What Dental Emergencies Do We Treat?

We evaluate and treat many types of dental emergencies, including:

• Severe or persistent tooth pain
• Dental infections and abscesses
• Facial or gum swelling
• Broken, chipped, cracked, or fractured teeth
• Knocked-out teeth
• Loose or displaced teeth
• Broken or lost fillings
• Detached or damaged crowns and bridges
• Loose dental implants or implant components
• Dental trauma
• Jaw pain
• Pain or sensitivity when biting
• Bleeding following a dental procedure

Some dental problems may initially seem minor but can worsen when treatment is delayed. Contact our office if you are unsure whether your situation requires urgent dental care. Our team can help you determine the appropriate next step.

What Should I Do Before My Emergency Appointment?

When you call, our team will ask about your symptoms, when they began, and how the problem occurred. Based on the type of emergency, we will provide instructions to help you manage the situation until your appointment.

We may ask you to email or text a clear photograph of the affected area. This can help us understand the situation, determine how quickly you should be seen, and prepare for your visit.

Until your appointment:

• Avoid chewing on the affected side.
• Do not use household glue to reattach a crown, filling, bridge, or tooth fragment.
• Bring any loose crown, bridge, tooth fragment, implant component, or dental appliance with you.
• Call us if your pain, swelling, or symptoms become worse.

What Happens During an Emergency Dental Visit?

During your emergency appointment, we will examine the affected area and may take digital X-rays to identify the source of the problem.

Our immediate goals are to:

• Relieve your discomfort
• Diagnose the condition
• Protect the affected tooth
• Prevent additional damage
• Explain your treatment options

Treatment will depend on the cause of the emergency and may include:

• Repairing or replacing a filling
• Recementing or replacing a crown
• Treating a dental infection
• Root canal therapy
• Stabilizing a damaged tooth
• Repairing a chipped or fractured tooth
• Extracting a tooth that cannot be saved

In some situations, we may provide temporary treatment during the emergency visit and schedule a follow-up appointment to complete the final restoration.

What Should I Do if a Tooth Is Knocked Out?

A knocked-out permanent tooth requires immediate attention.

Hold the tooth by the crown rather than the root. If it is dirty, gently rinse it without scrubbing. Do not remove any attached tissue.

When possible, carefully place the tooth back into its socket. If that is not possible, keep it moist in milk or a tooth-preservation solution and contact our office immediately.

The sooner the tooth is treated, the greater the possibility that it can be saved.

What Should I Do if the Office Is Closed?

Leave a message for our office, and a member of our team will contact you as soon as possible when we reopen.

Patients who believe they need to speak with the doctor urgently may call or text our after-hours line at 240-485-5764.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you are experiencing:

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Rapidly increasing facial swelling
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• A serious facial or jaw injury
• Another potentially life-threatening medical emergency

Contact an Emergency Dentist in Washington, DC

Prompt dental treatment can often relieve pain and prevent an urgent problem from becoming more complicated.

Contact Modern Dentistry if you are experiencing a toothache, broken tooth, dental infection, swelling, damaged restoration, or another urgent dental concern.

When you need an emergency dentist in Washington, DC, call Modern Dentistry at (202) 506-5506.