Downtown Dental

Richard Rathke DDS

Request an Appointment

(504) 528-7800

General and Aesthetic Dentistry

307 Tchoupitoulas St., Ste 200. New Orleans, LA 70130

Downtown Dental > Our Services > Emergency Services

Downtown Dental offers high-quality services for dental emergencies in New Orleans.

woman calling the dentist in New Orleans

Call ASAP for Dental Emergencies!

Click Here

Emergency Dentist in New Orleans

No matter how often you brush and floss your teeth, at some point, you and your family may still experience a dental emergency. They can start with small tooth pain and discomfort that never goes away.

Dental emergencies can pop up at any time—and they usually happen at the most inopportune times.

If you are suffering from severe dental pain, you have had trauma to your face or mouth, or you have lost a tooth, don't panic—but don't wait to call us either. Even if you are a new patient, we always leave room in our schedule for dental emergencies, and we will probably be able to get you in for an appointment.

Many Americans will have to deal with a dental emergency throughout their lives. Patients who have had one know that they can be stressful and painful. Your emergency dentist in New Orleans, LA works hard to relieve any pain or discomfort. We make our patient's health and comfort our priority—especially during an emergency.

If you have had something happen and you are not sure whether it is an emergency or not, you should still call us. We can help determine whether you need to be seen right away or if we can schedule you for our next open appointment.

At Downtown Dental, we invite patients to give us a call immediately, no matter if they are new or existing patients. Our dental team is available to help in any way you need us. If you have a dental emergency, we will do our best to see you the same day. Dental emergencies are not the best times to start shopping for a new dentist. When patients are experiencing a painful dental situation, they may feel relief seeing a familiar and gentle face. We make sure our patients feel right at home.

We Are Available to See You During Your Dental Emergency
Reasons You Might Need an Emergency Dentist in New Orleans
What Are Dental Emergencies?
Emergency Dental Services We Provide
Reasons You Might Be Able to Wait to See a Dentist
How to Prevent Most Dental Emergencies
Call Us When You Experience a Dental Emergency in 70130

We Are Available to See You During Your Dental Emergency in NOLA

Scheduling a dental emergency in advance is unheard of, which is why we keep our schedule available for patients.

We reserve time every day to make room for last-minute visitors. We do everything we can to see patients on the same day. Not all dental emergencies are full of blood and gore, but for ones that are painful and uncomfortable, we will help provide much-needed relief and comfort.

You don't have to be a current patient to enjoy pain relief and peace of mind; we invite everyone to call Downtown Dental at (504) 528-7800.

Reasons You Might Need an Emergency Dentist in New Orleans

If you have suffered a blow or injury to your mouth, you should probably give us a call so we can get you in right away—particularly if one of your teeth has become broken or cracked. Even if your teeth appear to be fine, Dr. Richard Rathke can conduct a full examination to ensure there hasn't been any damage done to your teeth below the gum line.

If your tooth is completely avulsed (knocked out), it's crucial to get immediate attention to improve the chances of saving your tooth. Try to keep the tooth moist—either in your own saliva or in a container of milk—while you get yourself to the dentist. Seeing patients within 30 minutes of losing a tooth gives us the greatest chance of saving it.

Another typical dental emergency is a toothache that goes from bad to excruciating very quickly. When your tooth pain is unbearable, it might be because of an infection in the tooth root. A root canal will not only end your suffering, but it can save your tooth as well.

If you are experiencing pain or distress, do not hesitate to give us a call. Tooth pain will not go away on its own and is often an indicator of a more significant oral health issue.

What Are Dental Emergencies?

A dental emergency is any issue with your dental health. Ranging from a loose filling to a knocked-out tooth, many indicators require urgent care. At Downtown Dental dental emergencies can include:

Infection to the teeth or gums
Mild to excruciating tooth pain
Injury from an accident
Fractured tooth
Unusual sensitivity in teeth
Swollen gums
Damaged dentures
Loose fillings or dental crowns

If you are unsure about coming in immediately, call us so we can assess your situation. Our friendly dental team will be able to provide advice on how to handle your dental emergency until you can come to see us.

Emergency Dental Services We Provide at Downtown Dental

At Downtown Dental, we provide reliable and efficient emergency dentistry services for our New Orleans community:

Tooth fillings
Cosmetic bonding
Dental crowns
Gum disease treatment
Root canals
Dental extractions

If you don't have a situation that is listed, call us to go over your symptoms. Chances are we can handle your dental emergency and provide pain relief.

Reasons You Might Be Able to Wait to See a Dentist

Sometimes your situation might feel like an emergency, but it might be able to wait.

For example, if you have lost a dental crown or filling, you will have sensitivity in the area, but you can probably wait until it's convenient. If you have food stuck between your teeth that isn't coming out when flossing, it might be irritating, but it is not an emergency. You can continue to floss until it dislodges. Using a rinse may also help. Mild sensitivity in your mouth warrants a trip to the dentist, but you can probably wait until the next available appointment slot.

Dental pain can be difficult to judge; some people might not think that their tooth pain requires a trip to the dentist. When it comes to your teeth and gums, it is always good to err on the side of caution.

How to Prevent Most Dental Emergencies

At your New Orleans dental office, we are big believers in practicing preventive dental care.

There are many reasons to visit your dentist twice each year for examinations and cleanings, and the prevention of dental emergencies is just one of them. When you skip routine dental appointments, potential oral health problems go undetected.

A small spot of decay on your tooth that could have been taken care of with a simple dental filling grows into a large cavity that leads to an infection in your gums and a toothache. Whereas before a filling might have sufficed, you might now need a root canal to help save your tooth.

Routine dental cleanings and exams allow Dr. Rathke the opportunity to check the progress of your oral health and notice anything abnormal.

Call Us When You Experience a Dental Emergency in 70130

Call your New Orleans dentist at Downtown Dental if you need emergency dental care. We can talk you through whatever you are experiencing to help you decide whether you need to be seen that day.

Don't try to wait out your dental pain! It may only get worse and keep you in discomfort. Call us right away so we can put you in our schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer emergency dental care?

Downtown Dental offers emergency dentistry to anyone who needs it, even if you’re not one of our current patients. We understand accidents can happen at any time of the day or night, which is why we always try to accommodate last-minute visitors.

We welcome anyone with a dental emergency to please contact our office so we can help relieve your pain and discomfort as soon as possible.

Time Is of the Essence For Your Dental Emergency in New Orleans

When it comes to dental emergencies, timely care is crucial. The difference between losing a tooth and saving one depends on the quality of care you receive and how quickly you receive it.

Dr. Rathke is an emergency dentist in New Orleans who understands your concerns and anxieties about health and well-being. From the moment you step into our office, we are committed to providing you with the utmost respect and consideration. You can take comfort in knowing that you will be in the most caring and capable hands in town.

Expert Emergency Care at Downtown Dental

Dr. Rathke’s passion is helping others attain healthy, beautiful smiles that can last a lifetime. Our patients agree: Dr. Rathke is the best dentist in New Orleans!

Whatever your situation may be, our experienced team at Downtown Dental is committed to providing you with the comfort and peace of mind you deserve. Whether you require treatment for a painful abscess or a broken tooth, you can rest assured we will do everything in our power to restore your smile’s health and appearance.

Contact Us for Emergency Dental Care

Downtown Dental is committed to providing top-tier dental care to every member of your family—from toddlers and teens to adults. Dr. Rathke is a skilled and compassionate dentist in New Orleans who leads our team in providing our community unparalleled service.

If you need emergency dentistry, our team at Downtown Dental can provide you with the prompt and gentle treatment you need. We welcome you to call us anytime at (504) 528-7800.

Do you perform emergency dentistry with sedation?

At Downtown Dental, our skilled New Orleans dentist is equipped to handle any emergency dentistry treatments necessary to restore your healthy smile. We understand that many conditions leading you to call our New Orleans dental office for emergency care can be traumatic and unwelcome. For patients already experiencing dental anxiety, the need for an emergency dentist can significantly increase that stress.

If this experience describes yours, we want you to take solace in knowing that we are always ready to treat you. Even if you are a new patient, we leave space in our daily schedule to accommodate patients with urgent care needs. In most cases, we will treat you the same day.

We Offer Emergency Dentistry and Sedation in New Orleans, LA

We will often treat a dental emergency with procedures like root canal therapy or tooth extraction. Our dental team will place your comfort as a top priority, so we ensure your teeth and gums are thoroughly numbed before starting. For most patients, this is enough for them to tolerate treatment.

If you prefer more extensive sedation beyond local anesthetic, we also offer nitrous oxide. We administer this safe gas through a comfortable nose mask and monitor it to enhance your relaxation. We administer this gas throughout treatment, and once complete, we can mix it with oxygen, and the effect wears off quickly. With no lingering side effects, most patients can return to their regular schedule, drive home, or return to work.

We encourage you to discuss your sedation options with a team member to learn more.

What are the common dental emergencies?

Impact injury, accident, or other trauma to your mouth and teeth may, by definition, be treated as a dental emergency. However, many issues with your dental health can become a dental emergency under certain circumstances. For example, a dental cavity usually starts as a small hole or pit in your tooth enamel. But if you avoid timely treatment, a cavity will grow until it penetrates your inner tooth and may require a more costly root canal therapy.

At Downtown Dental, we have extensive experience treating urgent dental conditions in New Orleans, LA. From that experience, we have assembled this list of common conditions that often become dental emergencies, along with our recommended response:

Severe toothache – Pain is a common symptom of your need for urgent dental care, especially when it's so bad that you cannot function at home or work. When you call our New Orleans dental office, we recommend you be prepared with a description of how much it hurts on a scale of 1 to 10 and the area where your pain is focused.
Serious dental infection – Sometimes bacteria penetrates your tooth or gums and begins to spread, causing symptoms like reddened and swollen gums, heat, and a bitter taste in your mouth. Infections usually progress, and if gone unchecked, they may threaten your overall health.
Chipped or fractured tooth – If you damage a tooth, you may want to seek urgent treatment to avoid even more serious problems, like complete tooth loss.
Damaged dental filling, crown, or denture – We recommend you call our office to discuss the extent of your broken dental restorations. Often, timely treatments will allow us to preserve your restoration instead of allowing further damage to occur.

In any case, we encourage you to contact and discuss your situation with a team member so we can advise you on emergency dental care. Our New Orleans dentist is here to provide the guidance you need.

What should I do during a dental emergency?

If you are experiencing tooth or jaw pain in New Orleans—you may be experiencing a dental emergency. Even if you're unclear about what constitutes an emergency, we encourage you to seek immediate attention.

Our priority is relieving your pain and fixing the oral issue as fast as possible. Your emergency dentist in New Orleans, Dr. Richard Rathke, can assist you during your dental emergency.

What Is the First Thing I Should Do?

If you are experiencing pain or bleeding, don't hesitate to seek help. Call our dental office to arrange an emergency dental visit so we can determine the scale of the emergency. Our first priority is to relieve any pain so that you can remain calm and comfortable.

Some dental emergencies, like a lost filling or broken dental crown, may not need immediate action and can sometimes wait until the next business day. Other contingencies, like a broken or knocked-out tooth, may have a time window to replace the tooth successfully.

Call Our Dental Office Immediately

If you need an emergency dentist New Orleans, LA, please call Downtown Dental, at (504) 528-7800. We can let you know if you should go to an emergency room instead, and we will provide helpful instructions on how to be safe and comfortable on your way to our dental office.

We always make room to see our patients same-day if possible. Don't let an oral emergency become worse over time. We can help with any pain and get your oral health back on track.

When should I contact an emergency dentist?

Many events in New Orleans, LA, can be considered emergencies. But regarding teeth, several instances are definitive examples of when you should contact an emergency dentist. At other times, you will need to assess the problems to help determine if you require urgent care. So let’s start with the definite emergencies.

Avulsed (completely knocked-out) tooth – where a permanent tooth has been knocked out but is still intact, we can save the tooth if you take immediate action, following these steps:

Handle only by the crown or top and avoid touching the root.
Gently clean any dirt or debris.
Keep the tooth moist in your saliva or submersed in milk.
Call us immediately.

Other reasons to seek critical care are significant swelling in your mouth that could threaten to block your airways or symptoms of an advanced infection like high fever and swelling in your neck and glands that also endangers your breathing.

How to Respond to Possible Dental Emergency

Numerous conditions may cause tooth, gum, or mouth pain, swelling, or other symptoms that interfere with your normal flow of life. This is a great reason to have an established family dentist New Orleans, LA, who knows your current dental health status and with whom you’ve created a connection. This way, you know who to call and how to describe your symptoms.

If you are experiencing a severe toothache or other symptoms, we invite you to call Downtown Dental. Most dental conditions require treatment, and without action, they will continue to worsen. We hope you’ll reach out to us before it gets that bad.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Richard Rathke DDS

Dr. Richard M. Rathke, Jr., grew up in Lacombe, Louisiana, and attended Slidell High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University (2006) and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from LSU School of Dentistry (2012). Dr. Rathke takes pride in providing dental services as he would for himself and his family while ensuring that every patient is comfortable throughout the procedure.

Some of the continuing education courses Dr. Rathke has taken include the following:

Sports Dentistry Trauma
Advanced Dentoalveolar Surgery for the General Practitioner
Maxillary Implant Prosthetics
Insights into Prosthodontic ...

Featured Blog Posts - Emergency Services

July 26, 2022

3 Signs You Need Emergency Dental Care

man with toothache | dentist near me New Orleans, LA

Some dental emergencies pose a significant risk to your oral health and can leave you in pain. For these reasons, our emergency dentist in New Orleans is happy to treat these situations as soon as possible.

We never want to risk your oral health or allow you to suffer from a toothache!

Of course, some dental emergencies are not straightforward. For example, you have an oral health issue but aren’t sure if it’s genuinely a dental emergency.

Some dental emergencies are not immediately apparent. So, if ever you’re in doubt, we encourage ...