A slip on the sidewalk. An elbow during a game. A bite into something harder than expected. Dental injuries happen in a second, and suddenly you are holding a piece of your tooth.
Take a breath, then call us at (330) 928-8837. We will tell you exactly what to do before you even reach our door. Injured teeth are a core part of our emergency dental care at Summit Dental Cuyahoga Falls.
We are open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call before 5:00 PM Monday to Thursday for same-day options. We are closed Friday through Sunday.
What Is Dental Trauma Care?
Dental trauma care is urgent treatment for teeth that are broken, chipped, cracked, loosened, or knocked out. It starts the moment you call, with first-aid guidance for your exact injury. At the office, we assess the damage, ease the pain, and repair what the injury broke.
Speed matters more with trauma than with almost any other dental problem. A knocked-out tooth has the best chance of being saved within the first hour.
Even a small chip deserves a look. Damage you cannot see, inside the tooth or at the root, often rides along with the visible crack.
Problems Dental Trauma Care Solves
An injured tooth brings several problems at once. We work through all of them.
- A knocked-out tooth that needs action within the hour
- A broken or cracked tooth that hurts or feels loose
- A chipped edge cutting your tongue or cheek
- A tooth pushed out of position by the impact
- Pain and swelling after a blow to the mouth
- A scared child, and a parent who needs calm answers fast
The first call handles the panic. The visit handles the tooth.
How a Dental Injury Visit Works
Every minute counts, so we keep the path simple.
- Call (330) 928-8837 right away and tell us what happened.
- We give you first-aid steps for your exact injury over the phone.
- We make room to see you the same day whenever we can.
- Dr. Ken DePolo examines the injury and checks for hidden damage with any needed digital X-rays.
- We ease the pain, stabilize what is loose, and repair what we can that visit.
- You leave with a clear plan for any follow-up care the tooth needs.
For a knocked-out adult tooth: handle it by the crown, never the root. Rinse it gently, and keep it moist in milk or inside your cheek until you reach us.
Your Options for Treating a Dental Injury
Treatment follows the damage. A small chip can often be smoothed so it stops bothering you. A badly broken tooth may need a repair or a crown to restore its strength and shape.
A loosened or knocked-out tooth is stabilized and given time to heal. If the injury reaches the nerve, root canal therapy may save the tooth. If a tooth cannot be saved, a gentle extraction and a replacement plan come next.
We lay out every choice with honest pros, cons, and costs. You decide, we repair.
The Benefits of Getting This Done Right
How an injury is handled in the first day often decides the tooth's future.
- The best possible chance of saving a knocked-out or broken tooth
- Correct first aid from the moment you call, not after you arrive
- Hidden root and nerve damage caught early with a careful exam
- Repairs that restore both the look and the strength of the tooth
- A calm, steady team for injured kids and worried parents
- A follow-up plan so nothing gets missed once the swelling fades
Quick, correct care now usually means simpler, cheaper care later. That trade is always worth the phone call.
How to Know Your Dental Injury Needs Care
After a blow to the mouth, some signs demand a same-day call:
- A tooth knocked completely out
- A tooth visibly loose, tilted, or pushed out of place
- A break that exposes a dark or pink layer inside the tooth
- Pain when biting, or throbbing that builds after the injury
- Bleeding from the gumline around an injured tooth
For heavy bleeding, or facial swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, skip us. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room first.
Smaller injuries can fool you. A chip with no pain still deserves an exam within a few days. Cracks travel, and damage inside the tooth can show up weeks after the accident.
Waiting is the gamble. A tooth that could have been stabilized can die quietly at the root. A crack that a repair could have covered can split past saving. Injured teeth do not grant second chances often.
A dentist sees what the bathroom mirror hides. X-rays show root fractures, and an exam finds damage in teeth that took the hit without visibly breaking. The teeth beside the injured one get checked too.
Self-check after any mouth injury: is anything loose, sharp, dark, or newly sensitive? Does your bite feel different? A yes to either means call us today.
What Does Dental Injury Treatment Cost?
Cost depends on the injury. Smoothing a chip sits at one end, and rebuilding a badly broken tooth sits at the other. The exam and any X-rays establish what the tooth truly needs.
Even in urgent visits, you hear your options and prices before treatment starts. No surprises on top of a stressful day.
We accept most major dental plans, and we check your benefits for you. CareCredit financing is available, plus credit cards, checks, and cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a knocked-out tooth be saved?
Sometimes, especially if you act fast. Keep the tooth moist, handle it by the crown, and call us right away.
What should I do with a broken tooth?
Rinse gently with warm water, save any pieces, use a cold compress for swelling, and call us. We will get you in quickly.
Is a cracked tooth an emergency?
It can be, especially with pain or a sharp edge. Call us and we will decide together how soon you should be seen.
My child chipped a tooth, do we still need to come in?
Yes, it is worth a quick look. Even a small chip or a loosened tooth can need care, and we keep the visit calm and easy for your child.
What if a baby tooth gets knocked out?
Do not try to put a baby tooth back in. Call us, and we will check the area and make sure the adult tooth underneath is safe.
The injury happened after hours. What do I do?
We are open Monday to Thursday. Call and leave a message, and we will reach you as soon as we open. For heavy bleeding or serious swelling, go to the ER or call 911.
