Emergency Dentistry – Herndon, VA

Putting a Stop to Dental Pain

When you have severe oral pain or a broken tooth, you need to put everything on hold to have it dealt with right away. Your first step should be to call Cosmetic & Orthodontic Family Dentistry so that we can schedule a same-day appointment. No matter what kind of emergency you’re suffering from, our team will help you find quick relief. Save our number to your phone so that you can call us right away no matter when an emergency happens.

 

Why Choose Cosmetic & Orthodontic Family Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Appointments Available
  • Large Office with Free Parking
  • New, State-of-the-Art Technology

 

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

  • Schedule a same-day appointment: Our office schedules emergency appointments on the same day that you call so that you aren’t left suffering from the pain any longer than necessary. We’ll give you advice for dealing with the emergency over the phone.
  • Comprehensive emergency exam: Each emergency is different, so a comprehensive exam will be performed to narrow down the underlying cause. Any discomfort that you’re experiencing will be addressed at this time.
  • Review findings: We’ll give you a breakdown of what we found in your mouth and what the best form of treatment is. You’ll be given an outline of the costs and expected treatment timeline to help you make your decision.
  • Get the care you need: Finally, we perform whatever treatments are needed to take care of the emergency at hand. It may be as simple as placing a filling or even prescribing antibiotics, but more complex services may be needed for specific issues.

 

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

You need to take immediate action in the event of a dental emergency, but sometimes it’s not clear what counts as an emergency and what doesn’t. The following are common examples of dental issues that need to be addressed as soon as possible to stop your pain and prevent further harm to the rest of your mouth.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Cost probably won’t be the biggest concern on your mind when you’re still dealing with the worst of the pain or the damage of a dental emergency, but you’ll probably want to have an idea of what the price of treatment will be ahead of time. The amount you pay for emergency care depends on the complexity of the issue, and our team will always be fully transparent about what your smile needs as well as what financial options are available.

 

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies strike without warning, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to try and avoid them. By brushing and flossing daily while keeping up with your biannual checkups, you will keep your smile safe from decay and infection. You can wear a mouthguard while playing sports to protect your teeth from impact, and you can minimize wear and tear on your smile by avoiding bad habits like using your teeth to open packages.

 

More to Explore

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Toothaches  

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? While toothaches should never be ignored, they don’t always necessitate same-day treatment either. If the pain has worsened in the last 24 hours, there is a pimple-like bump on your gums, the tooth is discolored, or you’re experiencing any other abnormal symptoms, then call our Herndon dental team ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Toothache From home, there are a few things you can do to stay comfortable until your appointment; don’t chew on that side of your mouth, take an OTC pain reliever as instructed, and place a cold compress against the outside of your cheek to alleviate swelling and temporarily numb the area.

How We Treat Toothaches While one patient’s toothache may be the result of a small cavity, the next may be due to a significant crack. That’s why we need to take X-rays and conduct an oral exam once you arrive at our office. Once we pinpoint the root of the problem, we can review your treatment options, from tooth-colored fillings to lifelike dental crowns.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

Chipped Teeth  

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? A chipped tooth does warrant a call to our office and, in some cases, a same-day appointment. That’s because even a small chip can result in an infection or the tooth splitting further.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth We recommend first using clean water to rinse your mouth. This will remove bacteria from the area as well as any lingering shards of your tooth. You can also use some dental wax or a piece of sugar-free gum to cover the sharp edge, protecting the soft tissue in your mouth from being cut.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth Fortunately, Dr. Ganji offers several treatment options, including veneers and Lumineers. Although they each come with their own benefits, they are similar in that they deliver beautiful, long-lasting, and lifelike results!

LEARN MORE ABOUT VENEERS

LEARN MORE ABOUT LUMINEERS

Cracked Tooth  

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Absolutely! A cracked tooth can cause a lot of discomfort, but that’s not the only reason it’s considered a dental emergency. The tooth is now vulnerable to infection as well as additional damage. Simply put, don’t wait to schedule an appointment with our Herndon emergency dentist, Dr. Ganji.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth Once your appointment is on the calendar, you can move onto the next steps: alleviating any discomfort you’re experiencing and protecting the tooth from further damage. This includes taking OTC pain medication as directed, not chewing on that side of your mouth, and rinsing with clean water periodically to keep the area clean.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth To assess the severity of the crack, we will conduct an oral exam and take X-rays. Most of the time, we can restore the look and function of your tooth with a dental crown. However, there are some cases where the best choice for your oral health is actually to extract it and fill the gap in your smile with a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL BRIDGES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Very Sensitive Teeth  

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Even if you’ve struggled with dental sensitivity in the past, it’s a good idea to give our Herndon dental team a call. After all, there’s a chance that it’s the result of an untreated oral health issue, like tooth decay or gum disease.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth Whether your appointment is the same day you call or a few days later, there are a few measures you can take to alleviate your discomfort, including using a desensitizing toothpaste, avoiding hot beverages, taking an OTC pain reliever, and not eating spicy, acidic, or sugary foods.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth If your teeth are naturally a bit sensitive, then we can recommend products that will help alleviate that sensation, like a prescription mouthwash and desensitizing toothpaste. If, however, it’s the result of tooth decay or gum disease, then we will need to intervene with the appropriate restorative treatment before it progresses any further.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

LEARN MORE ABOUT GUM DISEASE TREATMENT

Knocked-Out Tooth  

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Definitely! In fact, not only is a knocked-out tooth considered a dental emergency, but it necessitates a visit with our Herndon emergency dentist within 60 minutes.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth First, call our team, explain your situation, and schedule a time for you to come in for treatment. Next, locate the tooth. Once you find it, pick it up by the crown and put it carefully in a container of milk or saliva. If neither of these are available, you can also place the tooth back in its socket to preserve the root, but only if it slides into place without any force!

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth There are some cases where we can save your tooth, which is why it’s of the utmost importance that you preserve the root and visit us within the hour for treatment. Of course, there are other times when that’s not possible. In that case, we can fill the open space with a modern, lifelike, and durable tooth-replacement solution, like a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL BRIDGES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Lost Filling or Crown  

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Yes! If one of your restorations has come loose, then you should call our Herndon dental team right away.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown In both cases, you can keep your restoration safe by placing it in a small, clean container. We also recommend rinsing your mouth with room-temperature water periodically to help prevent an infection from developing. If your lost filling or crown has resulted in significant sensitivity, then you can also take an OTC pain reliever as directed to alleviate your discomfort in the meantime.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns Our goal is the same: to restore the look and function of your smile. If we can recement your previous dental crown back in place, then we will. Otherwise, we will restore your tooth with a new dental crown or filling.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

Broken Dentures  

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Broken dentures pose numerous problems, from gum irritation to a restricted diet. So, yes, this is a dental emergency!

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture The first step is calling our team. Once you have your appointment scheduled, it’s really about what you shouldn’t do. For example, don’t use super glue or any other household adhesives to “repair” your dentures. You also shouldn’t wear them in the meantime since this can result in soft tissue injuries and irritation.

How We Treat Broken Dentures If the damage is minor, there’s a good chance we can repair your dentures. If that’s not possible, then we can replace your dentures or upgrade your smile with dental implants!

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTURES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Loose Permanent Tooth  

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? It is! The moment you realize that your tooth isn’t firmly in place, call our Herndon dental team so we can schedule your treatment ASAP.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth Priority number one is not loosening the tooth further, which is why you shouldn’t chew anything crunchy or wiggle it with your tongue or fingers. An infection is also a concern, so rinse periodically with clean water to prevent bacteria from collecting in the area.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth Fortunately, there are many cases where we can save your tooth by providing it with the support it needs to heal back in place. Of course, that isn’t always an option. If the best choice for the look and function of your smile is to extract it, then we will use a dental bridge or implant to fill the open space.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL BRIDGES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue  

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Usually, the answer is “no.” If, however, you’ve applied pressure to the cut for 10 minutes and it continues to bleed, then you should head to your nearest ER.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue There are two steps: rinsing the cut with clean water and applying pressure to the area. If the bleeding continues after 10 minutes, head to the ER. If the bleeding stops, then use a cold compress to minimize swelling.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue Typically, injuries to your gums, lips, or tongue don’t require a visit to our Herndon office. That doesn’t mean we aren’t here to answer any questions you have though! If you forget what to do in the moment or are unsure if your injury necessitates a visit to the ER, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Jaw Pain  

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Jaw pain doesn’t usually necessitate same-day treatment. However, we do recommend calling us if the discomfort has persisted for more than 24 hours. That way, we can schedule a time for you to visit our Herndon emergency dentist, Dr. Ganji, and she can pinpoint the source of the problem.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain Until we discover what’s causing your jaw pain, the only thing you can do is take proactive measures to avoid exacerbating your discomfort. Try not chewing anything crunchy, placing a towel-wrapped icepack against the area, and taking an OTC pain reliever.

How We Treat Jaw Pain First, we need to take X-rays and learn more about your symptoms. Oftentimes, jaw pain boils down to three things: chronic teeth grinding, TMJ Disorder, or impacted wisdom teeth. Whatever the case may be, you can trust that we will create a custom treatment plan designed to deliver long-lasting relief.

Jaw Pain  

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Jaw pain doesn’t usually necessitate same-day treatment. However, we do recommend calling us if the discomfort has persisted for more than 24 hours. That way, we can schedule a time for you to visit our Herndon emergency dentist, Dr. Ganji, and she can pinpoint the source of the problem.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain Until we discover what’s causing your jaw pain, the only thing you can do is take proactive measures to avoid exacerbating your discomfort. Try not chewing anything crunchy, placing a towel-wrapped icepack against the area, and taking an OTC pain reliever.

How We Treat Jaw Pain First, we need to take X-rays and learn more about your symptoms. Oftentimes, jaw pain boils down to three things: chronic teeth grinding, TMJ Disorder, or impacted wisdom teeth. Whatever the case may be, you can trust that we will create a custom treatment plan designed to deliver long-lasting relief.