Call 301-447-6662. Dental pain does not improve on its own, and the sooner we look at it the more of the tooth we can usually save. We keep space in the schedule for people who need to be seen quickly.
The problems we hear about most: a tooth that has cracked or come out, a crown or filling that has fallen loose, a throbbing that has become constant, and swelling around a tooth or in the jaw. Swelling matters more than pain does — it means infection, and infection spreads.
If a permanent tooth has been knocked out, it can sometimes be replanted. Pick it up by the crown rather than the root, keep it moist in milk or tucked inside your cheek, and come straight in. The odds fall away by the hour, so this is the one situation where getting to us fast changes the outcome.
Our Friday mornings start at 7am, which is often the easiest slot to reach if something has flared up overnight.
Common questions
What if it happens outside your hours?
For severe bleeding, difficulty breathing or swallowing, spreading facial swelling or serious injury, treat it as a medical emergency — call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Otherwise call us at 301-447-6662 and we will see you as soon as we open.
I am not a patient here. Can you still see me?
Yes. Call and we will do our best to fit you in the same day.
Can I just take painkillers and wait?
Over-the-counter painkillers help you get through the night, but they do nothing about the cause. Pain that keeps coming back is a tooth asking for attention, and waiting usually means a bigger repair.
Questions about emergency dental care?
Call the office and ask. We'd rather talk it through than have you guess from a website.