Emergency Dental Care
Emergency Dentist in Washington, DC
Fast relief for dental pain, infection, and injury — call us now and we will get you seen as soon as possible, with same-day appointments whenever the schedule allows.
Availability
Same-day urgent slots
Call Us
(202) 363-2810
New Patients
Emergencies welcome
If you have facial swelling affecting your breathing, swallowing, or vision, uncontrolled bleeding, or a suspected broken jaw, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.
The Basics
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is any problem in the mouth that needs prompt professional care to relieve severe pain, control an infection, stop bleeding, or save a tooth. That covers severe toothache, a knocked-out or broken tooth, an abscess or swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, a lost filling or crown that is causing pain, and trauma to the mouth or jaw.
The common thread is that waiting makes it worse. Pain that keeps you awake, an infection spreading through the jaw, or a tooth out of its socket are all situations where hours matter — not because the problem is dramatic, but because the window to treat it simply and cheaply closes quickly.
What we treat as urgent
- Severe or persistent toothache, especially pain that wakes you at night
- A permanent tooth knocked out, loosened, or pushed out of position
- A broken, cracked, or split tooth — particularly one that hurts to bite on
- An abscess, gum boil, bad taste, fever, or swelling of the face or jaw
- Bleeding that will not settle with gentle pressure
- A lost filling or crown leaving a tooth exposed and painful
- Injury to the lips, gums, tongue, or jaw after an accident or sports impact
In pain right now
Start with a call
Describing the symptoms on the phone takes two minutes and tells us how quickly you need to be seen. You do not need to work out what is wrong first — that is our job.
- Phone
- (202) 363-2810
- Address
- 4444 Connecticut Ave NW #106
- Existing patient
- Not required
- Emergency exam
- X-ray taken where needed
- Payment
- Insurance verified, financing available
or book online
Symptoms
Common Dental Emergencies
What each one usually means, and what to do right now while you arrange care. None of this replaces being seen — it is what helps in the meantime.
Severe Toothache
Call today
Constant, throbbing, or keep-you-awake pain usually means decay has reached the nerve or an infection has started. Pain that suddenly stops is not reassuring — it can mean the nerve has died.
What to do right now
- Rinse gently with warm water and clear any food debris with floss
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek for swelling
- Call us and describe when the pain started and what makes it worse
Knocked-Out Tooth
The first hour matters
A permanent tooth that has been knocked out entirely is the most time-sensitive dental emergency there is. Getting to a dentist within the first hour gives the best chance of saving it.
What to do right now
- Pick the tooth up by the crown — the chewing surface — never by the root
- Do not scrub it or wrap it in tissue; keep it moist in milk or your own saliva
- Call us immediately and say a tooth has been knocked out
Broken or Chipped Tooth
Same-day if painful
A small chip with no pain can often wait for a regular visit. A large fracture, a sharp edge cutting your tongue, or pain on biting needs prompt attention before the tooth splits further.
What to do right now
- Save any pieces of the tooth and bring them with you
- Rinse with warm water and use a cold compress for swelling
- Avoid chewing on that side until you have been seen
Lost Filling or Crown
Prompt, rarely dangerous
The exposed tooth underneath is often sensitive to air, cold, and pressure, and is vulnerable to fracture or new decay while it is uncovered.
What to do right now
- Keep the crown if you still have it and bring it to the appointment
- Keep the area clean and avoid chewing on that side
- Call us so the tooth can be recemented or restored before it breaks
Abscess or Facial Swelling
Do not wait
A gum boil, persistent bad taste, fever, or swelling of the face or jaw points to an infection that will not resolve on its own and can spread. This is the emergency most people underestimate.
What to do right now
- Rinse gently with warm salt water and use a cold compress on the outside
- Call us the same day and mention the swelling specifically
- If swelling affects your breathing, swallowing, or vision, go to a hospital emergency room now
Object Caught Between Teeth
Usually manageable
Something wedged between teeth or under the gum can cause pain and inflammation surprisingly quickly, and repeated poking at it does more damage than the object itself.
What to do right now
- Try gentle flossing once — do not use pins, knives, or anything sharp
- Rinse with warm water to loosen debris
- If it will not come free or the gum is sore, call us rather than persisting
Broken Orthodontic Wire or Aligner Issue
Comfort first, then care
A poking wire or a cracked aligner is rarely dangerous, but it can cut the cheek and stall your treatment progress if it is left unaddressed.
What to do right now
- Cover a sharp wire end with orthodontic wax if you have it
- Keep wearing your previous aligner if the current one has cracked
- Call us so the appliance can be adjusted or replaced
Call (202) 363-2810 before trying anything you are unsure about — our team will confirm what is appropriate for your situation.
Triage
Is This a Dental Emergency or Can It Wait?
An honest guide rather than a scare tactic. Plenty of dental problems can safely wait a few days — these are the ones that cannot.
Call now
- 1Severe pain that is not controlled by over-the-counter pain relief
- 2Swelling of the gum, face, or jaw — especially if it is spreading
- 3A permanent tooth that has been knocked out
- 4Bleeding that does not stop after 10–15 minutes of gentle pressure
- 5Trauma to the mouth, teeth, or jaw after a fall, sports injury, or accident
- 6A tooth that is loose, pushed out of position, or split
Usually fine to book a regular appointment
- Mild sensitivity to hot or cold that settles within a few seconds
- A small chip with no pain and no sharp edge
- A lost filling or crown that is not causing pain (still book soon)
- Dull, occasional discomfort with no swelling and no fever
- A retainer or aligner that feels tight but is not cutting the tissue
- Food catching in one spot that clears with flossing
Anything on this list that changes — pain that intensifies, swelling that appears, or a chip that starts catching — moves into the first column. When in doubt, call and describe it.
The Process
What Happens When You Call
Four straightforward stages, from the phone call to a plan you have agreed to — with pain relief before anything else.
Call and Describe Your Symptoms
Right now
Call (202) 363-2810 and tell us what happened, where it hurts, and how long it has been going on. That short conversation is what lets us decide how urgently you need to be seen.
Same-Day or Priority Scheduling
During office hours
We hold time in the schedule for urgent cases and will fit you in the same day whenever the day allows. If we cannot, we tell you honestly and give you the soonest slot plus guidance for the interim.
Pain Relief & Diagnosis
At the visit
The first priority is getting you comfortable. We take a focused X-ray where it is needed, find the actual cause, and address the pain rather than only the symptom.
Treatment Plan Explained Before Any Work Begins
Before we start
You hear what is wrong, what your options are, what each one costs, and what your insurance is expected to cover — before anything is done. Emergency care often happens in two stages: settle it today, restore it properly afterwards.
Investment
What Does Emergency Dental Care Cost?
The cost depends on what is actually wrong — an emergency exam is not the same as an exam plus a root canal and a crown. You get the real figure before treatment starts, not after.
The type of emergency
- An emergency exam to diagnose the problem sits at the low end
- A filling, extraction, or recementing a crown costs less than a root canal and crown
- Infection that has spread often means more treatment than one caught early
Imaging and same-day treatment
- A focused X-ray is usually needed to see what is happening below the gum
- Treating the problem the same day may add to the visit — and often saves a second trip
- Some emergencies are settled today and restored properly at a follow-up
Insurance and financing
- Most dental plans cover at least a portion of emergency care
- We verify your benefits and quote the out-of-pocket figure before treating
- Financing is available so cost is not the reason to sit in pain
We do not publish flat prices for emergency care, because the honest answer depends on the diagnosis. Coverage is verified and everything not covered is explained on our financial information page.
Why Choose
DC Implant & Cosmetic Dentistry
Urgent care handled start to finish by Dr. Kambez Shukoor in one Connecticut Avenue office — including for patients we have never met before.
One Call, a Real Person
You describe the problem to our team, not to a menu. Call (202) 363-2810 and we will tell you how quickly you need to be seen.
Urgent Time Held in the Schedule
Space is kept open during office hours for patients in pain, which is what makes same-day appointments possible on most days rather than only in theory.
Everything Handled Under One Roof
Fillings, root canals, extractions, and crowns are all done here, so you are not referred elsewhere mid-emergency.
Comfort Taken Seriously
Anxiety and pain go together. We take time with anesthesia and offer sedation options for patients who need them, including first-time emergency visitors.
New Patients Welcome in an Emergency
You do not need to be an existing patient. Dr. Kambez Shukoor sees emergency patients who have never been to the practice before, and we handle the paperwork around the treatment rather than ahead of it.
Costs Discussed Before Treatment
We verify your benefits, quote the out-of-pocket figure before starting, and offer financing — details on our financial information page.
FAQ
Emergency Dental Care Questions
The questions Washington, DC patients ask when something has just gone wrong.
Related
Where an Emergency Visit Usually Leads
Emergency care is the front door. The treatment that follows depends on what we find once you are in the chair.
Dental Fillings
For decay and lost fillings — repairing the tooth and stopping the pain at its source.
Dental FillingsRoot Canal Treatment
When infection has reached the nerve, this is what saves the tooth and ends the pain.
Root Canal TreatmentTooth Extractions
When a tooth is beyond saving, removal done gently — with a replacement plan discussed up front.
Tooth ExtractionsDental Crowns
Rebuilding a broken, cracked, or heavily restored tooth so it can take normal chewing force again.
Dental CrownsIn pain? Call us now.
Tell us what is happening and we will get you seen as quickly as we can — call (202) 363-2810. If you have facial swelling affecting breathing, swallowing, or vision, go to a hospital emergency room instead.
4444 Connecticut Ave NW #106, Washington, DC 20008