Dental Emergency in Alexandria, VA

When your tooth suddenly breaks or chips, you have a sudden onset of severe tooth pain, you experience significant trauma to your mouth or face, or you lose a tooth, you should seek emergency dental care at Old Town Dentistry as soon as possible. This is because any of these situations can result in pain or discomfort that can get worse or put you at risk for further complications. 

If you see our emergency dentist as soon as possible, we can perform the necessary procedures such as root canal therapy to treat infected teeth, oral surgery for broken jaws, or even tooth extraction to prevent further damage or infection. If you are experiencing any mouth pain or bleeding, make an appointment with our dentist as soon as possible to avoid long-term damage to your smile.

Symptoms of a Dental Emergency

• Severe toothaches when you eat or drink hot or cold foods or drinks
• Pain and swelling in the jaw
• Facial swelling
• Cracked or broken tooth
• The tooth was knocked out completely
• Bleeding from the mouth
• A toothache caused by an abscessed tooth
• Broken crown or filling
• Wire poking at the gum line
• Objects stuck between the teeth
• Swelling in the gums 
• Excessive drooling
• Loose tooth
• Jaw locked in position
• Trouble speaking or swallowing
• Gums that are red or swollen
• Dark spot on the gums or tongue

Benefits of Emergency Dentistry

If you have a dental emergency, there are several restorative treatments that can be completed in one visit to our dental office. For example, we can perform root canal therapy to remove the damaged nerve tissue from an infected tooth and then seal the tooth to prevent bacteria from further infecting the tooth’s root. Root canal therapy can save your tooth and prevent the need for extraction. 

The faster you come into our dental office after a traumatizing event, the more likely you are to have a positive outcome, such as saving your tooth. If you wait too long after an injury, the injury may worsen and affect the tissues and bone supporting the teeth. This can lead to more invasive and expensive procedures to address complications. 

Seeing our dentist immediately after a dental injury can help prevent infection and reduce the likelihood of needing extensive restorations. These procedures can include crowns, bridges, implants, or even dentures. 

If you have a painful toothache, seeing our dentist for treatment can lead to relief. Sometimes, pain can be a sign that the tooth's nerve is damaged. An antibiotic prescription or a filling can help eliminate your discomfort.

Regardless of the situation, you must seek immediate help for any pain that keeps you up at night or interferes with your life during the day. To schedule an emergency dental appointment, call Old Town Dentistry at (703) 683-0800.