Emergency Dentist Worcester

Urgent Oral Care When You Need It

Man holding his cheek in pain needing emergency dentist in Worcester

Should you have a dental emergency, you’ll need to act quickly. Delaying your care too long will make the situation worse. Luckily, you can count on Dr. Damerji and our dental team. We’re always on call, ready to assist, and reachable at any time. Just contact our office to get the emergency dentistry in Worcester that you need. That way, you’ll find fast relief and have your grin repaired in no time. See for yourself by reading below or by booking a same-day visit.

Why Choose Burncoat Family Dental for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Appointments Available
  • Attentive & Caring Dental Team
  • Dental Insurance Friendly & Flexible Financing Welcome

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Woman holding her cheek in pain while talking to emergency dentist

Are you facing your first dental emergency? If so, don’t panic; we’ll walk you through the treatment process. To that end, here are four things to expect from your urgent dental visit:

  • A Same-Day Visit – We’ll book you for the earliest possible visit. In fact, Dr. Damerji will see you either the same or the next day. If you leave a voicemail at our emergency number, Dr. Damerji will usually return the call within an hour.
  • An Emergency Exam – At the start of your visit, our dental team will perform an emergency oral exam. Doing so helps us find your problem’s source and how to relieve your pain.
  • A Review of Findings – After the exam, we’ll share our findings with you. We’ll then suggest suitable procedures and draft a treatment plan.
  • Needed Dental Care – With the treatment plan drafted, our dental team will solve your oral issue. Whether you need a filling, crown, or something else, we’ll get your smile back on track.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

While they do differ from each other, many dental emergencies are fairly common. These sorts happen more often than the others. Should you face one, you really ought to visit us. Our dental team knows how to handle typical dental emergencies. In particular, give us a call if you suffer any of the following:

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Dentist showing patient model of teeth

Once their pain is alleviated and their healthy smile is restored, many patients start to worry about something else: the price. Don’t worry – our Worcester dental team is here to help you navigate the financial side of your treatment as well. Below, you will find some helpful information on the cost of emergency dentistry, but don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions!

Why Every Dental Emergency is Different

Dentist explaining treatment to patient

The reason the cost is different is because each situation is different! For instance, one patient may visit us because of tooth pain, and the next may come in for a same-day appointment because they knocked out a tooth. In fact, even if two patients visit us with the same symptoms, they may need two completely different treatments to restore their healthy, pain-free smile. 

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Patient looking at dental insurance form on phone

If you have dental insurance, it’s worth taking a look at your plan or calling your provider to learn more about your benefits. Of course, our team at Burncoat Family Dental is also here to help! We work with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Delta Dental (Premier and PPO), Aetna, MetLife, and several others. Plus, we can handle the paperwork on your behalf to make the process of utilizing your benefits much less stressful. In short, there’s a good chance that your dental insurance can lower your out-of-pocket expenses, so it’s worth reviewing your coverage and asking us for help, if you need it!

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Dental assistant smiling while handing patient form

If you don’t have dental insurance at the moment, that’s okay – that’s just one financial solution. Another one is CareCredit, which prevents you from having to pay for the entire cost of your care at once. Instead, you can choose one of their payment plans and space out the price into smaller, more manageable installments. We also offer our patients periodic specials, like a $99 emergency visit, so don’t hesitate to take a look at the “Special Offers” page on our website or ask us about our latest promotions when you call to schedule your appointment!

How Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Smiling woman sitting in dental office

Taking good care of your smile won’t just keep your teeth white and your breath fresh; it will also prevent common dental problems, like cavities. So, if you want to keep your teeth and gums happy and healthy, make sure that you:

  • Brush and floss consistently
  • Get a dental checkup and teeth cleaning biannually
  • Don’t over-indulge on foods and drinks with added sugar
  • Wear a mouthguard if you play sports or grind your teeth at night
  • Quit unhealthy habits, like biting your nails

If you ever have any questions about the price – whether it’s about essential restorative care or a routine checkup – don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We don’t want you to stress about any of your visits; we want you to have the positive experience you deserve at each one.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Many dental emergencies can be avoided with a little preparation

There are many reasons you may experience a dental emergency. But while not all of them can be avoided, some can be easily prevented with a few simple lifestyle changes. From regular brushing and flossing to protecting your teeth from accidental injury during sports, safeguarding your smile doesn’t have to be difficult. If you’re interested in learning how to avoid the dental chair outside of your regularly scheduled exam and cleaning, keep reading!

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Visiting the dentist regularly can help prevent dental emergencies

You know the way your teeth feel when you leave Burncoat Family Dental? That smooth sensation you can only get from your semi-annual exam and cleaning is just one benefit of visiting Dr. Damerji and Dr. Alyassi. That’s because when you see us regularly, we can easily screen your teeth and gums for many oral health problems that you could be missing on your own, making it less likely that you’ll need more extensive work down the road, and preventing a potential dental emergency.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home

Taking care of your oral hygiene at home is a great way to avoid dental emergencies

In addition to regular visits with Dr. Damerji and Dr. Alyassi, it is important that you care for your teeth and gums at home. This can be done by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day, not smoking, and notifying your Burncoat Family Dental team if you notice any unexpected changes in your mouth.

Watch Your Diet

Your diet plays an important role in preventing dental emergencies

Diets high in sugar and carbohydrates can not only cause problems with your overall health, but they can also harm your oral health, too. That’s because the bacteria that causes cavities (s. mutans) thrives on sugar and carbohydrates that linger in your mouth after eating. Conversely, eating a diet high in lean protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and dairy products can help keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong and your body functioning properly.

Wear a Mouthguard

Wearing a mouthguard will protect your teeth from a dental emergency

Whether you grind your teeth (bruxism) or play sports, it’s important to wear your gear as prescribed by Dr. Alyassi and Dr. Damerji. This will help prevent your teeth from accidental damage such as breaks, cracks, or being knocked out while at rest or at play. If you’re using a storebought guard that is uncomfortable or awkward to wear, speak to your dentist about having a custom guard made. These are made to fit your mouth perfectly, so you’re more likely to wear them and keep your teeth safe!

Use Tools, Not Teeth to Open Packaging

Use tools like scissors to open packaging, not your teeth

Sure, your teeth might work to open a stubborn piece of packaging if there are no scissors nearby; however, this can cause them to chip, crack, or fall out if you’re not careful. While it may be less convenient, taking an extra moment to get a proper tool to open it could save your smile!

The same goes for biting your fingernails: if it’s not food, don’t use your teeth on it!
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Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? Not all toothaches are emergencies, but they can be serious if they stem from severe health issues. Your own tooth pain is likely an emergency if it features any of the following:

  • Sharp aches from biting down
  • Aching teeth that look darker than adjacent ones
  • Intense or persistent pain over 24 hours
  • Gum bumps near the affected tooth
  • Tooth sensitivity persisting for more than 30 seconds
  • Symptoms of a dental infection (swelling, fever, fatigue, etc.)

How you should handle a toothache: You can do several things to handle a toothache. For starters, check the pained area for trapped debris; it may be causing your ache. If you don’t find any debris, manage your discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers, salt water rinses, and cold compresses. These resources should hold you over until your dental visit.

How we treat toothaches: At our practice, how we treat a toothache depends on its cause. We can only perform proper care once we diagnose the underlying dental issue. Based on our findings, we may suggest a tooth-colored filling, a root canal, or gum disease treatment. One of these options should help your pain fade quickly.

Learn More About Root Canal Treatment

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? While chipped teeth aren’t usually dental emergencies, you should still have them treated quickly. Leaving them alone lets the chips get worse and risks exposing your dentin or pulp. In either scenario, you’d likely suffer severe oral damage or tooth decay.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: If you can find it, you should first locate the chipped toothpiece and store it in a clean container. You should then rinse your mouth with warm water to clear away harmful bacteria and shards. Afterward, you must avoid using the injured tooth to bite or chew.

How we treat chipped teeth: Treatment for chipped teeth varies; the procedure(s) we use depend on your tooth’s level of damage. For instance, we could fix the chip with dental bonding if it’s small enough. Alternatively, a more cosmetics-focused patient may want to hide the chip with a dental veneer.

Learn More About Cosmetic Dental Bonding

Learn More About Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Whether a cracked tooth is a dental emergency depends on its damage. If the harm is minor, you can afford to delay treatment a bit; your problem isn’t urgent. However, a severe crack needs immediate care because it could cause a tooth infection. This high level of damage can also be tricky to spot, as not all cracks are visible. If your tooth is sensitive or aches from biting, you may have a hidden injury.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Firstly, rinse your mouth with water; doing so removes harmful microbes near the tooth. You could then use pain relievers or a cold compress to ease any aches or swelling. While you wait for dental treatment, you should also avoid chewing with or near the tooth.

How we treat cracked teeth: Our office has three helpful ways to treat cracked teeth. The first is cosmetic dental bonding, which applies a special resin to hide the crack from view. Option two is a dental crown – a “cap” that hides the crack and protects it from further damage. The third and final treatment is a tooth extraction, which would remove and replace the cracked tooth with a prosthetic.

Learn More About Cosmetic Dental Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? While slightly sensitive teeth don’t count as an emergency, very sensitive ones do. These latter kinds suffer from exposed dentin and tooth roots, often due to aggressive brushing, an acidic diet, or bruxism. That means they put you at great risk of cavities, infections, and other oral problems when they go untreated. So, you should immediately see a dentist when your teeth have high sensitivity.

How you should handle very sensitive teeth: When your teeth are very sensitive, you should first call our office. We’ll confirm whether you should manage your issue at home or see us for care. Once that’s settled, our team can help you manage by suggesting some lifestyle changes. These may include drinking warm water, avoiding certain foods, or taking over-the-counter pain relievers.

How we treat very sensitive teeth: Depending on your sensitivity’s cause, we can treat it through several methods. Our team could recommend using special oral products - desensitizing toothpaste, prescription mouthwash, etc. – if your case isn’t that bad. On the other hand, we may perform a root canal or gum disease treatment if the sensitivity stems from an infection.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Learn More About Root Canal Treatment

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? A knocked-out tooth is absolutely a dental emergency! If it isn’t dealt with quickly, the issue will lead to permanent tooth loss. That means you should see us for same-day care if (or when) it occurs. Unless you act fast, there’s a good chance you’ll lose your pearly white for good.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: While it’s a serious problem, managing a knocked-out tooth at home is pretty simple. The first step is to find the now-lost tooth and pick it up by its crown; touching the roots would cause damage. Next, rinse off the tooth and store it in milk or saline solution. This action would preserve your chomper for up to an hour while you wait for dental care.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: When possible, our office always tries to save and re-implant knocked-out teeth. Having them reintegrate with your bone and mouth tissues is better for your oral health. That said, we’ll offer replacement options like dental bridges and implants if they can’t be salvaged; these prosthetics let you avoid untreated tooth loss.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? Lost fillings or crowns aren’t often emergencies, as these prosthetics aren’t meant to last forever. Even so, you should still see your dentist about them right away; teeth without fillings or crowns have a high risk of infection.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: It doesn’t take much to handle lost fillings and crowns. If it’s a crown you’re missing, you should locate the object and bring it to us; our team can reseal crowns when they’re in decent shape. As for dental fillings, just leave them alone; they can’t be resealed once they’ve fallen out.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: As mentioned earlier, our team could reseat your restoration. If it’s lost or too damaged, though, we’ll give you a replacement instead.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Broken Denture

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Wearing broken dentures can potentially harm your gums, jaws, remaining teeth, and other soft tissues in your mouth. If you’ve noticed injuries to either the base or artificial teeth, please contact us right away so we can repair the damage.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: If the break seems minor, you might feel tempted to wear your dentures, but please don’t! Not only could you harm your oral health, but you might further injure your restoration past the point of repair.

Also, don’t try to repair them at home with super glue or other household products. These often aren’t intended for oral use and can be toxic to your health.

How We Treat Broken Dentures: If the pontics (artificial teeth) have a chip, crack, or other injury, we can sometimes apply color-matched composite resin to fix it. If the base is broken or there’s more severe damage, we might need to provide you with brand-new dentures instead. If you frequently struggle with injured or ill-fitting dentures, it might be time to consider an alternative replacement, like dental implants.

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Also known as partially dislodged or extruded, loose permanent teeth can happen gradually over time or immediately after sustaining an injury. Whatever the cause, they’re at risk of falling out. You should be seen immediately to safeguard your smile.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: Contact us right away to let us know and we’ll schedule a same-day appointment to see you. Then, avoid touching it with your fingers or eating anything overly hard or sticky that might yank or shove it out of its socket. You can keep your mouth clean by gently swishing warm salt water, but should avoid brushing and flossing it until it’s treated.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: Loose dental implants can sometimes be salvaged with additional procedures, like a bone graft. If it’s a natural tooth, a dental splint or other method can sometimes be used to stabilize it long enough to reintegrate with the socket. Otherwise, we might recommend extracting and replacing it.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Tooth Replacements

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? If something has lacerated the inside of your mouth, it’s natural to feel alarmed. These types of injuries are not uncommon among athletes, and our team is prepared to help you.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: First, clean the area gently with water to rinse away debris and germs that might infect the wound. Then, apply pressure with a clean washcloth or folded gauze to slow or stop the bleeding. You can also press an ice pack to that side of your face to temporarily alleviate associated aches and inflammation.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Our team can help stitch smaller cuts closed and help keep the site clean to avoid possible infection. However, if you experience bleeding that hasn’t stopped within 10 minutes or gets worse, you should head to the closest emergency room.

Learn More About Sports Mouthguards

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Jaw pain can range from mild to severe and sometimes causes a stiff or locked jaw requiring immediate attention. If you’re experiencing any discomfort, it’s better to see us sooner rather than later to prevent the problem from progressing.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: When you contact our office, we’ll provide special care instructions over the phone for you to follow until your schedule appointment time. Typically, it’s safe to take over-the-counter meds like Tylenol or ibuprofen to ease aches and inflammation.

However, if your jawbone is broken or dislocated, you should head to the local ER instead.

How We Treat Jaw Pain: The treatment for the aches in your jaw depends on the underlying cause. If it’s due to chronic teeth grinding (bruxism), then a nightguard or other TMJ therapy can help protect your teeth and your temporomandibular joint and reduce symptoms. If the pain is due to impacted wisdom teeth, we can extract them to provide relief.

Learn More About Nightguards

Learn More About TMJ Therapies

Learn More About Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is Something Stuck Between the Teeth a Dental Emergency? Having a piece of food or other item jammed between your teeth is probably more frustrating than urgent. That said, you might injure your teeth or gums trying to pry it out which requires immediate attention.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between the Teeth: You can try to gently dislodge the object by rinsing vigorously with water or flossing gently between your teeth. If that doesn’t work, you might feel tempted to try using tweezers, toothpicks, utensils, or other sharp objects to free it. However, doing so can harm your mouth and should be avoided.

How We Treat Something Stuck Between the Teeth: Our team has the experience and state-of-the-art equipment to safely free anything jammed between your teeth without harming your smile.