Updated June 2026
Unexpected dental emergencies arise, well, unexpectedly. When they do, they demand immediate attention and care.
As no two dental emergencies are exactly alike, understanding your options for emergency dental care and knowing where to go for that care is crucial to navigating these often unnerving situations.
We’re looking here at the symptoms and conditions that suggest a person is suffering from a dental emergency, what you can do in these moments, and the most effective treatments for these emergencies.
So, if you need a children's dentist in Apple Valley, MN, you've come to the right place.
What Makes a Dental Emergency in Apple Valley?
Certain symptoms indicate you’re facing a dental emergency now and should seek immediate care:
- Severe and persistent toothache
- Swelling and inflammation of the gums or jawbone
- Bleeding from the mouth or gums for no apparent reason
- Loose tooth/teeth. In adults, a loose tooth, even without pain, is a major problem
- Loss of a permanent tooth, either due to impact or decay
- Broken or loose dental crown(s)
Common Treatments for Dental Emergencies
Some of the most common dental emergencies in Apple Valley, MN, include:
- Toothache: No tooth pain is normal, whether it’s an intermittent twinge, a dull ache, or a throbbing pain that makes it impossible to function. A toothache could mean anything from food stuck between your teeth to a dental abscess or deep cavity that has reached the tooth’s nerve.
- Chipped or broken teeth: A chipped tooth is not a dental emergency, but it should be checked to ensure there is no other damage to the tooth. A broken tooth that doesn’t involve pain requires prompt attention, but is not necessarily an emergency run to the dentist.
- Lost dental crowns: A dental crown typically doesn’t come off unless it is pulled off by sticky foods like gummy candies or the tooth it covers is decayed. In either case, seeing your emergency dentist promptly allows them to examine the tooth and, if appropriate, cement the crown back in place.
- Lost dental fillings: Tooth fillings aren’t meant to last forever and can wear out or sometimes come out. Visit your dentist as soon as possible so they can look for signs of further decay and replace the filling to protect the tooth.
- Tooth trauma: Dental sports injuries are common, including an adult tooth knocked loose (luxated) or completely out of the socket (avulsed). Treatment is extremely time sensitive in both cases, but more so with a knocked-out tooth. The best chance of saving a knocked-out tooth is to see your dentist within the first hour.
Find Emergency Dental Care and Sedation Dentistry in Apple Valley, MN
If you’re in the Apple Valley area and need a children's emergency dentist now or want to be prepared “just in case,” dentists Dr. Katie Nordeen and Dr. Kyle Nordeen, the team at Carousel Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics are on hand to provide top-quality care, including safe, effective, and caring sedation dentistry, in your moment of need!