Emergency Dentist — Lynchburg, VA
Getting You Out of Pain Quickly & Comfortably
A dental emergency has the potential to completely derail a day filled with fun plans out of nowhere. That’s why at Peery & Woolwine Family Dentistry, we treat dental emergencies in Lynchburg with urgency and caution. Our dentists are experienced and have the knowledge and skill to treat a wide range of emergencies. If you or a family member is experiencing pain or discomfort, call us today to get the relief that you need!
Why Choose Peery & Woolwine Family Dentistry for Emergency Dental Care?
- Patients of All Ages Welcome
- Most Dental Insurance Plans Accepted
- Nitroud Oxide Sedation Offered
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Call us right away. The sooner you contact us, the better chance we have of restoring your smile. Over the phone, an experienced team member will share first-aid instructions to help you manage your situation at home.
- Have an emergency exam. When you get to our office, our team will conduct a detailed examination to identify the cause of your emergency. During your appointment, we’ll focus on relieving your pain and evaluating your symptoms.
- Review your treatment options. Our team will create a custom treatment plan based on our findings. This discussion will include your estimated cost and timeline.
- Get the care you need. Whether you need a filling, crown, root canal therapy, or extraction, you should get the treatment you need right away to get your oral health back on the right track.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
When it comes to dental emergencies, there are two major categories. The first is physical injuries, which can result in fractured teeth, knocked-out teeth, and similar situations. Whether it’s a simple fall while you’re walking or a sports-related injury, these dental emergencies can occur unexpectedly. The other type of dental emergency is an infection, which slowly but surely can develop due to poor oral healthcare. Oral infections can lead to painful toothaches and complicate other dental issues. Here are some of the best ways to handle common dental emergencies until you can get professional help:
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
There is no way to determine the cost of dental emergencies upfront because so many factors influence it. Some cases can be resolved with prescription medication, while others may need more extensive treatment. It all depends on the severity of your emergency as well as your insurance plan. At Peery & Woolwine Family Dentistry, we accept major insurance providers like Anthem, Cigna, Guardian, Metlife, and Delta to provide you with quality and affordable dental care.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
While preventing emergencies completely is unrealistic, there are some steps you can take to minimize your chances of dental emergencies for you and your family. Here are some useful tips to keep your smile safe:
- Be careful when eating very hard, sticky, or chewy foods, and avoid chewing on ice cubes or non-food items.
- Use scissors or bottle openers to open packages and bottles while avoiding the use of your teeth.
- Wear an oral appliance if you grind your teeth or play contact sports.
- Schedule routine checkups and cleanings with our team. We can catch oral health issues before they turn into more serious dental emergencies.
Emergency Dentistry FAQs
No one ever expects a dental emergency in Lynchburg to happen to them, but research shows that one out of every six Americans will be faced with one each year. If you’re like most people, you might have no clue what to do when an urgent dental problem strikes. Don’t worry – our team at Peery & Woolwine Family Dentistry is here to help! We’ll get you scheduled for an appointment right away and even provide tips over the phone for managing your symptoms until then. While you wait, it may soothe your worries to read the answers to a few common questions about emergency dentistry.
Does Emergency Dental Care Cost More?
Generally speaking, an emergency dental exam isn’t particularly expensive. However, the treatments required to repair urgent dental issues tend to cost more than a routine checkup and cleaning. That being said, you should NEVER put off emergency dental care just because you’re worried about being able to afford it. By avoiding the treatment you need, your emergency could worsen to the point where you end up needing even more expensive procedures. Not to mention, we wouldn’t be able to relieve your pain as quickly!
Is My Tooth Pain from an Infection?
It’s nearly impossible to know for sure whether your toothache is from an infection unless you come in for an evaluation. However, these are some common signs that you have a tooth infection:
- Throbbing sensation in the tooth
- Bitter taste in the mouth
- Persistent bad breath
- Extreme tooth sensitivity
- Feeling like the tooth is loose
- Swollen, red, or dark gums near the tooth
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, we urge you to call us. We’ll capture detailed X-rays, provide a precise diagnosis, and develop a treatment plan to assuage your discomfort and get your smile back on track.
Should Knocked-Out Teeth Be Placed in Water?
While you can rinse off a knocked-out tooth under running water, you should try NOT to store it in water afterward. Water can actually damage the cells on the surface of the tooth’s roots, meaning that it will be less likely to successfully integrate with the connective tissues in your mouth once it’s replanted.
Instead, do your best to carefully insert the tooth back into its socket. You could also store it between your cheek and your gums, or in a container filled with milk, saline solution, or even your own saliva. These liquids contain the proteins necessary to help your tooth stay “alive” for up to one hour after it has been dislodged.
Do Chipped Teeth Heal?
As the hardest substance in the human body, tooth enamel is even stronger than bone. Unfortunately, it cannot heal itself after it has been damaged or lost. Therefore, your chipped tooth will never grow back, no matter how large or small the chip is.
We recommend that you call our office as soon as you can if you chip a tooth. Even if you’re not in pain, there’s the chance that the damage could become worse without prompt care.