Well, yes and no. General dentists are often equipped with the tools necessary to deal with emergencies. But long queues and a lack of specialists could mean you have to wait a while before being seen. At a practice like ours, we can assure you will be seen in a timely fashion.

Another reason to choose a specialist would be appointments. We always welcome walk-ins at our practice; a general dentist might deem your emergency not serious enough to prioritize and might schedule your appointment for a later time. An emergency dentist, on the other hand, specializes in managing large influxes of patients and providing all of them with quick, easy relief.

OnCall Dental in Fresno CA wants to be your emergency dentist of choice. In our hands, you can rest easy knowing that your pain will be dealt with in a timely, efficient fashion. After we’ve helped with that, we can provide options for additional dental work and help you prevent any further problems. Don’t wait! If you have a dental emergency, contact us today!

Contact OnCall Dental (Tap to open in Google Maps):


OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704
559-900-2332

Gum Disease And Other Subtle Emergencies

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Categories: Emergency Dentist, Urgent care

At OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, we know that certain urgent care situations can be hard to identify. After all, many dental emergencies share symptoms with minor dental issues that resolve over time. In order to make it easy for you to identify those emergencies, we have put together a list of subtle ones that are often misconstrued as common problems.

The Most Common Subtle Emergencies

  • Swollen Gums: While minor swelling might indicate a piece of lodged food or a minor infection, it could also be a sign of early stage periodontal disease. If you brush and floss consistently and the swelling persists, you should schedule a visit with us immediately.
  • Toothaches: While toothaches and tooth sensitivity might be the result of a momentary lapse in your dental routine, or an abrasion caused by sharp, brittle foods, they can also be a sign of an abscessed tooth or a large cavity that requires a root canal.
  • Staining: Though blemishes on your teeth might seem purely cosmetic, this is only true of marks caused by tetracycline and food stains. If a mark is due to a cavity or an infection, you might lose a tooth without emergency treatment.
  • Cavities: On a related note, cavities themselves can constitute an emergency. When they are small, a simple drill-and-fill at a general dentist can suffice. However, when they’ve grown large and out of control, emergency dental care might be necessary to prevent the affected tooth from becoming a detriment to nearby teeth.

OnCall Dental in Fresno CA always holds fast to one rule: if it feels like an emergency, it probably is! So don’t hesitate. Patients come to us for tooth infections, cracked tooth repair, and root canals. Contact us today! Walk-ins are welcome!

Contact OnCall Dental (Tap to open in Google Maps):


OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704
559-900-2332

A Dedicated Emergency Dentistry Team

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Categories: Dental emergency, Urgent care

At OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, we know how stressful a dental emergency can be. It is certainly not a situation that lacks for pain, discomfort, and anxiety. At our practice, we always endeavor to calm you down by immediately and effectively treating pain.

When you arrive, we won’t keep you waiting for extra time, sitting in a chair and holding your face while we bore you with jargon. Instead, we will prioritize your comfort and immediately begin work on whatever is ailing you. Our priority is always your quick and safe return home.

Our team is comprised exclusively of educated emergency dentistry professionals. From the moment you arrive in our offices, you will be surrounded by people who know what they are doing and who can expedite your visit so you can get back to your day.

The Importance of a Dedicated Team

Even if you have a general dentist, it still might be in your best benefit to have a dedicated emergency dental team you can trust. After all, not all clinics are as available as we are, and dental emergencies don’t often adhere to the schedule. In a pinch, it is absolutely crucial to have a number to dial; otherwise, you might have to suffer through discomfort and anxiety until you can visit a general dentist.

At our practice, we help with minor and major emergencies like:

  • Abscessed teeth
  • Gum disease
  • Infections that might need root canals
  • Dental pain

This is just a small list of the emergency dentistry services we offer at OnCall Dental in Fresno CA. Patients also come to us for toothache relief. Don’t wait! Contact us today. Walk-ins are welcome!

Contact OnCall Dental (Tap to open in Google Maps):


OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704
559-900-2332

How To Avoid Tooth Infections And Other Emergencies

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Categories: Dental emergency, Urgent care

At OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, we know emergencies can sneak up on you. However, even the most seemingly sudden emergencies can actually have long-running causes that go unnoticed by patients. In this article, we will focus on the steps you can take to ensure that you avoid infections and other emergencies.

The Steps You Can Take

  1. Brushing and Flossing: This might seem obvious, but increasing the consistency of your dental care routine can boost your immunity to dental issues. Keeping your gums and teeth free of bacteria can go a long way toward avoiding infections and abscesses. Make sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoid floss picks.
  2. Watch What You Eat: Eating hard, brittle food can damage your enamel. So can eating too much sugar or starch, as these create acids in your mouth that eat away at your tooth structure. Watching what you eat is an effective preventative measure for avoiding tooth infections.
  3. Drink Lots of Water: Drinking water before and after eating is a surefire way of ensuring food debris doesn’t lodge itself in your teeth and gums. If you can’t brush, drink some water!

All in all, maintaining proper dental and overall health is the best way of avoiding an emergency. However, OnCall Dental in Fresno CA knows that sometimes, no matter what we do, emergencies happen. Patients visit us for broken, cracked, and chipped tooth repair, as well as other emergency dental services. Walk-ins are welcome! Contact us today!

Contact OnCall Dental (Tap to open in Google Maps):


OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704
559-900-2332

Your Tooth Extraction Doesn’t Have To Be A Big Deal

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Categories: Dental emergency, Extractions

At OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, we know dental emergencies are not anyone’s favorite way to spend an afternoon. This can be especially true when whatever discomfort you’re feeling turns out to be a major problem, requiring a tooth extraction.

However, we want to remind you that, with our empathetic and communicative dental team, and our top-of-the-line patient comfort options, your procedure will be a breeze!

When you visit our practice, we will not simply sit you down and start working. Our dental team is trained in direct patient-communication. We vow to never sugarcoat dental issues, and to work with you to fix them when they arise. If your problem requires an extraction, we will take every step to make you comfortable before we begin.

A caring dental team is important in all dentistry; but it is especially important with emergency dentistry, as patients need all the guidance they can get and this is often needed in times of panic and pain.

Another bonus of our office are our sedation options. With the choice between commonly used laughing gas, and a deeper anesthetic procedure called oral conscious sedation, our patients are in control of their own pain management.

At OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, a tooth extraction is not the end of the world. If anything, it’s the beginning of a bright dental future. If you or a loved one needs a tooth extraction, or is suffering from a dental emergency of any kind, don’t hesitate to visit us. Walk-ins are always welcome. Contact us today!

Contact OnCall Dental (Tap to open in Google Maps):


OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704
559-900-2332

What Ignoring An Emergency Could Cost You

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist

A dental emergency can be a stressful proposition. Some patients would rather sit with their pain than submit themselves to what they view as an invasive dentistry procedure. However, at OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, we warn against doing this. Our team has put together a list of problems that could develop if you ignore certain emergencies. Check it out below!

What It Could Cost You

  • Healthy Teeth: This is the most obvious, but ignoring things like infections and gum disease can leave you with a less than ideal set of teeth. This can affect the aesthetics of your smile, as well as the longevity and durability of your enamel.
  • A Full, Consistent Smile: If left unchecked, emergencies like an impacted – or even a missing – tooth can move the entirety of your smile. This ca result in crooked teeth and wonky aesthetics.
  • An Exciting Diet: If tooth pain from infection leads to tooth loss, your biting power might be diminished. With a weakened jaw comes a restrictive diet that could have you sipping on soup for life! Who wants that?

At OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, we believe that if something feels like an emergency, it probably is! Don’t wait. We specialize in complete emergency dental care. Walk-ins are always welcome. Contact us today!

Contact OnCall Dental (Tap to open in Google Maps):


OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704
559-900-2332

Is It An Emergency? Here’s How To Tell

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist

At OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, we believe that patient communication is key. So we want you to be open and honest with your emergency dental team about your dental issues. But we know how hard it can be to discern if something is an emergency. How can you tell if your slight discomfort is a minor issue or a major one?

The OnCall Dental Definition

At our practice, we help our patients by referring to our own, personal definition of emergencies: if it feels like one, it probably is! Now this might seem like a vague rule of thumb, but it applies to most cases!

  • Bleeding Gums: This could be minor, but it the pain is intense, it could also be a sign of gum disease. If it hurts consistently, we recommend a visit.
  • Tooth Pain: This could be a small cavity or abrasion, or it could be indicative that you need a root canal. If the pain persists or increases, it’s time to head over to our offices.
  • Bad Breath: Seemingly the least serious condition, halitosis could actually be a sign that you have a severely decayed tooth that needs extraction.

These are just a few instances where our rule applies perfectly. There are many others. The bottom line is this: you know your own body better than anyone. Pain and discomfort are that body trying to communicate an issue. So listen! At OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, we help with any dental emergency. Walk-ins are welcome! Contact us today!

Contact OnCall Dental (Tap to open in Google Maps):


OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704
559-900-2332

Abscesses, Infections, and Other Emergencies

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At OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, we know that it can sometimes be hard to discern what is or isn’t an emergency. As we’ve said on our blog before (and as we’ll probably say again), if it feels like an emergency, then we encourage our patients to treat it as one. Your body knows more than it lets on; if it is sending you signals of discomfort, pain, stress, anxiety, or weakness, then you should listen.

A lot of emergencies can start out as seemingly minor nuisances. A swollen gum that you think is simply caused by food debris can actually be indicative of gum disease, for example. For this reason, and in order to keep our patients educated, we have put together a simple list of emergencies that are often misidentified as minor problems.

Commonly Misidentified Emergencies

  1. Bleeding Gums: This is a big one, particularly because it happens so often. If you notice blood in the sink after flossing or brushing, it could be minor; but it could also be a sign of gum disease or impending tooth loss! In order to tell, floss and brush your teeth more regularly for a period of a few weeks. Make sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush. The bleeding should stop with constant care. If it doesn’t, it’s time to schedule an appointment!
  2. Tooth Pain: Though it can be indicative of a simple cavity, tooth pain could also be a sign that you have an abscessed tooth or a major oral infection. Either of these could cause greater problems down the line, including misalignment and extensive tooth decay. Even when the problem is just a cavity, it can evolve into a dental emergency when the infection bores down into the tooth root. If left untreated, it could require a root canal to save the tooth.
  3. Chipped Teeth: It might seem like a slightly chipped or cracked tooth would be strictly a cosmetic problem, but sharp, brittle surfaces can be harder to clean than smooth, rounded out teeth. Additionally, it can be easier for food debris to get stuck in the cracks and jagged edges of an incomplete tooth, which can precipitate cavities and other problems.
  4. Bad Breath: We know what you’re thinking. How could bad breath possible be an emergency? Well, if the odor is indicative of a major infection, it might very well be. Don’t hesitate to visit us; we can ascertain whether it stems from simple halitosis and dry mouth, or from a more serious issue.
  5. Abscessed Teeth: When a wisdom tooth comes in, it can become lodged against the others in a horizontal direction. Though many people might think removing them isn’t pressing and will only cause slight discomfort, in most people, this issue can cause misalignment.

At OnCall Dental in Fresno CA, we focus on any and every type of dental emergency. If you’re looking for an informed, dedicated, communicative staff, as well as top-of-the-line dentistry, contact us today!

Contact OnCall Dental (Tap to open in Google Maps):


OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704
559-900-2332

Knocked Out Tooth? Don’t Panic!

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Tooth loss is normal in children. But when, as adults, a tooth gets loose or knocked out, it can be concerning. And it definitely constitutes a dental emergency! Luckily, there’s no need to panic. OnCall Dental in Fresno CA can help.

By acting quickly you have a high chance of being able to save the tooth for reinsertion. If you can locate the tooth, immediately place it in a cup of milk to keep it moist. This helps maintain whatever calcium and healthy enamel may have survived in the tooth after the injury.

To manage the pain, use a cold or hot compress on your cheek, but do not place anything near the gum itself. This could cause further problems. Once you arrive, we will assess the damage and the possibility of reinsertion. If it is possible to retain your original tooth, the procedure is fairly straightforward.

But what we can’t save your natural tooth? Dental implants offer state-of-the-art tooth restoration. We are happy to sit with you and recommend restorative dentistry solutions that are so lifelike, nobody will even know you’ve had work done.

Either way, there’s no unsolvable dental dilemma! The first step is to get in your car and hurry on over. OnCall Dental in Fresno CA has the tools and expertise needed to help you deal with your dental trauma, as well as any other emergency that might come your way. Walk-ins are always welcome! Contact us today!

Contact OnCall Dental (Tap to open in Google Maps):


OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704
559-900-2332