Emergency Dentist Columbia, MD

Count on Our Team for Timely Emergency Dental Care

Woman with a toothbrush holding her cheek in pain before seeing an emergency dentist in Columbia

At Dental Designs of Maryland - Columbia, MD, we take our commitment to our patients’ oral and overall wellbeing seriously, which is why we’re proud to offer fast emergency dentistry in Columbia. Whether you have a painful toothache that’s impacting your ability to get through your day, or you accidentally chipped a tooth, call us as soon as possible. We’re happy to provide you with first aid guidance over the phone and see you the same day for an examination.

Why Choose Dental Designs of Maryland - Columbia, MD for Emergency Dentistry?

  • We Accept & Maximize Dental Insurance
  • Caring & Experienced Team of Dentists
  • Same-Day CEREC Dental Restorations

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Man in the dental chair holding his cheek in pain

If you’re ever experiencing dental pain or out-of-the-ordinary symptoms, the first step you should take is to call our Columbia dental office. We’ll offer you first aid guidance over the phone and schedule a same-day examination for you if you’re experiencing discomfort.

When you arrive to our office, our team will take any necessary diagnostic images of your mouth and one of our experienced emergency dentists in Columbia will conduct a thorough investigation of the area of your mouth that’s causing you issues. Once we’ve completed the examination part of the process, we’ll outline our recommended treatment plan with you and explain our findings. If you have any questions, our team is happy to answer them before moving on to your procedure!

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

If you’re unsure whether you require emergency dentistry, we have compiled a list of some of the most common situations we treat below. However, we always recommend giving us a call regardless of your situation if you’re experiencing pain or out-of-the-ordinary oral symptoms.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Patient calculating cost on desk with prop tooth

Oftentimes, patients are worried about two things when it comes to emergency dentistry: pain and price. If that’s the case for you, you’ll be happy to hear that we will alleviate any discomfort you’re experiencing once you arrive at our office, and we will provide you with a price estimate following the exam. If you want to learn more about the cost in the meantime, however, you can read on.

Every Dental Emergency is Different – Here’s Why

Smiling dentist showing patient model of teeth

The reason we can’t provide you with a cost estimate online is simple: there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment! In order to determine the care you need, we need to complete a comprehensive oral exam, pinpoint the root of the problem, and assess how severe the damage is. Only then can we discuss the different services we offer, help you decide which one is ideal for you, and share the price. We’ll also discuss the different financial solutions that are available so you can get the restorative dentistry that you need without stressing about the cost.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Patient reviewing dental insurance form on tablet

Dental insurance providers often cover between 50% and 80% of the cost of essential restorative care. With that said, there are sometimes waiting periods, yearly deductibles, and other restrictions that need to be considered. So, it’s important to read through the fine print on your plan. You can also provide us with your membership information! Since we welcome Aetna, Delta Dental, Guardian, Humana, and several others, we can help you maximize any available benefits that you have.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Patient filling out form in lobby

What if you don’t have dental insurance at the moment? If that’s the case, you should consider:

  • Joining Our Dental Wellness Plan – The adult plan comes with several perks, including two professional dental cleanings, one emergency exam, and a 20% discount on most non-cosmetic dental procedures.
  • Signing Up for Flexible Financing – Would paying for the entire cost of your care put a strain on your budget? If so, consider signing up for a flexible payment plan with Cherry! That way, you can break up the price into smaller, monthly chunks.

How Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Man smiling at reflection in handheld mirror

It’s important to remember that chips, cracks, and other common dental damage can often be prevented. So, if you want to reduce your risk of needing emergency dentistry, you should prioritize healthy habits! A few examples include wearing a nightguard if you clench your teeth while you sleep, brushing your teeth for two full minutes each morning and evening, and exercising caution with crunchy foods, like raw almonds.

Reminder: If you suspect that something is wrong because you’re dealing with dull, persistent discomfort, a sharp, stabbing pain, or anything else unusual, schedule an exam at our office right away. This is crucial because, the more time that passes, the longer the root of the problem has to progress.

More to Explore

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Toothaches  

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Whether or not you need to schedule a same-day visit with our emergency dentist in Columbia depends largely on your symptoms. For example, if your pain has persisted for more than 24 hours or there is a pimple-like bump on your gums, you should come to our office right away.

How You Should Handle a Toothache Rinsing with warm saltwater periodically, using a cold compress, and taking OTC pain medication will help alleviate any discomfort you’re feeling. It’s also important to avoid doing anything that could make your symptoms worse, like eating crunchy or sugary snacks.

How We Treat Toothaches The best way to alleviate your pain and restore your oral health will depend on what the root of the problem is and how severe the damage is. After all, small cavities can usually be treated with a filling, but more severe ones often require a root canal. Rest assured, we will share our findings and review all of your treatment options at your visit.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Chipped Teeth  

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? The answer depends largely on the size of the chip. If it’s substantial and you’re experiencing considerable discomfort, then you should call us ASAP to schedule an emergency appointment.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth In addition to calling us to schedule an appointment (even if it’s a day or two from now), we recommend rinsing gently with clean, room-temperature water. Then, use some sugar-free gum to cover the sharp edge, protecting the soft tissue in your mouth in the process.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth There are several ways we can restore the missing structure of your tooth, including a custom veneer or metal-free restoration. Ultimately, the treatment that’s best for you will depend on your unique situation, so we can only provide our recommendation after completing a comprehensive exam.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VENEERS

Cracked Tooth  

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes. In fact, even if the crack is minor, we recommend calling us right away so we have the highest chances of saving your tooth (and alleviating any pain you’re experiencing, of course).

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth We have a few recommendations, starting with rinsing your mouth periodically with clean, room-temperature water and taking OTC pain medication as directed. It’s also a good idea to avoid touching the tooth with your finger or chewing on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth Hopefully, we’ll be able to save your tooth with a dental crown. If that’s not possible, then we will perform an extraction. Then, we will fill the open space with a custom dental bridge or implant to give you a complete smile and a strong bite again.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL BRIDGES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Very Sensitive Teeth  

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? That depends largely on two things: how long your symptoms have persisted and how severe they are. For example, if you’ve been dealing with considerable sensitivity for several days, then you should absolutely call us to schedule an emergency exam.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth There are a few steps we recommend taking outside of calling us to schedule an appointment, including rinsing periodically with warm saltwater, taking OTC pain medication (if needed), and avoiding hot/cold foods and drinks.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth After learning more about your symptoms and completing a comprehensive oral exam, we can determine what the culprit is. Then, we can review all of your treatment options, answer any questions you have, and begin creating your custom treatment plan.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Knocked-Out Tooth  

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Not only is this dental injury often quite painful, but the tooth starts to die after only 15 minutes. So, it’s of the utmost importance that you schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in Columbia right away.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth First, call us to schedule an appointment. In addition to scheduling an appointment within the hour, we will walk you through what to do to protect your tooth (it’s best to insert it back into the socket, but you can also place it in a clean container filled with milk or saline solution if it doesn’t slide back into place easily).

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth If you get to our office within the hour with your tooth, then there’s a good chance that we’ll be able to save it. If that’s not possible for one reason or another, then we will replace your tooth with the next best thing: a custom 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? Although same-day care isn’t always necessary, it is preferable since the tooth can break or develop an infection without the restoration securely in place.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown In addition to keeping your restoration in a small, clean container for safekeeping, we recommend rinsing your mouth periodically with clean, room-temperature water and not chewing on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns That depends! If you lost a filling, then we can simply replace it with a new one. If your dental crown came loose, we can either re-cement it back in place or, if it’s too old or damaged, have a new one made.

Broken Dentures  

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Since broken dentures make it very difficult to chew properly and wearing them can lead to further damage and mouth sores, we do recommend calling our office right away – even if there is a relatively small chip in the surface.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture In addition to calling us to schedule an appointment, we recommend keeping your dentures in their case for safekeeping. While the strength of your bite is temporarily compromised, stick to extremely soft foods, like plain yogurt and applesauce.

How We Treat Broken Dentures First, we will try to repair your dentures. If the damage is so severe that our only choice is to have a new traditional or implant denture made, then we will do that instead.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Loose Permanent Tooth  

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes. After all, the more time that passes, the higher the chances are of the tooth falling out! So, don’t wait – call us right away to schedule an appointment with one of our dedicated emergency dentists in Columbia.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth Until your appointment with us, avoid doing anything that could loosen your tooth further, including eating sticky foods and using your finger to wiggle it.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth First, we will determine if we can use a dental splint to help the tooth heal in place. If that’s not an option, then we will need to extract it. From there, we can use a custom dental bridge or implant to give you a complete, confident smile again.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

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, no. With that said, you can always give us a call if you’re not sure how to handle this dental injury. We’re happy to help!

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue We recommend gently rinsing your mouth with clean, cool water so you can clearly see the cut. From there, use some gauze or a damp, clean washcloth to apply pressure so the bleeding stops. Once that happens, you can use a cold compress or a towel-wrapped icepack to alleviate any lingering swelling.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue Soft tissue injuries like these can usually be handled at home with the previously mentioned steps. With that said, you should call 911 or head to the ER if the cut is bleeding uncontrollably, you’re having trouble breathing, or you’re experiencing any other potentially life-threatening symptoms.

Jaw Pain  

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Jaw pain doesn’t usually require same-day care. However, you shouldn’t hesitate to call us if you’re dealing with considerable discomfort, especially if it has progressed to the point where it’s negatively impacting your quality of life.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain There are a few ways you can help alleviate the discomfort you’re experiencing in the short term, including using a cold compress in 10-minute intervals, avoiding crunchy and sticky foods, and taking OTC pain medication as directed.

How We Treat Jaw Pain Usually, jaw pain stems from one of three things: nighttime teeth grinding, TMJ dysfunction, or impacted wisdom teeth. During your exam, we will determine if that’s the case for you, and, if it is, discuss your treatment options.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth  

If you get something stuck between your teeth, don’t reach for tweezers, a toothpick, or anything else sharp. Instead, rinse your mouth a few times with warm saltwater. Then, use a clean strand of floss to gently remove the debris.