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Dental Emergencies Welcome
Early & Late Appointments

Virginia Beach Emergency Dentist

Emergency Dental Care
When You Need It

It doesn’t matter whether your dental emergency happens over the weekend or while we’re closed, Dr. Goyal is always on-call to make sure that you get the care you need. Broken and knocked-out teeth, severe toothaches, and jaw pain are all common emergency situations that we see. We don’t want you to have to wait around in pain and fumble trying to find a trusted, local dentist to treat you, which is why we take pride in always being available to you. If you find yourself in an urgent dental situation, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for emergency dentistry in Virginia Beach, VA.

Why Choose Goyal Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Emergency Dentistry
  • Understanding & Experienced Emergency Dentist
  • Nitrous Oxide Sedation Available

How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies

Woman in need of emergency dentistry holding cheek in pain

The first step you should always take if you find yourself dealing with a dental emergency is to contact the closest emergency dentist near you. When you contact our dental office, we’ll provide you with over-the-phone first-aid guidance to make sure that your smile doesn’t sustain any additional damage and schedule an appointment for you as soon as possible. Below, we’ve also included some additional information and tips to help you as you make your way to our dental office.

Toothaches

Man with toothache holding cheek in pain

Toothaches are often a sign of infections. To help ease your pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen. To minimize swelling, place a cold compress on the outside of your mouth for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, for up to an hour.

Chipped/Broken Tooth

Smile with chipped front tooth

If you’re able to retrieve any pieces of your teeth that have broken off, store them in a container and bring them to your appointment with you. If the damaged portion of your tooth has created a sharp edge, you can place a piece of orthodontic wax over the area to keep it from scraping and irritating the inside of your cheek or lip.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Woman with knocked out tooth covering her mouth

Time is of the essence, so quickly retrieve your tooth (being sure to only handle it by the biting surface), rinse it off, and place it in a sealable container of milk or salt water. If the area is bleeding, place a sterile piece of gauze over it to help the blood clot.

Lost Filling/Crown

Man looking at lost filling in the mirror

If you can locate your restoration, pick it up and rinse it under a cool stream of water. You can temporarily adhere it back to your tooth using a dap of denture adhesive or toothpaste, but keep in mind that this is not a permanent solution and you’ll still need to have it professionally repaired or replaced.

Head/Neck/Jaw Pain from TMJ

Woman in need T M J therapy holding jaw

Do you have intense jaw, head, or neck pain caused by TMJ dysfunction? You can gently rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth and allow your teeth to come apart. This will help your jaw muscles relax. Dr. Goyal offers TMJ therapy to provide you with long-lasting relief when you get to our dental office.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Man sitting at home and smiling

It’s obviously best if you can avoid dental emergencies altogether. While you can’t prevent every accident or oral health issue, there are always steps you can take to protect your smile. Simply maintaining good oral hygiene and turning bad oral habits into good ones can help decrease your risk toothaches and other dental emergencies. Below are some basic tips that you can follow at home; we can give you additional tips if you ask us about emergency prevention during your biannual preventive dentistry appointments.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Woman visiting dentist to prevent dental emergency in Virginia Beach, VA

Some people only plan to see the dentist once they notice something is wrong. However, you can avoid problems altogether simply by visiting our office two times a year. This allows us to clean your teeth at regular intervals and detect oral health issues that are still in their earliest stages. Dealing with small problems today helps you avoid larger problems tomorrow. If you haven’t been to the dentist in more than six months, now is a good time to schedule an appointment so that you can protect your oral health more effectively.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home

Woman flossing her teeth in the bathroom mirror

Brushing and flossing are very simple tasks, yet they can have a profound impact on your oral health if you perform them every day. Skipping your oral hygiene routine allows harmful oral bacteria to build up, which leads to tooth decay and gum disease. At minimum, you need to brush at least two times every day and floss on a daily basis in order to keep harmful oral bacteria under control. Take the time to consider the oral hygiene products you use as well; there are many such products on the market, and some may be better suited for protecting your smile than others. We can talk to you about the products you use to see if there are any changes you might want to make.

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

Man sitting at table holding an apple

The foods you eat can affect the health of your teeth and gums. Sugars and carbohydrates can encourage bacteria accumulation and accelerate tooth decay. Such foods should therefore only be eaten in moderation. You should try to eat more fruits and vegetables, which can not only improve the overall health of your gums but also naturally clear plaque and bacteria from your mouth.

Wear a Mouthguard

Holding athletic mouthguard for preventing dental emergencies in Virginia Beach, VA

Many dental accidents happen while playing sports. To avoid damaging your teeth in the event of getting hit in the mouth, you should wear a mouthguard so that your smile is protected from the force of impact. Note that a custom-made mouthguard is usually best for this purpose; a pre-formed store-bought mouthguard won’t fit perfectly on your teeth and thus won’t provide the best protection.

Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth

Smiling man sitting on couch opening a package

Many people try to save time by tearing open packages with their teeth instead of looking for scissors. When this is done on a regular basis, it can end up wearing down the enamel, meaning the teeth are more prone to becoming cracked or otherwise damaged. It’s always worth the extra time to use a tool to open a package instead of exposing your teeth to unnecessary wear and tear.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

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

No two dental emergency situations are the same, which is why it’s crucial for us to examine your mouth before we can determine what type of treatment you’ll need and how much it will cost. Once we diagnose the issue that’s causing you discomfort, we’ll outline each treatment option for you along with the price. Our team strives to make the cost of emergency dentistry in Virginia Beach as accessible as possible, so don’t hesitate to ask if you need help arranging financing or navigating your dental insurance coverage.

Every Dental Emergency Is Different

woman with a toothache talking to her emergency dentist in Virginia Beach

In most cases, an initial emergency dental exam is fairly inexpensive. Dr. Goyal will spend some time examining your mouth and asking you about your symptoms before recommending a course of action. Since the circumstances of dental emergencies can vary widely, your treatment plan will almost certainly differ from that of other patients.

Once we’ve decided on which treatments are needed, we’ll explain their associated fees to you. Don’t worry; we won’t move forward until you feel comfortable with the financial aspects of your care.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

dental insurance paperwork on a clipboard

Luckily, dental insurance companies understand that accidents happen, so many of them provide some level of coverage for emergency care. For example, it’s quite common to have one needed emergency exam per year fully covered under your plan. Additionally, many treatments that are often used to repair damaged teeth (crowns, root canals, fillings, etc.) are eligible for coverage at 50 to 80 percent under most plans.

However, there’s no guarantee that you’ll qualify for insurance coverage for your dental emergency. You’ll have to check with your insurance provider first, and our team can gladly help with that process. We’re also in-network with most major dental plans, especially those offered by employers in the area, so rest assured that if you have dental insurance, chances are we can help you save.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

dentist smiling toward the camera

We believe that visiting an emergency dentist in Virginia Beach should never cause a patient more stress than the actual emergency. That’s why we have ways of making emergency dental care affordable besides insurance:

  • CareCredit – This third-party financier lets qualified patients break up their treatment costs into monthly chunks, often at low to no interest.
  • Healthy Smiles Plan – Our in-house membership plan functions like insurance in that you pay a monthly fee to access discounts, including one free emergency exam a year as needed. The main difference? No annual maximums, deductibles, or waiting periods to worry about!
  • Special offers – At Goyal Dentistry, we’re always offering special promotions on certain services. Check our special offers page regularly to find out if we currently have a deal on emergency care!

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

person putting toothpaste onto a toothbrush

Of course, preventing dental emergencies in the first place is another easy way to save money! While you can’t plan for sudden accidents, what you can do is invest in regular dental checkups and a diligent at-home oral hygiene routine. Research estimates that for every dollar spent on preventive care, a patient can save up to $50 on emergency treatments later on!

Root Canal Therapy

Root canals have a notorious reputation of being painful and uncomfortable, but that’s far from the case. This procedure actually helps us cure severe toothaches caused by infections, which is why so many of our patients say they actually feel better after receiving treatment. Once the procedure is complete, we’ll place a customized dental crown over the tooth to provide it with additional protection and support, allowing you to continue using it as you normally would.

Learn More

Tooth Extractions

Hand holding three extracted teeth

Dr. Goyal understands that there’s nothing that can compare to your natural, home-grown pearly whites, which is why he never suggests removing a tooth unless it’s absolutely necessary. If a tooth is severely decayed or damaged and poses a threat to your surrounding, healthy teeth, then we may recommend extracting it. This will help create a healthy foundation for your smile, and we can replace the tooth with a dental implant or traditional bridge so you don’t have to lose the complete feeling and function of your mouth.

Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Animated smile with impacted wisdom tooth

Not everybody has wisdom teeth or needs to have them removed, but in certain cases, these third molars could pose a serious threat to the wellbeing of your mouth. In these situations, we may suggest extracting them. Dr. Goyal and our team offers comfortable wisdom tooth removal to maintain the health of your smile by reducing your risk of infection and other oral health problems related to wisdom teeth. If you don’t know whether or not you have your third molars or need them removed, visit Goyal Dentistry for an examination today.

Dental Emergency FAQs

woman giving a thumbs up in the dental chair

Few things are more stressful than not knowing what to do when you have a dental emergency in Virginia Beach. That’s where our Goyal Dentistry team is here to help! We’re experts at helping patients get the care they need right away when their smiles have been damaged. While we’ll answer your questions over the phone or during your visit, we hope these answers to some frequently asked questions about emergency dentistry can help in the meantime.

How Should I Sleep with Tooth Pain?

Sometimes you may not be able to get to an emergency dentist in Virginia Beach to relieve your toothache before the day ends. Rest assured there are still ways that you can get to sleep even with excruciating tooth pain.

Firstly, remember to keep your head elevated by sleeping on at least two or three pillows. This prevents blood from rushing to your head and worsening your tooth pain. Applying a cold compress and taking over-the-counter pain medication can also help. Additionally, you should avoid eating hard, cold, hot, or acidic foods near bedtime, as they can exacerbate a toothache.

Is My Tooth Pain from an Infection?

While the only way to know for sure whether your tooth pain is from an infection is to have our dental team take a look, there are some signs that this is likely. These include:

  • A throbbing sensation
  • Soreness in the specific tooth
  • A persistent bitter taste in your mouth
  • Chronic bad breath
  • Swollen or red gums
  • Severe tooth sensitivity
  • Feeling as if the tooth is wiggling or shifting

Even if your toothache isn’t the result of an infection, you should still visit us as soon as possible. That way, we can address the root cause of the issue and quickly relieve your pain.

Should Knocked-Out Teeth Be Placed in Water?

Although you can and should use water to rinse off a dislodged tooth, try NOT to place it in water. Water can actually damage the cells on the surface of the tooth’s roots, rendering it less able to reattach to the connective tissues when it’s placed back in the socket later on.

Instead, do your best to insert a knocked-out tooth back into its socket. If you can’t, then hold it in your cheek pocket so that the saliva keeps it alive and viable for reattachment. You could also store it in a container of milk or saline solution for up to one hour until you can reach our office.

Do Chipped Teeth Heal?

Tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the human body, according to the American Dental Association. In fact, it’s even stronger than bone! That being said, it’s unable to repair itself when it has sustained damage. This means that chipped tooth enamel will NOT grow back. In order to restore the appearance, shape, and function of a chipped tooth, you’ll need professional restorative or cosmetic treatment from a dentist.

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