Emergency Dentistry – Virginia Beach, VA

Emergency Dental Care When You Need it Most

When you are experiencing a dental emergency in Virginia Beach, you want to fix it fast! Time is often of the essence with these situations, and you can feel pain that you need to relieve. The good news is that we at Smile Care Family Dentistry are here to help. Our team of experienced dental professionals can address any dental emergency and give you the best treatment available. We also do our best to accommodate these appointments as soon as possible, often we can offer appointment for emergency dentistry in Virginia Beach, VA on the same day patients call.

Why Choose Smile Care Family Dentistry
for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Appointments Available
  • Very Accommodating Staff
  • Accepts Many Dental Insurance Plans
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What We Do in a Dental Emergency

Woman in need of emergency dentistry holding cheek in pain
  • After you get in touch with our dental office, we’ll not only get you scheduled as soon as we can, but we’ll be happy to provide first-aid tips that work to improve your situation before you arrive. With same-day appointments and walk-ins available, there’s no reason not to get in touch and make sure your dental emergency is properly taken care of.
  • When you do arrive, our front desk will check you in and get you seen by Dr. Javeed as soon as possible. She’ll ask you questions about your symptoms, perform a detailed oral exam, and capture X-rays to locate the source of your dental issue.
  • From there, a treatment plan can be developed. We’ll always prioritize getting you out of pain first. Then, we’ll break down which services we think would best address your dental problem, whether that be dental fillings, root canal therapy, or another option.

Common Dental Emergencies

In most dental emergencies, your first step is to call our dental office right away. In addition to scheduling your appointment, we can provide additional guidance for your specific circumstances. Between that time and when you can come in, there are things you can do to set yourself up for treatment success.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

How to prevent dental emergencies in Virginia Beach

If you want to prevent dental emergencies in Virginia Beach, you’ll need to make sure you follow certain steps to avoid damage and decay. A sudden trip to the emergency dental office is never what anyone has in mind, so if you’re ready to be proactive in taking better care of your smile, here are a few key ways to minimize the risk of serious injury to your smile.

Keep Your Regular Dental Appointments

Woman during dental checkup in Virginia Beach

Six-month dental checkups and cleanings are necessary for optimal oral health, but they’re also beneficial if you want a professional to identify problem areas before they become dental emergencies. By checking for tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and other potential issues, your dentist can mitigate the possibility of dental injuries that can stem from poor oral hygiene. Letting our team thoroughly examine and clean your teeth twice a year is a worthwhile investment of your time and money.

Keep Brushing and Flossing

Man brushing teeth in Virginia Beach

In between appointments, you should make sure that you are adhering to morning and nighttime oral hygiene regimes. This includes brushing for two minutes using fluoridated toothpaste, flossing at least once a day before bed, and rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash. This will help to eliminate bacteria and particles that can become embedded inside teeth and gum tissues, causing serious oral health problems that require root canal therapy, tooth extraction, periodontal therapy, and more.

Be Mindful What You Eat

Person eating salad in Virginia Beach

If you want to stay away from the emergency dental office in Virginia Beach, spend some time cleaning out your refrigerator and pantry. Why? Because you’ll want to reduce the number of foods that contain high amounts of sugar and starch. Eating too much of these can cause you to develop tooth decay and gum disease. However, by incorporating healthier alternatives into your diet, such as leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and dairy, you can strengthen tooth enamel and improve gum health.

Wear a Mouthguard to Protect Your Teeth

Mouthguard in Virginia Beach

Sports are an exciting pastime for many adults, which is why wearing a customized mouthguard is one of the best investments you’ll make in your smile. Instead of spending thousands of dollars to fix a broken or knocked-out tooth caused by a hard tackle or sudden fall on your run, you can minimize the risk with the help of a soft cushion that is worn inside your mouth to better protect your pearly whites and soft oral tissues.

These oral devices are also helpful if you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding). It creates a barrier between the upper and lower arches, keeping your teeth from touching throughout the night and wearing down your tooth enamel.

Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth

Couple smiling in Virginia Beach

Scissors, pliers, and other tools are designed to open packages and containers, not your teeth. It’s too easy to bring a bag up to your mouth and let your pearly whites do the trick. However, the potential dangers of this are many, such as cutting your gums, chipping a tooth, or even breaking one. Restorative dentistry can be costly, so if you want to keep more money in your pocket and your teeth firmly in place, let the tools do their job.

Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies

Dental team member and patient discussing the cost of treating dental emergencies

Dental emergencies do not come around often; however, when they do, having a dedicated dentist you can rely on for emergency care is always a good thing. While you’re looking for painkillers to ease a toothache or a cold compress to reduce swelling following a bad fall, you’re likely not thinking about how much your treatment will end up costing. At Smile Care Family Dentistry, we want to make it as easy as possible to get your emergency care done and paid for. That’s why our team members are prepared to help you understand your dental insurance and financial options along the way. If you have a dental emergency, please don’t wait to give our dental office a call right away!

What Can Influence the Cost of Urgent Care?

Dental team members and patient discussing factors that influence the cost of emergency dentistry

Compared to preventive forms of care, such as dental exams and cleanings, emergency services are generally more costly to treat because they involve more time and resources to complete. With that said, you can also see notable changes in price as a result of:

  • Dental office location: If you are visiting a dental office in a more expensive area or are coming from an area that is not a larger city, you may notice that the cost of living is higher. This can also be reflected in the price of your emergency treatment.
  • Dental Insurance: If you have dental insurance, you’re generally more likely to pay fewer out-of-pocket costs.
  • Restorative treatment options: Dental fillings, dental crowns, and root canal therapy all come with their own unique price tags. Depending on the type of emergency you’re dealing with, your costs may be higher or lower.

Dental Emergency FAQs

a person holding their mouth in pain

In the midst of a dental emergency in Virginia Beach, it can be difficult to think clearly and make fast judgement calls to keep the issue from becoming worse. Fortunately, our team at Smile Care Family Dentistry is here to help you get the answers you need. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the most common questions we get from emergency patients. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to call us!

Will my toothache go away on its own?

You should never wait for a toothache to go away on its own, because if it does, it could be a sign that the issue has just gotten worse.

When toothaches develop due to infections that have formed within the inner chamber of a tooth, they require immediate treatment. If you wait, it could cause harmful oral bacteria to kill off the nerves within the tooth, making your pain suddenly disappear because the tooth is no longer alive. This could lead you to needing a tooth extraction and replacement instead of root canal therapy.

Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?

Unfortunately, most emergency rooms don’t have on-call dentists or dental professionals on-staff, meaning they aren’t equipped to address these cases adequately or effectively. In some cases, they may help minimize your pain and refer you to an emergency dentist.

If you’re experiencing issues that impact your ability to breathe, facial trauma, or a jaw fracture or dislocation, then it may be necessary for you to visit an emergency room before visiting the dentist to make sure your vitals are stable.

Do I still need to visit an emergency dentist if my chipped tooth doesn’t hurt?

While a chipped tooth may not seem serious, it’s still important to receive timely care because it could lead to a tooth infection down the road. When dental enamel is compromised, it allows harmful oral bacteria access to the more vulnerable inner chamber of the tooth, which is why repairing the tooth is necessary for both protection and aesthetics.

Can I repair broken dentures on my own?

You should never try to repair damaged dentures on your own, because it could lead to an improper fit, causing oral sores and bacteria accumulation on the prosthetic that could cause inflammation and infection of the gums. Instead, bring your dentures in to be professionally repaired so they continue to fit and function as they were crafted to.

 

Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? Toothaches are generally a sign that you’re suffering from either decay or an oral infection. However, there are many other situations that could cause a toothache as well, ranging from mild to serious. If your toothache has any of the following qualities, you should call us right away for emergency dental treatment:

  • Severe pain that’s lasted more than 24 hours
  • A small bump on the gums near the painful tooth
  • Darkening, numbness, or looseness in the painful tooth
  • Sharp pain when biting down or opening your mouth wide

How you should handle a toothache: Carefully rinse your mouth with warm water, and then gently floss around the tooth to make sure the pain is not being caused by any debris. You can take an over-the-counter-pain medication to provide relief until you can see us, but be sure to NOT place an aspirin directly onto your gums near the tooth, as this can damage them.

How we treat toothaches: How we treat your toothache will depend entirely on what’s causing it. After all, a toothache caused by an infection won’t need the same treatment as a toothache cause by enamel damage. Some of our most common treatments for toothaches include fillings, antibiotics, dental crowns, a nightguard for bruxism, or root canal therapy.

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Chipped teeth don’t usually require immediate attention, but they do need to be repaired.. Even if a chip is small and it doesn’t hurt, it’s essential that you come see us as soon as possible so we can keep the damage from getting worse and requiring a more extensive treatment.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: If you chip a tooth, rinse out your mouth with water to wash away any leftover fragments of your tooth. You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever if you are experiencing discomfort or swelling. Avoid chewing or biting with the tooth until it has been treated.

How we treat chipped teeth: Chipped teeth are typically quick, easy, and inexpensive to treat as long as you come seen us soon. Many times, we can fill in the damaged area and restore the appearance of your tooth with the same tooth-colored composite resin we use for fillings. If you’ve chipped a front tooth, you may want to consider a crown for optimal aesthetics.

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Not only are cracked and broken teeth at risk of becoming infected, but the jagged portion of your tooth could cut the inside of your mouth without professional attention. Plus, unlike the rest of your body, a cracked tooth cannot heal itself. It’s best to see us as soon as you can with a cracked or broken tooth.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: If you crack your tooth, rinse the affected area immediately with lukewarm water. Then, hold a cold compress against the appropriate cheek to reduce any swelling that may occur. If needed, cover the sharp edges of your tooth with dental cement or wax. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed.

How we treat cracked teeth: In most cases, cracked teeth are best treated with custom-made porcelain crowns. These beautifully lifelike restorations can restore both the function and appearance of a damaged tooth while preventing future damage and decay. However, if the tooth if severely fractured or damaged beyond repair, we may need to extract it and talk about your tooth replacement options such as a dental bridge or dental implant.

Sensitivity to Hot & Cold

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Tooth sensitivity can mean a few different things. Sometimes it’s a side effect of brushing too aggressively or having a highly acidic diet, while in other cases it’s a sign of damage or decay. It’s best to have sensitive teeth examined as soon as possible, especially if the sensitivity is severe, lasts a long time, and/or only affects specific teeth.

How you should handle very sensitive teeth: Causes can vary, so first you should call our dental office and describe your symptoms; we can either suggest some lifestyle changes or schedule an emergency appointment depending on what you tell us. Keep the mouth clean by drinking lukewarm water, and stay away from any foods that could trigger sensitive teeth.

How we treat very sensitive teeth: The treatment depends on the cause. We may prescribe desensitizing toothpaste or mouthwash, or we can provide a topical fluoride treatment. If the sensitivity is a side effect of gum disease, tooth infection, or another larger problem, we will offer an appropriate treatment.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is my knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? Yes, a knocked-out tooth should always be considered an emergency. Teeth can be lost as a result of trauma, such as getting hit in the face while playing football, falling down and hitting your chin, or even biting down on some ice too hard. It’s possible to save the tooth, but if you don’t act quickly, the cells on the roots will die, and at that point reimplantation will become impossible. Thus, you need to get in touch with our dental office right away and make an appointment within one or two hours of the initial accident.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: Pick it up by the chewing end and run it under some cool water to rinse it off; do not touch or scrub the root. Try to put the tooth back in its socket, or place it between your cheek and gums; you can also store it in milk or a tooth preservation product in order to keep it moist.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: We will make the attempt to reimplant the tooth so that it can reattach to the gums and jawbone. Some teeth cannot be saved and thus need to be replaced instead. Dental bridges and dentures are the most traditional options, but dental implants will replace the entire tooth structure from the roots up.

Lost Filling/Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? Fillings and crowns usually have a lifespan between 5 to 15 years. It’s thus not surprising that they can come off the tooth eventually. The tooth won’t be in immediate danger, but you’ll nevertheless need to see us as soon as possible; you don’t want to leave yourself exposed to harmful infections for too long.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: Take out the filling or crown; save it so that we can determine if it’s worth salvaging. Gargle with salt water to clean your mouth and remove food debris from the tooth. Keep the tooth clean and avoid chewing with it. You can protect it with dental wax or temporary filling material. A lost crown can be placed back on the tooth; you can use toothpaste to help keep it as stable as possible.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: It’s sometimes possible to recement a lost restoration if it hasn’t been too badly damaged, but of course there will be times where you’ll need a new filling or crown. If you haven’t lost the original restoration, make sure you bring it with you to your appointment.

Broken Denture

Is my broken denture a dental emergency? If you accidentally break your denture, you can consider this a dental emergency. Getting help as soon as possible is essential if you want to avoid further damaging your teeth, gums, jaw, and other soft oral tissues. Whether it is your artificial teeth or the base that breaks, calling us to schedule an appointment is the best course of action you can take.

How you should handle a broken denture: A denture repair kit can be helpful; however, you should only use these if you have a situation that requires you have a complete smile immediately. It’s best to thoroughly examine your prosthetic to determine where the break is located. This will make it easier for us to provide this information to our dental team and formulate a personalized treatment plan when you arrive.

How we treat broken dentures: When meeting with Dr. Javeed about your broken denture in Virginia Beach, she will determine if your denture can be repaired using composite resin to fill in small chips or cracks, or if you need a new prosthetic created. If the break is severe and cannot be repaired, the only solution is to either have it replaced with a new one or switch to dental implants for a more permanent and stable solution.

Loose Tooth

Is a loose permanent tooth a dental emergency? A loose tooth in Virginia Beach is certainly nothing to ignore. Permanent teeth are meant to remain in place and never become loose, so even if you are not in any pain, it’s best to call our dental office and schedule an appointment for immediate treatment. If you continue to put it off, the tooth might actually fall out and then you’ll be expected to replace it using dentures, dental bridges, or dental implants.

How you should handle loose permanent teeth: While at home, do not touch your loose tooth. You should also avoid eating anything hard or sticky, as this can pull out the tooth or further damage it. Brushing and flossing should continue, but you’ll need to be mindful when cleaning around the problem tooth.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: Once at our dental office, our team will take a look at the tooth and determine if there is a way to preserve it. If so, we’ll use the appropriate instruments and techniques to help it stay in place. If the tooth is no longer viable and simply cannot be saved, we will need to extract it. If gum disease is the cause of your loose tooth, you will likely need a bone graft to strengthen this foundation structure before getting a dental implants. If permanent prosthetics are not your preference, you can always opt for a dental bridge.

Gums, Lips or Tongue Injury

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? Injured soft oral tissues are typically not viewed as dental emergencies; however, it is best to still see your emergency dentist in Virginia Beach just to be safe. These injuries tend to heal quickly but if the laceration is severe enough, minor treatment may be necessary.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: You should apply clean gauze to the area to stop the bleeding. If it does not cease within 10 minutes, you’ll need to get to your local emergency room for immediate medical attention. Otherwise, make sure to rinse out your mouth and apply a cold compress once the bleeding stops to reduce any potential swelling.

Jaw Pain or Clenching

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? Jaw pain can be considered a dental emergency if the discomfort begins to cause problems every day. Teeth grinding and clenching, facial trauma, and temporomandibular joint issues (TMJ) are the most common causes of jaw pain, so no matter the severity of discomfort, you can also reach out to our dental team for help.

How you should handle jaw pain: When alerting us to your situation, you’ll need to explain the type of pain you’re experiencing. It may be that it’s radiating into your head, neck, and shoulders. You may have difficulty opening and closing your mouth to eat or speak. Our team will provide helpful techniques such as facial massage, jaw stretches, changes to your eating habits, or taking an over-the-counter pain reliever to stay comfortable while you wait to see your emergency dentist in Virginia Beach.

How we treat jaw pain: Depending on the cause of your jaw pain, it may be necessary to undergo TMJ Therapy to address inflammation and additional pressure placed on your joints and facial muscles. A nightguard may also be recommended if you tend to grind or clench your teeth at night (bruxism). If necessary, wisdom tooth removal may also be an option if impacted or partially erupted molars are causing you pain.

Something Stuck Between Teeth

Having something stuck between your teeth can be frustrating while also causing much discomfort. When trying to remove the object, do not use toothpicks, metal instruments, or anything with a sharp edge, as it can further push the object into the gum line and make it harder to dislodge. Instead, use dental floss or a water irrigator to try and remove it. If you are unsuccessful, do not be afraid to let your dentist take care of the problem.