Emergency Dentist in Fairfax

If you have a dental emergency, do you know whom to call in Fairfax? If not, then we can help. A dental emergency can completely disrupt your day and make you abandon all the plans you had. Even though you may not want to, you realize that you have to address your dental emergency before you do anything else. If you have a dental emergency in Fairfax, then call our emergency dental office first. We do our utmost to see emergency dental patients on the same day they call, and we’ll make every effort to minimize your wait time. If it’s after regular hours, then go to your local emergency room

What Types of Procedures Are Considered to Be a Dental Emergency in Fairfax?

 Dental emergencies are classified on the severity of the issue, the degree of discomfort for the patient, and the ramifications of not receiving prompt treatment. Some emergencies occur during regular hours while others occur after hours: All are emergencies. However, the following issues are always considered emergencies, and you should seek dental treatment without delay:

1. An abscessed tooth
2. Knocked-out teeth 
3. Dry socket pain
4. Cracked or broken teeth
5. Bleeding that will not stop after 15 minutes 
6. Severe toothaches with pain or pressure. 
7. Uncontrolled bleeding

What Should You Do When You Have Broken or Fractured Teeth?

If you’ve broken or fractured a tooth, you should seek immediate treatment for it. Cover any jagged edges with dental wax, then call our office for an appointment. If it’s after hours, then go to the emergency room. It’s important to get prompt treatment for a broken or cracked tooth so that an infection doesn’t start and to facilitate repair of the tooth so that you don’t need an artificial replacement.

Usually, a knocked-out tooth occurs in very young children and young teens, but it can occur to anyone at any age. If you or your child experiences a knocked-out tooth, hold it by the crown only, rinse it well with warm water, and then replace it in the socket. Keep holding it there, then call our emergency dental office, and we’ll see you as soon as possible. When treated promptly, knocked-out teeth often reattach, and you’ll not need an artificial replacement.

Call our Fairfax office today if you need emergency dental care! Our dentists are ready to help. 

Pain and Swelling Indicate a Serious Dental Issue

Swelling is your body’s way of saying that there’s a problem. So if you have facial edema, it needs to be addressed without delay. Call us for an emergency appointment, and we’ll see you as soon as possible.

An abscessed tooth is always an emergency because it’s very serious to the point of becoming life-threatening. Rarely does an abscessed tooth occur within a couple of days, however. It’s usually the result of long-term neglect of an infected tooth. If you have an infected tooth, don’t let it progress to an abscess. Get it treated without delay.

The membranes in your mouth are very thin and permeable, so the bacteria in the abscess can travel throughout your body and attack your major organs, including your heart, so an abscessed tooth is very serious. Call us for an emergency appointment during regular hours or go to your hospital emergency room if it’s after hours.

Dry socket pain typically occurs a few days after an extraction, and it’s very painful. Normally, the pain isn’t manageable with over-the-counter remedies, so you’ll need a prescription. Call our office for an emergency appointment or go to the ER. If you have an extraction scheduled, be sure to ask your dentist how you can avoid dry socket pain.

If you have a crown or filling that has loosened or has been lost, then call our Fairfax office for an emergency appointment during regular business hours. We can re-cement a crown or replace a filling. If you’ve lost a crown, we can provide you with a temporary one to wear until your permanent crown arrives.

How Do I Know If I Have A Dental Emergency?

If you have severe pain or pressure, particularly if it occurs suddenly, then you need immediate emergency treatment. Pain and pressure always indicate a problem that needs to be addressed, and they can have severe consequences when they’re not treated.

Uncontrolled bleeding is also a dental emergency and occurs when you’ve tried unsuccessfully to staunch the blood flow for at least 15 minutes, including applying pressure to the area, but the bleeding hasn’t stopped. You need emergency dental treatment, so call our Fairfax office during regular hours or go to the nearest hospital ER if it’s after hours.

If you have one or more of the following, you have an emergency and should go directly to the ER:

• Severe bleeding
• Severe swelling
• Sudden injury to the face, head, jaw, or teeth

You should call 911 or go to the nearest ER if any of the above symptoms are also accompanied by one or more of the following:

• Chills
• Fever
• Difficulty with breathing or swallowing

Can Being Proactive Help Me Avoid Dental Emergencies?

 Maintaining the best possible oral hygiene can help deter dental emergencies, although it won’t completely prevent them. Things happen unexpectedly that no amount of preparation can forestall. For instance, a car accident can precipitate a dental emergency, or you can develop a disease, such as oral cancer. Since oral cancer and many other diseases present without symptoms, we recommend that all our patients who are at least 18 get screened for oral cancer during their annual exam.

How Can I Find an Emergency Dentist in Fairfax?

If you need an emergency dentist in Fairfax, then call Rye Smiles for Life at (703) 565-2503, and we can help you get the treatments you need during regular hours or after hours.

If you’re in pain and have a dental emergency, call us today. We look forward to helping you.