Emergency Dental Exam
A thorough same-day evaluation at our Anchorage, AK office that pinpoints the source of your pain, explains what we are seeing in plain language and starts treatment before you leave.
What Is an Emergency Dental Exam?
An emergency dental exam is a focused visit built around one urgent problem instead of a routine checkup. We look at the tooth or area that hurts, take the imaging we need and identify what is actually causing the pain.
You leave the appointment knowing what is wrong, what your options are and what each one costs. Whenever it is safe to do so, we begin treatment during that same visit rather than sending you home to wait.
Who Needs an Emergency Dental Exam?
If any of the following sounds familiar, call us today rather than waiting to see whether it settles down on its own.
- A severe toothache that keeps you up at night
- Facial swelling or swelling around the gums
- A broken, cracked or knocked-out tooth
- A lost filling or a crown that came off
- Bleeding that will not stop after an injury
- Any dental trauma from a fall, sport or accident
Do You Have a Cracked Tooth?
A crack is not always obvious. Sometimes it shows up as a sharp twinge when you bite down, a zing from something cold or pain that comes and goes. Left alone, a small crack can spread and turn a fixable tooth into a much bigger problem.
This short video explains how cracks happen, the signs to watch for and why getting one looked at quickly gives us the most options to save the tooth.
What Should I Expect at My Visit?
Focused Exam and Imaging
We examine the painful area and take the images we need to see what is happening below the surface.
A Clear Diagnosis
We explain the cause in everyday language and show you what we are seeing so nothing feels like a mystery.
Same-Day Treatment Options
We lay out the choices with costs up front, then start treatment during the visit whenever it is safe.
Medication On-Site
If you need antibiotics or pain medication, we dispense them at the office, including at night.
Can a Filling Fix an Urgent Problem?
Often, yes. A cracked tooth, a lost filling or a cavity that has started to throb can frequently be repaired with a new filling during the same visit, stopping the pain at its source before it turns into something bigger.
This short video walks through how a cavity filling works, from numbing the tooth to sealing it, so you know exactly what to expect if that is the fix we recommend.
How Do You Keep the Visit Comfortable?
We use a layered numbing approach and check in with you throughout, so we can add more anesthetic before you feel anything sharp. Nobody rushes you into a decision, and we will take the time to answer every question. If you are hurting today, we will do everything we can to see you today and relieve what is causing it.
What Else Do Patients Ask About Emergency Exams?
Do I need an appointment for an emergency exam?
Will treatment happen the same day?
What counts as a dental emergency?
Can you see me if I have never been a patient before?
What should I do if I knock out a tooth?
What Other Care Might I Need?
Related treatments are handled by the same team in the same office, so you never have to start over somewhere else.