What would be considered a dental emergency? Read more about a dentist in Centreville, VA on emergency dentistry services.

What Is an Emergency Dentist?

Typically, family and general dentists also have training in emergency dentistry. A qualified dentist can take same-day dental emergencies, giving you an excellent alternative to costly emergency room visits. Dental or medical insurance will often cover several types of dental emergency procedures. 

What Are Dental Emergencies?

Dental emergencies are any trauma to the face and mouth. Serious emergency dental procedures include:

• Jaw fractures
• Dislocations
• Deep cuts and lacerations
• Infections affecting your breathing

These dental emergencies will usually require a visit to an emergency room. As a general rule of thumb, if an injury affects your breathing or is life-threatening, you should be seen by an emergency room physician.

There is another classification of dental emergencies that can be seen by an emergency dentist. These injuries are not life-threatening but still require immediate care. Some examples of these types of dental emergencies are:

• Broken tooth
• Knocked out tooth
• Broken crown
• Missing filling
• An abscess that does not affect your breathing



Ultimately, you will want to see an emergency dentist to manage pain, decrease minor bleeding, or save a tooth. Calling an emergency dentist beforehand can also help you manage pain or discomfort until you arrive.

What Can a Dentist in Centreville, VA, Perform?

An initial emergency dental appointment will focus on managing your pain and symptoms. Next, a dentist might perform various procedures, such as:

• Root canal
• Replace fillings
• Tooth extraction
• Irrigation
• And more

Eventually, you may need an implant procedure or something more permanent. Additionally, infections might require a course of antibiotics and irrigation with further follow-up. After you leave your initial emergency dental appointment, your dentist might require you to schedule a follow-up. 

What Is a Root Canal?

Root canals are one of the most popular emergency dental procedures. The goal of a root canal is to save your natural tooth. Tooth injuries and abscesses can result in a root canal. 

During this procedure, the tooth's pulp is removed. In return, your dentist fills the space with rubber-like material after decontaminating the area. Usually, a dentist will also add a crown or filling on the top. 

While your natural tooth can survive without the pulp, it is weaker than before. Fillings and crowns add support and strength to your tooth. While most root canals only take one appointment, they may extend to additional ones if further work is needed. 



If you have a more serious infection or require more than one root canal, your dentist will likely suggest additional appointments. And if you don't have a filling or crown placed over your root canal, you should exercise caution with eating or chewing on that tooth. 

What Dental Emergencies Does Insurance Cover?

Usually, dental insurance covers medically-necessary procedures and preventive services. A dental emergency often requires medically-necessary procedures to prevent infections or worsening oral health.

However, you may still have co-payments or deductibles that must be met. If you ignore dental emergencies, you could experience even higher costs.

For example, an abscess can turn into a serious, life-threatening infection. It could also result in several tooth extractions and implants, tallying thousands of dollars.



If you are still having a challenging time paying for your dental emergencies, you can also talk to your clinic about financing options. Most clinics have flexible payment options and also accept credit cards or cash.

How to Find a Dentist in Centreville, VA, for Emergency Dentistry

How can you find a dentist for your broken tooth or missing filling? First, you should ask your family dentistry clinic about emergent options. They may have after-hours phone numbers you can call in case of a dental emergency.

Some clinics might not have enough staff to support emergencies, or they don't have the expertise. Once you find a clinic that does offer emergency dental procedures, you will want to inquire regarding:

• Hours of operation
• In-network insurance plans
• Dental procedures

You may also want a clinic focused on cosmetic dentistry services. Cosmetic dental services include veneers, bonding, and tooth-colored fillings.



While cosmetic services are less likely to be covered by insurance, they might be inclusive of medically-appropriate procedures. It is useful to have a clinic with multiple areas of expertise to avoid traveling between offices for preventive care, emergencies, and cosmetic procedures. 

Find Your Emergency Dentist

A dentist in Centreville, VA, for emergency dentistry is ideal for you and your family. When broken teeth or infections happen, you need a dentist that you can rely on.

An emergency dentist specializes in various procedures, from root canals to implants. Ultimately, if you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, your dentist will refer you to the closest emergency room. 

The professionals at Smile On Dentistry recognize how important it is to have a dentist that does it all. Contact us today to get started today!