What Counts as a Dental Emergency?

Not every dental issue needs same-day attention — but some absolutely do. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), urgent dental care focuses on conditions that require immediate attention to relieve severe pain, address potential infection, or prevent further damage to your teeth and surrounding tissues.

If you're experiencing any of the following, please give us a call right away:

• Severe, persistent toothache — especially pain that wakes you at night or radiates to your jaw, ear, or head
• A knocked-out (avulsed) permanent tooth — time matters here; we'll explain what to do below
• Cracked, chipped, or fractured tooth causing pain or sharp edges
• Lost or broken filling, crown, or bridge
• Dental abscess — a localized swelling, pimple-like bump on the gum, or facial swelling that could signal infection
• Soft tissue injury to the lips, cheeks, tongue, or gums with bleeding that won't stop
• Loose or partially dislodged adult tooth
• Painful, swollen wisdom teeth or pericoronitis (inflammation around a partially erupted tooth)
• Object lodged between teeth that you can't safely remove with floss

If you're dealing with severe facial swelling that's affecting your breathing or swallowing, a suspected broken jaw, or uncontrolled bleeding after trauma, please head to your nearest emergency room first. Those situations are medical emergencies, and the hospital is the right place to start.

Why Choose Burlington Family Dentistry for Emergency Care?

When something goes wrong with your teeth, you want a team that's calm, kind, and ready to help — not a stranger reading from a script. Here's what makes our Burlington practice different:

Same-Day Appointments — Often Available

We hold time in our schedule specifically for patients in pain. While we can't promise an instant slot every single time (we'd rather be honest about that), same-day appointments are often available — especially if you call as early in the day as possible. The sooner we see you, the sooner we can take the pain off the table.

Same-Day Treatment — When the Situation Allows

Getting in the door is one thing. Actually fixing the problem is another. Our office is set up to deliver same-day treatment in many emergency situations, including pain relief, temporary crowns, fillings, extractions, and root canals when needed. We don't believe in dragging out your discomfort across multiple visits when we can resolve things in one.

Long Evening Hours, Monday Through Thursday

Most dental offices close around 5 p.m., which is often right when a toothache decides to make itself known. We're open until 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and on Fridays and every other Saturday until 2 p.m. — making it much easier to be seen the same day a problem starts, even if you work a full schedule.

24/7 Online Scheduling

A toothache at midnight doesn't have to mean waiting until morning to do something about it. Our online booking tool is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can lock in the next available emergency slot whenever it works for you.

A People-First Practice for the Whole Family

We treat patients like family and place you at the center of your care. From toddlers with their first chipped tooth to grandparents dealing with a broken bridge, our team takes time to listen, explain things in plain language, and make every visit as comfortable as we can — even the unplanned ones.

Common Dental Emergencies and What to Do Before You Get to Our Office

Quick action can sometimes mean the difference between saving a tooth and losing it. Here's ADA-aligned guidance for the most common emergencies. (When in doubt, just call us — we'll talk you through it.)

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

This one is genuinely time-sensitive. According to the ADA's MouthHealthy guidance:

1. Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (the chewing surface) — never the root.
2. Don't scrub it or remove any attached tissue.
3. Keep it moist at all times. If you can, gently place it back in the socket without touching the root. If that's not possible, store it between your cheek and gums, in a container of milk, or in a tooth-preservation product carrying the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
4. Get to our office immediately. The faster we see you, the better the chances of saving the tooth.

Severe Toothache

Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area, and gently use floss to remove any food trapped between your teeth. Skip the old-school trick of placing aspirin directly on the gum — it can actually burn the tissue. A cold compress against the outside of your cheek can help with swelling. Then call us.

Cracked or Chipped Tooth

Rinse with warm water and apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to manage swelling. If you can find the broken piece, save it in a small container of milk or saline and bring it with you.

Lost Filling or Crown

Save the crown if you can — sometimes we can re-cement it. In the meantime, over-the-counter dental cement (available at most pharmacies) can offer a temporary fix until you see us. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth.

Abscess or Facial Swelling

A dental abscess is a serious infection that needs prompt attention. Don't wait it out. Call our office, and if you're experiencing rapidly spreading swelling, fever, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, head to the emergency room.

Bitten Lip, Tongue, or Cheek

Clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress. If bleeding is severe and won't stop after 10–15 minutes of steady pressure, seek emergency medical care.

Emergency Treatments We Offer

Depending on what's going on, your visit might include any of the following:

• Pain management and infection control — often the very first priority
• Emergency exams with digital X-rays to diagnose the problem quickly
• Tooth-colored fillings to repair decay and small fractures
• Same-day root canals to save infected or badly damaged teeth
• Extractions when a tooth genuinely can't be saved, including wisdom teeth
• Crown re-cementing or replacement for crowns that have come loose or broken
• Restorative options — bridges and dental implants — to replace teeth after an extraction
• Soft tissue treatment for cuts, abrasions, and injuries inside the mouth

What to Expect at Your Emergency Visit

Walking into a dental office in pain can feel daunting, especially if it's your first time with us. Here's how we make it as smooth as possible:

1. Quick check-in. We keep emergency paperwork minimal so we can get you into the chair fast.
2. Focused exam and digital imaging. We'll take a close look at the problem, often with X-rays, to understand exactly what's happening.
3. Pain relief first. Whenever possible, we address discomfort before anything else — whether that means numbing the area, draining an abscess, or stabilizing a damaged tooth.
4. Clear explanation of options. No jargon, no pressure. We'll walk you through your treatment choices, what each one costs, and what insurance is likely to cover.
5. Same-day treatment when possible. Many emergency cases can be fully resolved in a single visit. Others may need a follow-up — but you'll leave knowing exactly what comes next.

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Insurance, Payment, and Making Care Affordable

We accept most major dental insurance plans and offer flexible payment options to help make emergency care more accessible. If you're uninsured or worried about the cost, please don't let that keep you from calling — we'll have an honest conversation about what's possible. Putting off a real dental emergency almost always makes the problem (and the eventual bill) bigger.

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Serving Burlington, Mount Vernon, and All of Skagit County

Burlington Family Dentistry is conveniently located on South Burlington Boulevard, making us easy to reach for patients across Burlington, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley, Anacortes, La Conner, and the broader Skagit County area. Whether you're a longtime patient or this is the first time you've ever heard of us, you're welcome here when an emergency strikes.

If you're experiencing a dental emergency outside our regular hours, please use our 24/7 online booking to request the next available appointment, and head to your nearest hospital emergency room if your symptoms are severe (uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing or swallowing, suspected jaw fracture).

Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Dentistry