What counts as an emergency
A dental emergency involves trauma, infection, or pain that cannot reasonably wait for a routine visit. Examples include a tooth that has been knocked out or pushed out of position, a cracked or fractured tooth, a severe toothache, and a swollen gum or face. Bleeding that does not stop after an extraction, a bump on the gum that resembles a pimple, a lost filling or crown that causes pain, and a sharp edge that cuts the tongue or cheek also warrant a call.
Some conditions are medical emergencies rather than dental ones. Difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling that spreads toward the eye or the neck, a serious injury to the head or jaw, and bleeding that cannot be controlled all require a hospital. In those cases, call 911 or go to an emergency room.
What happens when you call
Calling (303) 978-1522 during office hours allows the office to judge how urgent the problem is. We ask what happened, when the symptoms began, and where the pain is located, and whether there is swelling, fever, bleeding, or a tooth that is cracked, loose, or missing. A list of your current medications is useful, because it helps the dentist plan treatment safely. From this description we tell you how soon to come in. If the symptoms suggest that a hospital is the appropriate place, we say so.
After hours
The office is open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and is closed on holidays. Outside those hours, an answering service takes your message and passes it to the office. We will try to follow up, but we cannot promise to see you outside office hours.
A condition that affects breathing or swallowing, swelling that spreads toward the eye or the neck, or a serious injury requires emergency medical care at any hour. Call 911 or go to an emergency room.
After your visit
At the visit, Dr. Itoafa examines the tooth, the gums, and the surrounding tissues. An X-ray is often taken to show the roots and the bone beneath the surface, where the cause of the problem frequently lies. The first objective is to relieve the pain and treat its cause. Depending on the findings, treatment may consist of repairing the tooth, root canal therapy, a crown, or removing a tooth that cannot be saved.
The care that follows depends on the treatment. Some problems are resolved in a single visit, while others begin with a temporary repair and require a follow-up visit to complete the work. Follow the instructions given at the visit, and call the office if pain worsens, swelling increases, a fever develops, or bleeding returns.
Why Dutch Creek Dental
Dutch Creek Dental is a small practice, and Dr. Mike Itoafa has owned it since 2018. It has served Littleton from West Coal Mine Avenue for more than 30 years. Emergency visits take place in this office during office hours. When a case calls for a specialist, Dr. Itoafa refers you to one he trusts.
Common questions
Can a toothache wait until it improves?
Pain that comes and goes can still indicate decay or infection that is progressing. Pain that stops abruptly is not necessarily a good sign, because a nerve that has died no longer transmits pain while the infection remains. If a toothache persists, call and describe the symptoms.
Will I need a root canal or an extraction?
Not necessarily. The treatment depends on the cause, which a dentist can determine only after an examination and usually an X-ray. Many problems can be managed with a repair, and extraction is reserved for a tooth that cannot be restored.
What if I call after hours?
An answering service takes your message and passes it to the office. The office follows up when it can, but we cannot promise a visit outside office hours. For difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling that spreads toward the eye or the neck, or a serious injury, call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Can I be seen if I am not yet a patient?
Yes, during office hours. Call, describe what happened, and we will tell you how soon to come in. An emergency can be a first visit with the practice.
What should I have ready when I call?
Your name and a telephone number, a description of what happened, when it began, and where the pain is located. A list of your current medications is also useful.