Emergency Dentistry
Emergency Dentistry provided by Our Expert Dentists
in Bells, Jackson, Milan & Lexington, TN at Premier Dental Center
 If you have a dental emergency and you’re in or near Bells, Jackson, Milan, or Lexington, TN, Premier Dental Center is here to help.
Knocked-out teeth, severe pain, swelling, broken teeth, and lost crowns or fillings all qualify as emergencies that need attention as soon as possible. Across our four West Tennessee offices, our team makes room for urgent patients every day we’re open.
Our Jackson office holds 7am to 7pm hours on Mondays and Tuesdays, which gives us the most flexibility for same-day toothache and emergency appointments. Our Bells, Milan, and Lexington offices have their own daily hours and do their best to fit urgent patients in, but availability depends on the day’s schedule.
Call the office closest to you as early in the day as possible. Tell us what’s happening, and we’ll triage you over the phone and let you know how quickly we can get you in.
On This Page
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
 A dental emergency is any situation where waiting could make the problem worse or could cost you a tooth that might otherwise be saved. Some emergencies are obvious. Others surprise patients because they didn’t realize how time-sensitive the issue was.
Common emergencies we handle across our four offices include:
- Severe tooth pain – Pain that’s keeping you awake or interfering with eating warrants prompt attention. See likely causes under toothache treatment.
- Knocked-out tooth – A tooth that’s been knocked out needs to be re-implanted within 30 to 60 minutes for the best chance of saving it. See immediate steps under knocked-out tooth treatment.
- Broken or fractured tooth – A chipped, cracked, or broken tooth can be painful and often exposes inner tooth structure to bacteria. Most cases are addressed through broken tooth repair depending on severity.
- Swelling or signs of infection – Facial swelling, fever with tooth pain, or a bad taste in your mouth can point to a tooth infection or dental abscess that needs prompt treatment.
- Lost crown, bridge, or filling – A restoration that’s come loose or fallen out exposes the underlying tooth and can lead to fracture or decay if not addressed quickly.
- Severe wisdom tooth pain – Acute wisdom tooth pain often needs wisdom teeth removal, and severe jaw pain may signal an issue that needs to be evaluated soon.
If you’re not sure whether your situation is an emergency, call the nearest office and ask. Our team would rather help you decide over the phone than have you wait at home while a small problem becomes a bigger one.
When to Go to the ER Instead
There are a few scenarios where the emergency room is the right first stop. Go to the ER if you have severe facial swelling that’s spreading toward your eye or down your neck, if you’re having trouble breathing or swallowing, if you have uncontrolled bleeding, or if a dental injury came with possible head trauma. The ER can stabilize the situation, and we’ll see you afterward for the actual dental work.
Your Emergency Dental Team
Premier Dental Center has been providing dental care to West Tennessee since 1979. Across our four offices, our team of doctors holds practice-wide credentials and continuing education in IV sedation, oral conscious sedation, implant dentistry, laser dentistry, and the management of patients who are anxious or in pain.
That combination matters in emergency care. Most emergency patients haven’t been planning to come in, and many haven’t seen a dentist in a while. Our team is comfortable working with that, and we won’t make you feel judged for the gap. We focus on the problem in front of us and figure out a path forward together. More about each member of our team on our About Us page.
What to Expect at Your Emergency Visit
 Emergency visits don’t follow the same pace as routine appointments. Our goal is to get you out of pain and stabilize the situation as quickly as possible, then figure out the longer-term plan once you’re comfortable.
Quick Phone Triage
When you call, our front desk team asks a few targeted questions to understand what’s happening: where the pain is, whether there’s swelling or bleeding, and how it started. This helps us know how urgent the visit is and what to have ready when you arrive. If we can’t fit you in at one of our four offices that day, we’ll tell you honestly and help you figure out the next best option.
Rapid Exam and Diagnosis
When you arrive, we get you back to a chair quickly. Our doctor examines the area, takes a digital X-ray if needed, and identifies the source of the problem. Digital X-rays are fast, low-radiation, and the image is on the screen within seconds, which matters when time is limited.
Pain Relief and Stabilization
The first treatment goal is comfort. We numb the area, control any bleeding, and address the immediate cause of the pain. For some patients, that’s enough to get them through the day, with definitive treatment scheduled for a follow-up visit. For others, we can do more right then.
Treatment Options
Depending on what we find, treatment may involve a temporary or permanent filling, a root canal to save an infected tooth, a dental crown to protect a broken tooth, or in some cases a tooth extraction if the tooth can’t be saved. We explain your options and let you decide.
For patients who feel anxious about emergency dental work, our sedation dentistry options include both oral conscious sedation and IV sedation.
Benefits of Same-Day Emergency Care
Acting quickly on a dental emergency does more than relieve pain. The timing of treatment often determines whether we can save a tooth or whether you’ll need more involved restorative work later.
A tooth that’s knocked out has the best chance of successful re-implantation within 30 to 60 minutes, which is why we ask emergency callers to head straight to the closest of our four offices while we prepare to see them. An infected tooth treated within a day or two usually responds to a root canal; left for a week or more, the infection can spread and may force us to extract the tooth instead. We can often seal a cracked tooth caught early before it splits.
The other benefit is psychological. Dental pain wears people down quickly, and the longer you wait, the more it interferes with sleep, work, and everything else. Our Jackson office’s 7am to 7pm Monday and Tuesday hours exist specifically so that patients in pain don’t have to choose between getting treatment and going to work.
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Higher Chance of Saving the Tooth – Most dental injuries and infections have a window where treatment is most effective, and our four-office structure raises the odds of finding an available slot the same day.
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Less Invasive Treatment – Smaller problems addressed early often need smaller interventions. We use soft tissue lasers where appropriate to reduce bleeding and recovery time on gum-related issues.
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Lower Total Cost – Catching the issue early almost always costs less than treating the same problem after it’s progressed, and our team provides written estimates before any major treatment begins.
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Faster Recovery – You’re back to eating, sleeping, and working without distraction sooner, often after a same-day visit during our Jackson office’s extended Monday or Tuesday hours. |
None of that means you should panic about every minor discomfort. It does mean that when something feels wrong, calling sooner gives you more options.
Why Choose Our Team for Emergency Care in West Tennessee
Premier Dental Center has been part of the West Tennessee dental community since 1979. Across our four offices in Bells, Jackson, Milan, and Lexington, we treat patients of all ages, which means we can usually find an emergency slot for someone in your family at the location closest to you.
Our Jackson office’s 7am to 7pm Monday and Tuesday hours give us the most extended-hours capacity for urgent care in the region. That schedule was built specifically to make us accessible to patients who can’t take time off during standard business hours, including emergency patients who need to be seen before or after work.
We invest in technology that supports emergency care: digital X-rays for fast diagnosis, soft tissue lasers that reduce bleeding and speed healing on gum-related issues, and 3D imaging when a complex case calls for it. Our doctors hold practice-wide credentials in IV sedation and oral conscious sedation, which matters when an emergency patient is in significant pain or struggling with dental anxiety.
We’re local. We aren’t a chain. Patients we treat in an emergency often become long-term patients, and many of our families have been with us for decades.
Emergency Dental Cost and Insurance
Cost is reasonable to think about, even in the middle of an emergency. We’ll be straight with you about it.
The cost of emergency treatment depends entirely on what your situation requires. A diagnostic exam with an X-ray is a relatively small charge. The treatments that may follow such as fillings, root canals, crowns, or extractions vary widely in cost. Once our doctor has identified the cause, our front office team gives you a written estimate before any major work begins so you can decide on your own terms.
Most dental insurance plans cover diagnostic visits and a portion of common emergency treatments. Our team verifies your benefits and explains what your plan will cover. See our insurance and financing options for the plans we work with and the financing we offer through Cherry, Sunbit, and CareCredit. If you’re uninsured, ask about our membership plan, which gives patients without dental insurance access to cleanings, exams, X-rays, and a discount on additional treatment for a flat annual fee.
Call Us Now for Emergency Dental Care
If you’re in pain or you’ve had a dental injury, call Premier Dental Center at 731-300-3000 right away. We serve patients across Bells, Jackson, Milan, and Lexington, TN. You can also request an appointment online. See our four office locations for hours and direct phone numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have 24/7 emergency dental service?
No, and we want to be honest about that. We don’t offer overnight or weekend emergency service. Our Jackson office holds 7am to 7pm hours on Mondays and Tuesdays, which is the most extended availability across our four offices. For true after-hours emergencies, particularly anything involving severe swelling, breathing difficulty, or possible head trauma, go to your nearest ER first.
Which of your four offices should I call for an emergency?
Call the office closest to you first, and if they can’t fit you in that day, try the next nearest location. Our Jackson office has the most extended hours, which often gives it the most flexibility for same-day appointments. Each office’s phone number and hours are listed across our four office locations.
What should I do if I knock out a tooth?
Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), not the root. Gently rinse off any dirt with water without scrubbing. If you can, try to place the tooth back into its socket. If that’s not possible, store it in milk or in your own saliva and call our office immediately. Time matters: the best chance of saving the tooth is within 30 to 60 minutes. Full instructions on knocked-out tooth treatment.
Can a broken tooth wait a few days?
A tiny chip with no pain may be able to wait a day or two for a regular appointment. A larger break, especially one that’s painful, has sharp edges, or has exposed the inner tooth, should be seen the same day to prevent infection and further damage. When in doubt, call and we’ll help you decide.
I’m anxious about coming in. Can you help with that?
Yes. Our team has continuing education specifically focused on managing patients who are anxious or fearful about dental work, and we offer both oral conscious sedation and IV sedation when needed. Let us know on the phone that anxiety is a concern, and we’ll plan the visit around making you as comfortable as possible.
Does insurance cover emergency dentistry?
Most dental insurance plans cover emergency diagnostic visits and a portion of treatments like fillings, root canals, and extractions. Coverage of specific procedures varies by plan. Our team verifies your benefits when you arrive and provides an estimate before we begin any major work. If you’re uninsured, we offer financing and a membership plan that helps reduce out-of-pocket cost.
What if my child has a dental emergency?
Call us right away. Our team treats patients of all ages, and we’ll help you triage what’s happening over the phone. For knocked-out baby teeth, the situation is different than with permanent teeth (baby teeth are typically not re-implanted), but we still want to see your child to confirm there’s no damage to the underlying permanent tooth and to address any pain or bleeding. |
