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Emergency Dentist — Everett, WA

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Your Emergency Treated!

Woman with a toothache in Everett holding her mouth

When you’re suffering from a dental emergency, whether it’s caused by long-term tooth decay that developed an oral infection or forced trauma after a bad fall, Albright Family Dental is prepared to get you out of discomfort and do everything possible to save your tooth. Our dentist and team members are highly experienced in making every phase of your appointment comfortable in this difficult time. To get started, contact our dental office today for emergency dentistry in Everett, WA!

Why Choose Albright Family Dental for Emergency Dental Care?

  • Same-Day Appointments and Same-Day Crowns Available
  • Multiple Forms of Sedation for Anxious Patients
  • Professional Dentist and Team Dedicated to Comfort

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Man visiting an emergency dentist in Everett

  • Schedule a same-day appointment and get essential care: When your tooth is in pain, broken or completely knocked-out, you need to call our dental office first so you can schedule an appointment. By getting this out of the way early, you can establish a time and day to get treatment and speak with one of our team members who can help you stabilize your condition before you arrive.
  • Get an emergency exam from our dentist: After you arrive, a team member will check you in, bring you to an operatory, and Dr. Kaopua will perform an emergency exam. Digital X-rays may also be captured depending on your symptoms.
  • Review findings and learn our recommendations: Once he’s reviewed your symptoms and the current condition of your mouth, Dr. Kaopua can make a recommendation for treatment. He’ll break down the cost estimates and timeline ahead of time so you can make an informed decision on your care.
  • Get the care you need and start healing: With the help of our experienced team, we can address your urgent symptoms as soon as possible. Common treatments we may recommend include dental fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, extractions, and other services.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Before you get to the dental office, consider our tips for the following types of emergencies below. We are equipped to handle just about any dental emergency you experience. However, it’s always helpful to take certain steps to manage your emergency until you’re able to visit our practice. While there are many types of dental emergencies out there, these are the most common we see at Albright Family Dental.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Woman learning cost of treating dental emergencies in Everett

When you’re having a dental emergency, the last thing you should do is put off getting professional care. Doing so will only put you at higher risk of needing additional treatment later. When you arrive at Albright Family Dental, we’ll closely examine your mouth and develop a plan that works for you. Depending on the complexity of your required treatment, your dental care costs may fluctuate. For example, it would be cheaper overall if an oral infection could be treated with antibiotics as opposed to a full-blown root canal. No matter what your costs are, we’ll prioritize getting you out of discomfort and on the right path towards better oral health.

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Every Dental Emergency Is Different

man sitting on couch holding his cheek in pain

The initial exam to diagnose the problem should be relatively inexpensive. However, we can’t provide an accurate estimate for the cost of emergency dentistry in Everett until we’ve determined the specific treatments you need to address the issue and prevent your symptoms from returning. Therefore, the only way to know for sure how much your care will cost is to visit our office and have Dr. Kaopua assess the situation. Once he recommends a course of treatment, our team can go over the estimated costs and your financial options.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

person looking at dental insurance information on cell phone

If you have dental insurance , you can often count on your plan to provide some coverage for emergency treatment. However, the exact amount that is covered differs with each individual policy. Albright Family Dental is in-network with a large number of leading dental insurance plans, and our team will happily handle the process of filing your claims and maximizing your benefits.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

blue piggy bank sitting on top of dentures

Whether or not you have dental insurance, you may be able to make your treatment costs more budget-friendly thanks to CareCredit financing. Qualified patients can pay for their care over the course of several months to a few years rather than in one lump sum. Many plans offered by CareCredit come with low to no interest rates, and our team can help you begin the application process.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

father and son flossing their teeth

Of course, the best way to avoid sudden dental problems and the costs of treating them is to prevent emergencies in the first place. Not all oral health issues can be avoided, but brushing and flossing daily can go a long way toward preventing plaque buildup, which reduces your risk of tooth decay and infection. Another way to save money is to contact your emergency dentist in Everett right away if you notice any unusual discomfort in your mouth. Waiting for the problem to get worse might cause you to need more expensive procedures than if you’d sought treatment as soon as the issue arose.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

A man suffering a dental emergency

Dental emergencies aren’t always avoidable. Accidents can and will happen, including those related to teeth and gums. Still, you can take steps to make these scenarios less likely. Doing so would greatly improve your oral health and keep your smile safe! With that said, we at Albright Family Dental have listed some habits that help prevent dental emergencies in Everett. Practice them in the future so you face fewer crises. If you need urgent dental care, though, don’t hesitate to call us !

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Visit Your Dentist Regularly

A woman getting a dental checkup

In many cases, dental emergencies stem from slow-building problems. For example, a seemingly sudden tooth infection often arises from months of plaque growth. It’s thus crucial to get smaller issues fixed before they get serious.

Luckily, you can do that with regular dental checkups. These visits let our dental team diagnose and treat oral problems on the early side. As a result, they can keep you from needing urgent care down the line!

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

A man and woman brushing their teeth

The average dental emergency is caused by poor oral care. Without proper cleaning, a mouth will house more and more harmful bacteria that can trigger severe cavities, gum disease, and worse. From there, a visit to the emergency dentist could become nearly inevitable.

Naturally, you can prevent this outcome with good oral hygiene. By brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, and using mouthwash, your mouth will stay healthy. You’ll then be able to avoid a future root canal or tooth extraction.

 

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

Healthy foods against a rustic background

Of course, even the best oral routines won’t matter if you constantly eat junk. Overindulging in sugary or acidic foods makes cavities and gum disease highly likely. You’d then be at serious risk of a dental emergency.

 

Given these facts, it’s best to maintain a healthy, “mouth-friendly” diet. Lean proteins, leafy greens, and dairy products are filled with tooth-strengthening nutrients. If you add more of them to your daily meals, your mouth will be protected from harmful factors.

 

Wear a Mouthguard

Man placing a mouthguard in his mouth

Germs and plaque don’t cause all dental emergencies. Some of the latter come from bruxism and sports-related injuries. After all, it’s easy to chip or knock out a tooth from strong physical forces.

 

If you’re big on sports or grind your teeth, you may want to wear a mouthguard. The appliance would protect your smile from all sorts of damage. In fact, you can also ask our office for a personalized one that fits your mouth.

 

Use Tools for Packages, Not Your Teeth

A man tearing tape with his teeth

When it comes to difficult packages, it’s tempting to use your teeth to open them. However, you really should resist that temptation. Otherwise, you could easily bite down hard and cause a tooth to chip, crack, or fracture.

So, to be clear, use tools to open your box or container. Your teeth should be left alone to chew food and smile!

Dental Emergency FAQ’s

Emergency dentist in Everett pointing at an X-ray

Dealing with a dental emergency can be a difficult and potentially scary prospect when you have no one to turn to for help or guidance. That’s why it’s vital to have Albright Family Dental’s contact number saved in your phone in the event of the worst-case scenario. With that said, we encourage you to learn more about how to handle dental emergencies ahead of time so you can be prepared. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions we’ve heard over the years for your convenience.

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Will my toothache go away on its own?

In general, toothaches rarely go away on their own. Instead, they only get worse with time. This is why it’s best to schedule a checkup at our office if one appears. This will give our dentists a chance to examine your mouth and confirm if something is wrong. Since there are many potential causes for a toothache, we want to rule them out as soon as possible. Visiting us also gives us an opportunity to help you prevent your symptoms from worsening. With that said, toothaches around the tooth (rather than inside) may go away on their own, especially if the discomfort is coming from irritation of the gum tissue surrounding the tooth.

Can the emergency room remove a tooth?

Licensed dentists are the only professionals that can legally perform a tooth extraction. For this reason, it’s rare that any doctor at a hospital will be able to remove your tooth. The exception would be if they were an oral surgeon, a profession that still requires a dental degree. At best, an emergency room will provide you antibiotics and pain medication, but not address the source of your dental pain. They will end up telling you to go to a dentist anyway, assuming you don’t have any life-threatening symptoms. Furthermore, you may not even need a tooth extraction, so it’s best to confirm with our office if you can treat your discomfort with root canal therapy instead.

Do chipped teeth heal?

Enamel is considered to be the hardest substance in the human body, but it is not indestructible. Unlike other organic materials, it cannot grow back on its own. If you have a chipped, cracked, or otherwise broken tooth, it will not grow back. At best, teeth can remineralize, but this is not the same as enamel growing back. In this case, you’ll need to have a restoration placed on top of the tooth to protect it from breaking down further. This could include either a crown or veneer, depending on the nature of the damage.

What is causing my jaw pain?

Jaw pain typically occurs due to an unconscious teeth grinding or clenching habit. These habits put stress on the jaw joints, leading to discomfort and inflammation. Jaw pain can also appear due to a jaw injury that never healed properly or arthritis. If your jaw is misaligned, your risk for teeth grinding and clenching as well as developing TMJ disorder goes up. We can examine your jaw more closely during your appointment and confirm if you need a more personalized treatment plan to address your jaw pain.

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Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? While a toothache isn’t always an urgent situation, it’s commonly an indication that you may have an infection developing within the pulp. Since you won’t know how serious the underlying issue is without a dentist’s help, you’ll want to notify our team right away, especially if you’re experiencing:

  • Sharp pain when chewing
  • Sensitivity that lingers for longer than 30 seconds
  • Distracting or throbbing discomfort
  • Signs of an abscess or infection (like swelling, fatigue, and/or fever)

How you should handle a toothache: Rinse your mouth with water (or saltwater) to remove debris or food particles that might be causing discomfort. Take over-the-counter painkillers to alleviate any pain or use a cold compress to minimize swelling. Avoid biting down on any hard foods until you can see your dentist for treatment.

How we treat toothaches: Our team will treat your toothache based on the underlying problem. If it’s due to gingivitis, we can provide you with periodontal therapy. Other services for alleviating a toothache can involve antibiotics, prescription mouthwash, root canal therapy, or extractions.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

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Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Even if it doesn’t hurt, you’ll want to get treatment for a chipped tooth sooner rather than later. If left unaddressed, your tooth can end up vulnerable to further damage or even decay. With simple treatment, our team can effectively repair your smile to avoid future complications.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Try picking any pieces of the tooth that you can find to take them with you to your appointment. Place a cold compress on your cheek to help alleviate any swelling. If you notice any jagged or sharp edges on your chipped tooth, make sure to cover it with dental wax or even sugar-free gum to protect your soft oral tissues.

How we treat chipped teeth: In many cases, we can repair a chipped tooth with composite resin. But if the damage is more visible or at the front of your smile, then you might want to conceal it with veneers instead.

 Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Porcelain Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Even a minor crack is considered a dental emergency, so you’ll want to schedule an appointment with our office as soon as possible. Leaving it unaddressed can make your tooth and the rest of your smile susceptible to bacteria, decay, and infection. If you took a blow to the face and feel discomfort or sensitivity, notify us right away.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Rinse your mouth out with water to remove any dirt and bacteria. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever and use a cold compress to relieve discomfort. Try not to chew anything on that side of your mouth until you arrive at our practice.

How we treat cracked teeth: In many cases, our team can treat your cracked tooth by covering it with a protective dental crown. For minor damages, we may just fix your tooth with composite resin. If we can’t treat or fix your tooth, then an extraction may be necessary. We’ll then discuss your tooth-replacement options, such as a dental bridge or implant.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

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Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Although a mild case of sensitivity isn’t always an urgent situation, you should visit your dentist if the condition worsens over time, persists for longer than a week, or affects one or two teeth. These could be indications that you have cracked teeth, broken fillings, gum recession, deep cavities, or an oral infection.

How you should handle sensitive teeth: Inform our team about your situation and we can provide you with specific instructions on how to manage your sensitivity at home while you wait to see us. This should include taking over-the-counter pain relievers as directed, drinking lukewarm water, and avoiding sweet, spicy, or acidic foods.

How we treat tooth sensitivity: Your tooth sensitivity treatment will depend on the root cause of the problem. Enamel that has been weakened or eroded will typically require special desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride treatment, or tooth-colored fillings. We can also provide custom-made nightguards for bruxism if you tend to grind or clench your teeth in your sleep. If the underlying issue is an infection, then we may recommend antibiotics, gum disease therapy, or root canal therapy.

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Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Learn More About Gum Disease Therapy

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? If you have a knocked-out tooth, then you’ll need to see your dentist immediately. Call our office to schedule an emergency same-day visit if possible. The quicker you can see us, the higher the chance of saving and replacing your tooth.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: Once you find the tooth, ONLY pick it up by the crown. Avoid touching the roots or removing any tissue attached to them, as this can damage them and lower the tooth’s chance of survival. Gently rinse your tooth with warm water and then store it in saline solution or milk (NOT water) to preserve it until you can see us. If you have one, use an ADA-approved tooth preservation kit.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: Dr. Kaopua might be able to replace your tooth by splinting it with nearby teeth for it to heal completely. If this isn’t possible, then we’ll walk you through your tooth-replacement options, such as dentures, bridges, and dental implants.

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Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? Dental fillings and crowns are typically durable and lifelike, but they can still be susceptible to breaking down or falling off. Though this isn’t usually considered a dental emergency, you’ll want to notify our team right away and schedule an appointment. By fixing the issue as soon as possible, you’ll minimize your risk of further damage and developing an infection later on.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: After finding the lost filling or crown, be sure to store it in a sealable container and bring it with you when you visit our office. You might be able to reseat the crown atop your tooth with dental cement, but you should NOT try the same method for your filling.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: Once you arrive at our practice, Dr. Kaopua may try to recement your crown to your tooth if it’s still intact and isn’t completely damaged. However, if your restoration is broken beyond repair, then we’ll likely have to replace the crown or filling altogether.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency? Even if you don’t feel pain after breaking your denture, wearing one can increase your chances of experiencing issues with your gums, jaws, soft oral tissues, and any remaining pearly whites. If your prosthetic teeth or denture base has been damaged or compromised, be sure to notify our dental team as soon as possible.

How to handle a broken denture: DON’T try to wear your broken denture, as this can cause further problems. The best thing to do is schedule an appointment with us right away. You can consider purchasing a denture repair kit from your local store, but these will only provide a temporary solution until your dentist can see you.

How we treat broken dentures: Our team will first evaluate the severity of the damage to your denture to determine the proper treatment. If there isn’t extensive harm to your restoration, then we might be able to repair it with composite resin or readjust it so that it fits your mouth properly. If broken beyond repair, we’ll discuss your tooth-replacement options, such as dentures, dental implants, or implant dentures.

Learn More About Dentures

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Loose Permanent Tooth

Are loose permanent teeth a dental emergency? There are several reasons a tooth can become loose, extruded, or partially dislodged. If this ever occurs, and even if you don’t feel any pain, you’ll need to schedule an emergency dental appointment immediately to preserve your tooth.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: Notify our office the moment you notice your permanent tooth or dental implant feels loose. As you wait to visit us, make sure not to touch the tooth or munch on any hard or sticky foods. You can clean your mouth by rinsing with warm water, but be gentle to not completely dislodge your tooth.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: If your tooth is loose due to an infection in the gums, then we’ll provide you with periodontal therapy. We can also offer custom-made sports mouthguards if your pearly whites have been weakened from physical trauma or a sudden impact, preventing damage in the future. If we can’t salvage your tooth, then we may need to remove it and explore your replacement options, such as dental implants.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

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Learn More About Periodontal Therapy

Learn More About Sports Mouthguards

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? An injury to your mouth can often be unsettling, especially if it leads to bleeding lips, tongue, or gums. If this happens, make sure to call our dental team and explain your condition so we can walk you through the best next steps over the phone.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Gently rinse your mouth with warm water to get rid of any lingering debris or dirt. If you’re bleeding, try applying gauze or a clean washcloth to the wound to control your symptoms. You should also consider applying a cold compress to the outside of your mouth to reduce inflammation and discomfort.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: Cuts or wounds that are small or caused minimal damage can typically be sutured. Our team can even provide custom-crafted sports mouthguards to offer protection during physical activities. But if you experience any large lesions or uncontrollable bleeding, you’ll want to head straight to your local ER for help.

Learn More About Sports Mouthguards

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? Jaw pain isn’t typically considered a dental emergency. However, if your symptoms begin to affect your everyday life or worsen over time, then you’ll want to reach out to our team and schedule a visit so we can address it.

How you should handle jaw pain: Call our office so that we can share tips on how you can manage your situation before arriving at your appointment. This should usually involve taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, and applying a cold compress to alleviate discomfort and reduce swelling. If you think your jaw is dislocated or broken, or you’re having trouble breathing or swallowing, head straight to your nearest ER.

How we treat jaw pain: Our most common treatment for jaw discomfort is a custom-made nightguard for bruxism. This will help prevent you from clenching or grinding your teeth at night. We can also offer TMJ therapy if you’re experiencing a disorder in your temporomandibular joints. If you have wisdom teeth that are erupting or impacted, we may have to extract them to effectively relieve discomfort.

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

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Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Having food, debris, or foreign particles trapped between your teeth can often be uncomfortable. This situation can usually be addressed with at-home remedies. Firstly, try using wax-coated dental floss to carefully push out the object that’s caught. You can also rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water to weaken or loosen the particle. However, make sure NEVER to use sharp items to remove the stuck object, such as tweezers, a fork, or even a toothpick, which can cause harm to your gums and enamel. If your discomfort persists and you aren’t able to remove the object, don’t hesitate to visit our team for help!