Biting down on an olive pit or a hard kernel of popcorn and feeling a sudden, sharp zing is a moment most people remember. Whether it is a crack, a lost filling, or a toothache that will not quit, the first few minutes and the first phone call shape how the rest of the day goes.
From the Shoppes of Avondale on St. Johns Avenue, reaching JAX Dental Studio means crossing the St. Johns River to San Marco by the Fuller Warren Bridge or the Acosta Bridge. Urgent problems qualify for the emergency openings we save each Monday through Thursday, so as a dentist near Avondale we aim to look at the damage the day you call. Dr. Charles Poblenz then shows you the problem on screen before you pick a treatment.
Start by checking how serious things are, then protect the tooth, then call. That order keeps you safe and gives the tooth its best chance.
If the same accident that hurt the tooth also caused a hard blow to the face, heavy bleeding, or trouble breathing or swallowing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room first. Most of the other problems described here are a good fit for a dental chair.
Save any broken pieces in a small bag or container and bring them along. Try not to test the tooth by biting on it, because pressure can widen a crack. Chew on the other side, use a cold compress on your cheek for 20 minutes at a time if there is swelling, and know that a dose of an over-the-counter pain reliever, taken as the label directs, may take the edge off. Just do not hold aspirin against the gum.
A knocked-out adult tooth, a crack that hurts, a piece of tooth that broke away, a crown or filling that came out, pain that keeps building, and swelling near a tooth all call for a same-day visit. Cracked teeth and other emergencies get seen Monday through Thursday, from 8 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon, and the building stays closed Friday through Sunday, so call as early on an open day as you can.
We are in network with BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, Cigna, Aetna, and Florida Combined Life, and we offer CareCredit, Cherry, and an in-house membership plan for patients without insurance.
It depends on how deep the crack goes and how the tooth feels. A deep crack can let bacteria reach the pulp, the soft center of the tooth, and turn mild discomfort into an infection. Pain when you bite down, sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers, or a rough edge your tongue keeps finding all suggest the crack reaches past the surface.
Fine cracks are common, and some never need treatment at all. In a three-year study from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network, published in Clinical Oral Investigations, dentists chose to monitor 1,688 cracked back teeth rather than treat them, and about 80 percent of those teeth stayed on that watch plan for all three years. Others need repair before the crack spreads, and after an exam and digital X-rays, Dr. Poblenz explains which of these options fits your tooth, along with the pros and cons of each.
Our first choice is always to keep your natural tooth when that is realistic. When it is not, Dr. Poblenz walks you through replacements such as dental implants near Avondale, so the gap does not let neighboring teeth drift. If you need a crown, a temporary one protects the cracked tooth while the lab makes your permanent crown, which takes a few weeks.
Avondale was planned with care, with Mediterranean Revival homes built to a consistent standard, and we bring that same attention to detail to every repair. Along with his Florida Dental Association and Northeast District Dental Association memberships, Dr. Poblenz brings a habit of explaining every option in plain words, answering questions without rushing, and letting you make the call.
He also completes continuing education each year well beyond Florida’s requirements, so his methods stay current. If a tooth cracks on a Saturday and the pain is mild, protect it and call when we open Monday.
Avondale patients bring us a wide range of urgent questions, from sore teeth to broken restorations. Here are the ones that come up most often.
Urgent care can check for signs of infection and may prescribe pain medicine or antibiotics, but it cannot drill, fill, or perform a root canal, so the cause of the toothache stays. A dentist can find the source with an exam and X-rays and treat it. Use an emergency room instead for facial swelling with fever or trouble breathing.
The repair depends on how much of the tooth is missing. A small chip is often rebuilt with dental bonding in a single visit, a larger break may call for a porcelain veneer, and a tooth with deep damage may need a crown. Dr. Poblenz reviews the options after an exam, with the pros and cons of each.
Use cold, not heat. A cold compress held against the outside of the cheek, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, eases swelling and dulls pain. Heat can encourage swelling and draw an infection further into the tissue. Never put ice directly on the tooth or gum, because extreme cold can set off sharp pain.
Sometimes. Sinus pressure can cause an ache in the upper back teeth, usually on both sides, along with congestion and pain that changes when you bend over. A true tooth problem tends to hurt in one spot, especially when you chew or drink something hot or cold. An exam with digital X-rays shows which one you have.
It becomes urgent when the break leaves sharp edges, exposes a tooth, or keeps you from eating. Do not use household glue, which can damage the appliance and the gum. Save every piece, wear nothing that cuts, and call us on an open day, and we explain the repair options and fees after an exam.
A cracked tooth cannot heal on its own, and earlier care generally leads to a simpler repair. Dr. Charles Poblenz trained at the University of North Florida and the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, and he uses digital X-rays and our iTero 5D scanner to plan repairs with care. As a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, he handles crowns, root canals, and extractions here in one office.
If a crown is part of the fix, our team can check how your plan covers it before you commit. If you felt that sharp zing or a piece of tooth broke away, schedule your emergency visit with our team.
