Emergency Dentist – Alpharetta, GA

Fast, Pain-Relieving Dentistry That You Can Rely On

Dental emergencies spring up at the most inconvenient moments, leaving you to stress and panic about what to do next. With our trusted and accommodating team at Alpharetta Modern Dentistry, you can get the timely care you need as soon as possible, whether it’s on the weekend, after-hours, or the same day you call. We also offer dental sedation in case you feel especially anxious or fearful of coming in. That way, you can take care of the situation without being in distress. Call us immediately if you need an emergency dentist in Alpharetta!

Why Choose Alpharetta Modern Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day & After-Hours Emergency Dentistry
  • Nitrous Oxide Sedation Available
  • Multiple, Flexible Ways to Pay

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Woman holding her cheek in pain while talking to emergency dentist in Alpharetta
  1. Call Us: The first step you should take if you damage a tooth, experience oral pain, or notice any out-of-the-ordinary symptoms is to call our dental office. Regardless of when you experience the problem, you’ll be able to get ahold of one of our team members to schedule a visit, whether that’s during or after hours.
  2. Come in for an Examination: Once you schedule an emergency appointment, you can come in to receive a thorough examination from our team. This can include digital X-rays or a cone beam CT scan as well as a physical evaluation from our skilled emergency dentist.
  3. Go Through Your Treatment Options: Based on our findings, we’ll provide you with a diagnosis and walk you through your treatment options, as well as all of your payment methods. Our practice is happy to accept PPO dental insurance plans and offers a convenient in-office membership.
  4. Receive the Care You Need: Finally, our team will get to work erasing your pain and restoring your smile.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

If you’re concerned about whether or not you should be seeking emergency dentistry, we recommend giving us a call. Our team can help you navigate your situation and help you determine whether your symptoms require urgent attention. We’ve also included some of the most common emergencies that we see below.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Smiling man shaking hands with someone sitting across from him

Dental emergencies always seem to pop up when you least expect them. This means that it can be difficult to anticipate the cost of your treatment, so many people worry about seeking help. Our team at Alpharetta Modern Dentistry wants to make the process as smooth and affordable as possible, so we’re here to help! We won’t be able to determine the exact cost of your treatment until we diagnose the issue. Then, we can discuss the cost and your payment options in detail so that you don’t run into any surprises. Until then, here are some things for you to take into consideration.

Every Dental Emergency Is Different

Woman at the dentist with a toothache

Because no two dental emergencies are the same, there’s no set price tag associated with these visits. It will depend on several factors, including whether you require diagnostic imaging, which treatment you need, and whether you receive dental sedation. Based on all of these, our team will be able to provide you with a cost estimate once you arrive and we’ve made a diagnosis.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Dental insurance form

In the majority of cases, dental insurance providers agree to cover emergency dental services. The amount they cover is based on the type of restorative treatment you need. It is best to reach out to your provider to confirm your coverage. We’d also be happy to help you with this process. Our team at Alpharetta Modern Dentistry is proud to be in-network with many PPO dental insurance companies. We’re also happy to file a claim on your behalf to ensure you receive maximum reimbursement from your PPO dental insurance plan.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Man using a calculator

If you don’t have dental insurance, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be left completely on your own. We currently have a special for a $99 Limited Emergency Exam and X-Rays. By joining our In-House Wellness Plan, you can enjoy many of the benefits of dental insurance for a flat annual fee. This includes 2 emergency exams and discounts on treatments completed at our practice. We are also happy to accept payments through CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. To learn more about your financial options, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our friendly team members.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Smiling dentist talking to patient with toothache

If there was just one thing you could do to completely avoid experiencing a dental emergency, we would tell you. The reality is that you need to commit to several preventive measures in order to reduce your chances of a crack in your enamel, a knocked-out tooth, or another serious injury. With this in mind, keep reading to learn what you can do to protect your smile from harm!

Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months

Dentist examining patient's teeth

At your biannual visits to our Alpharetta dental office, Dr. Valeria Labastida and Dr. Ashish Kakadia cover a lot of ground – from looking for warning signs of oral cancer to providing helpful feedback on how to keep your smile healthy at home. They also thoroughly examine your teeth and gums to ensure that common oral health problems, like tooth decay, haven’t surfaced. If they have, then they will provide the necessary restorative care ASAP.

Maintain a Good At-Home Dental Hygiene Routine 

Woman smiling while flossing her teeth

Of course, you need to take good care of your smile at home too! That starts with using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste to brush your teeth each morning and evening (and for a full two minutes each time). You also need to floss at least once a day and rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash regularly. That way, a cavity doesn’t develop between your teeth and plaque doesn’t build-up along your gumline.

Stick to a Well-Balanced Diet

Woman smiling while preparing salad in kitchen

Eating vitamin-rich foods, like fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits, is essential when it comes to keeping your oral and overall health in tip-top shape. So, make sure to include them in each of your meals and snacks. It’s also important that you don’t over-indulge in foods that are high in carbohydrates or sugars in an effort to avoid common oral health problems, like cavities.

Protect Your Teeth During Sports

Man putting on mouthguard while stepping onto field

Do you participate in a contact sport, like football? Maybe you prefer staying active with a solo activity, like rollerblading or skateboarding. Whatever the case may be, you need to wear a mouthguard in order to protect your smile from harm. If you don’t have one, contact us instead of buying one from a sporting goods store since those are one-size-fits-all.

Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

Woman smiling while holding handheld mirror

When the scissors aren’t within reach and your hands aren’t doing the trick, you might be tempted to use your teeth to tear open plastic wrapping or remove a bottle cap. Don’t! This can quickly lead to a serious dental injury, like a fractured tooth. For the same reason, we don’t recommend smoking, biting your nails, or chewing on ice cubes.

Dental Emergency FAQs

How Should I Sleep with Tooth Pain?

If you’re struggling with a toothache – whether it’s dull and consistent or sharp and stabbing – you should contact our emergency dentist in Alpharetta ASAP. If you can’t come in the same day for treatment, then you’ll be happy to know that there are a few measures you can take to alleviate your pain in the short term. In addition to avoiding crunchy, acidic, and sugary foods, take OTC pain medication as directed and keep your head elevated while you sleep.

What if My Toothache Suddenly Disappears?

Unfortunately, this is not a good sign. If you’ve been struggling with a toothache for several days, weeks, or months, and it suddenly goes away, it’s likely because the nerve has been “killed” by an infection. Not only does this mean there is only a small window of time where your tooth can be saved, but it means that your surrounding teeth and gums are now at-risk. For those reasons, we recommend scheduling an emergency appointment with us right away.

Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?

If your dental injury is accompanied by potentially life-threatening symptoms, like difficulty breathing or uncontrollable bleeding, then you should definitely visit the ER. If you aren’t experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, however, then your first call should be to your dentist. If you reside in or around Alpharetta and you don’t have a dental team to turn to, don’t hesitate to give us a call! Our top-rated dental office is open five days a week, and we offer morning, lunchtime, and afternoon appointments. So, there’s a good chance we’ll be able to see you the same day you call for an exam.

Should I Worry About a Chipped Tooth If It Doesn’t Hurt?

A chipped tooth that doesn’t hurt may not require a same-day visit to our office, but it does warrant a visit! After all, we need to make sure that an infection doesn’t develop. Plus, we want to restore the missing structure, even if the tooth in question is toward the back of your mouth. Simply put, even if you aren’t in pain, you should make calling us a priority.

What If I Can’t Afford Emergency Dentistry?

It’s common for patients to be worried about the cost of their care, especially if they need extensive restorative and/or cosmetic dentistry. The good news is that our team at Alpharetta Modern Dentistry welcomes several financial solutions, including dental insurance and our in-house wellness plan, which makes the cost fit into nearly every budget.

What Should I Do If I Knock Out a Tooth?

A knocked-out tooth isn’t just a dental injury; it’s a dental injury that needs to be addressed within the hour. Otherwise, the chances of us being able to save your tooth are next to impossible. That’s why we recommend contacting us ASAP and following the instructions we give you over the phone, like placing the tooth in a clean container filled with milk.

More to Explore

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Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency?: Tooth pain is often the result of decay that was left untreated for too long, but there are other explanations as well. You should seek emergency treatment for a toothache if:

  • The pain doesn’t go away in less than 24 hours.
  • You are experiencing sharp, long-lasting tooth sensitivity.
  • The tooth that’s hurting seems darker than normal.
  • A small bump has appeared on your gums. (This bump is known as an abscess, and it can appear if a tooth is badly infected.)

How you should handle a toothache: In addition to calling our office as soon as possible, you should take an over-the-counter painkiller to reduce your discomfort. If your toothache is accompanied by swelling, periodically apply a cold compress to the area.

In some cases, the source of your pain might be a bit of food debris stuck in your smile. You can often resolve this particular issue on your own simply by flossing.

How we treat toothaches: We will need to tailor the treatment we provide based on the source of your tooth pain. Sometimes gum disease treatment or a root canal treatment might be necessary; at other times, you may need to receive a crown or filling. Our team will try to save your tooth whenever possible, but extractions are available as a last resort.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?: You might chip a tooth in an accident or while chewing on a hard object such as a peppermint or a piece of ice. In many cases, you can afford to wait a few days to have a chipped tooth treated. That said, be sure not to put off calling our office for too long.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Trying to bite down on anything with a chipped tooth can potentially damage it further, so make a point of chewing with the opposite side of your mouth for the time being. Sometimes the tooth may be chipped in a way that leaves it with a sharp edge; to avoid injuries to the soft tissues inside your mouth, cover the tooth with some dental wax.

How we treat chipped teeth: We’ll need to examine the tooth carefully before we can figure out the best way to repair it. Veneers are often a great choice for covering the damaged area while also restoring the appearance of the tooth. Tooth-colored fillings can also be an option worth considering.

Learn More About Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency?: As strong as your enamel is, it can become cracked in an accident. Some cracks are more severe than others, but it takes the eye of a trained dental expert to determine just how serious the situation is. As such, even if your cracked tooth doesn’t hurt, you should give our office a call immediately to schedule an appointment.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Keep the tooth safe; do not bite down on anything with it until it has been properly treated. To protect the tooth from harmful bacteria that might cause an infection, remember to periodically rinse with water. If the tooth is unusually sensitive, putting dental wax on it might help.

How we treat cracked teeth: Once we’ve evaluated the damage, we can determine the best method for restoring the tooth. This often involves placing a personalized crown. Of course, not every cracked tooth can be saved; if the damage is simply too extensive, an extraction might be required.

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Yes, you should not wait to seek proper treatment for very sensitive teeth. This problem can arise for many reasons, some of which include excessive teeth whitening, a cavity, a cracked tooth, gum recession/gum disease, or a serious infection.

How you should handle very sensitive teeth: Having very sensitive teeth means that you will want to stay away from anything that is hot, cold, or acidic. Instead, opt for lukewarm temperatures, as this will minimize sharp pains and discomfort. Also, refrain from eating ice, biting your fingernails, or chewing on anything hard, as this will irritate the sensitive nerves.

How we treat very sensitive teeth: We will treat your sensitive teeth once we understand why the problem occurred in the first place. Depending on the underlying cause, we may recommend desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride treatment, periodontal therapy, a tooth-colored filling, or even tooth extraction. You can expect us to go over the details with you during your visit.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatment

Learn More About Periodontal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is my knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? Yes, you should not wait to seek emergency treatment for a knocked-out tooth. This is a time-sensitive issue that needs proper care right away.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: The first step you should plan to take when faced with a knocked-out tooth is to rinse out your mouth. Once all the debris is flushed out, you’ll want to retrieve the tooth so that you can bring it with you to your appointment. Hold the tooth only by the crown and quickly rinse off any dirt or debris. If possible, you may try to reinsert the tooth into the socket and gently bite down to hold it in place. If you would rather not do this, you can place your tooth in a jar or container of milk, as this will keep the root moist and healthy until reaching our dental office.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: Once arriving at our office, you can expect us to quickly escort you to a treatment room. We will take any necessary images as well as conduct a visual examination. After looking at the tooth to determine if it can be reintegrated, we’ll develop a proper treatment plan. This will include either attempting to put the tooth back into place or discussing ways to replace it. This might mean receiving a dental bridge, denture, or dental implant based on your needs, preferences, and budget.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? Yes, a lost filling or dental crown is a dental emergency, but you may not need to seek treatment immediately. This means that you can usually wait a day or two before seeing your emergency dentist. Waiting any longer though will put your vulnerable tooth at risk for future damage or decay.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: It is tempting to try and fix the problem yourself, and you can use dental cement (if you’ve lost a crown), but you can instead hold on to the restoration (if possible) and bring it with you to your appointment. In the meantime, try to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. Also, take an over-the-counter pain reliever if you experience any discomfort.

How we treat a lost filling or crown: Treating your lost crown or filling might mean reattaching the existing one (if it is in good condition) or preparing a new one for your smile. If the existing crown or filling is too damaged or lost, we will have a customized tooth-colored filling or metal-free dental crown crafted.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Metal-Free Dental Crowns

Broken Dentures  

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? A broken denture is considered a dental emergency because it needs to be fixed or replaced before you can use it again. So, don’t hesitate to contact our Alpharetta emergency dentist right away – even if the damage seems minor.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture First, call us to inform us of what happened and schedule an appointment. Then, place your dentures in their designated case so they aren’t damaged any further.

How We Treat Broken Dentures We basically have two options: repair your dentures or replace them. The approach we recommend will depend largely on how severe the damage is.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Loose Permanent Tooth  

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? In addition to being at risk of completely falling out, a loose permanent tooth restricts your diet and increases the chances of an infection developing. For all of those reasons, scheduling an emergency appointment with our Alpharetta dental team is important.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth Calling us to schedule an emergency exam is extremely important, as is periodically rinsing your mouth with clean, lukewarm water and not touching the tooth with your finger. If you get hungry, stick to soft foods and don’t chew on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth If your tooth is barely hanging on, then we may not be able to save it. In that case, we need to gently (and painlessly) remove it before putting a dental bridge or implant in its place.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue  

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Not usually. However, you should head to the ER or call 911 if the bleeding is severe or you’re experiencing another potentially life-threatening symptom.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue Before applying pressure to the cut with a clean, damp washcloth, rinse your mouth thoroughly with clean, cool water. Within 10 minutes, the bleeding should stop.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue Fortunately, soft tissue injuries can often be handled at home. Of course, if the bleeding continues after 10 minutes, you should seek medical attention at the ER.

Jaw Pain  

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? If your jaw pain seems to be getting worse, it lasts for more than a few hours, or it’s only one of many abnormal dental symptoms you’re experiencing, then the answer is “yes.”

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain Although you can’t treat jaw pain at home, you can help alleviate inflammation and, in turn, your discomfort. We recommend using a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time, taking OTC pain medication as directed, and sticking to soft foods like applesauce and yogurt.

How We Treat Jaw Pain First, we need to pinpoint what’s causing your jaw pain. Then, we can determine if something simple, like a nightguard, is needed, or if something more extensive is required, like wisdom tooth extractions.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth  

Oftentimes, the first instinct for patients is to reach for something sharp, like a toothpick. However, this has the potential to make the situation worse, which is why we recommend taking a different approach. After rinsing your mouth thoroughly with warm saltwater, floss between your teeth to dislodge the debris.