Emergency Dentist in Farmington, NM

Fast Help for Tooth Pain, Broken Teeth and Swelling

Desert Hills Dental Care in Farmington, New Mexico, sees dental emergencies, often on the same day. Call (505) 327-4863 as early in the day as you can. We’re open Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5 pm. If you have facial swelling with a fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest emergency room right away.

If you’re unsure if what you’re experiencing is a dental emergency, call us and tell the front desk what’s going on. We’ll ask a few quick questions, tell you what to do until you get here, and find the soonest opening we have.

Can you walk in? You can stop by during office hours, but calling first is the fastest way to be seen. We see emergencies for current patients and new patients, including those driving in from Aztec, Bloomfield, and Kirtland.

Is It a Dental Emergency?

Some problems need care today, while others can wait a day or two. If you’re not sure, call us. The following issues usually mean you should be seen the same day:

• Tooth pain that’s severe, throbbing, or keeping you awake
• A knocked-out adult tooth (the first hour matters most)
• A broken or cracked tooth, especially with pain or a sharp edge
• Swelling in your gums, face, or jaw, or a pimple-like bump on the gum
• Bleeding that won’t stop after 15 minutes of firm pressure
• A lost crown or filling that leaves a tooth sensitive or sharp
• A loose or broken implant crown, bridge, or denture that you can’t chew with

These can usually wait for the next opening: a small chip with no pain, a crown that came off but doesn’t hurt, or mild sensitivity to cold. An infection can spread, and a crack can get deeper. A tooth that could be saved today may need to come out next week. Call when it starts.

What to Do Right Now

• Toothache: Rinse with warm water, floss gently to remove anything stuck, and use a cold compress on your cheek. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label. Don’t put aspirin on your gum.
• Knocked-out tooth: Pick it up by the top (the crown), not the root. Rinse it gently without scrubbing. Try to put it back in the socket and bite on clean gauze. If you can’t, keep it in milk and call us right away.
• Broken or cracked tooth: Rinse, save any pieces, and use a cold compress if your face is swollen. Avoid chewing on that side.
• Lost filling or crown: Keep the crown and bring it with you. Drugstore dental wax or temporary cement can cover a sharp or sensitive spot for now.
• Swelling or a gum bump: Rinse with warm salt water and use a cold compress. Don’t use heat. Call us the same day.
• Bleeding: Press clean gauze on the spot for 15 minutes. If it doesn’t stop, call us or get emergency care.

Emergency Treatments at Desert Hills Dental Care

Depending on what’s wrong, we may:

• Place a filling or tooth-colored bonding on a chipped or broken tooth
• Re-cement a crown or bridge that came off, or make a new crown, sometimes the same day with CEREC
• Start or finish root canal treatment to save an infected tooth
• Remove a tooth that can’t be saved, with a tooth extraction here in the office
• Drain and treat an abscess, and prescribe medicine if you need it
• Repair a broken denture
• Check and tighten a loose implant crown

Need emergency dental care? Contact our emergency dentists today at (505) 327-4863.

What an Emergency Visit Costs

An emergency exam with X-rays usually costs $100 to $200 before insurance. Treatment costs depend on what you need, and we’ll tell you the price before we start. Most dental insurance plans help with emergency exams and part of the treatment, and we accept Medicaid.

Your exam shows what’s causing the problem, and that decides the treatment. A filling usually costs less than a root canal or an extraction.

See our emergency dentistry cost page for typical ranges, and our financing options if you’d like to pay over time.