Emergency Dentist – Worcester, MA

Reliable Same-Day Emergency Dental Care for the Whole Family

Woman holding cheek in pain before emergency dentistry

Whether your child just took their first tumble while learning how to ride a bike or your dental crown broke off while enjoying your favorite daily snack, our dental team at Community Dentists of Worcester is here for you when you need us the most. We offer same-day emergency dentistry appointments to help restore the health and look of your smile. Give our gentle emergency dentist in Worcester, MA a call if you ever find yourself requiring urgent dental care!

Why Choose Community Dentists of Worcester for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Emergency Appointments Available
  • We Accept Medicaid/MassHealth
  • Comprehensive Dentistry for Patients of All Ages

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Woman talking to dentist about how to treat dental emergencies

The first step you should always take in the midst of a dental emergency is to call our dental office. We’ll provide you with over-the-phone first aid guidance and schedule a visit for you as soon as possible. Once you arrive, we’ll conduct a visual examination of your mouth and capture X-rays, if necessary. After we’ve diagnosed the issue at hand, we’ll walk you through our proposed treatment plan and get your OK to begin restoring your smile. Before you leave, our team will schedule any necessary follow-up visits with you.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

If you aren’t sure whether your situation constitutes as a dental emergency, then give us a call. We see patients for all types of reasons, from broken restorations to an object lodged between their teeth, and we’ll let you know whether you should come in today or within the week.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Smiling dentist reviewing treatment plan with patient

The only way we can determine the cost of your dental emergency in Worcester is to examine the problem first so we can come up with a treatment plan. Our team is happy to accept MassHealth and works with dental insurance companies to help you get the most bang for your buck. If you have any concerns about cost, please don’t hesitate to ask our staff – we’ll do everything we can to get you the care you need while meeting your budget.

Why Every Dental Emergency is Different

Patient reclined in treatment chair smiling

Above, we mentioned that we need to conduct an exam before we can provide you with an estimate of the cost. That’s because we have to know what the root of the problem is first. In some cases, it’s a small cavity. Other times, it’s a severe infection or a large crack in your enamel. Each of these dental injuries requires different treatments, and we will customize yours to ensure you leave our office with a smile that looks, feels, and functions perfectly.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Woman filling out dental insurance form in lobby

In addition to accepting MassHealth, our team at Community Dentists of Worcester is in-network with several popular providers, including Guardian, Humana, Mass Health, and Principal. So, if you have dental insurance but you aren’t familiar with your benefits, don’t hesitate to ask us for help! We can take a look at the fine print to see if you have a free emergency exam or a discount on restorative services. We’ll also take any red tape into account, like waiting periods, and provide you with an estimate of your out-of-pocket expenses. Ultimately, our goal is to make utilizing your available benefits as easy as possible.

Other Ways to Make Dental Emergencies Affordable

Dental assistant smiling while handing patient form

Patients without dental insurance can take advantage of the other financial solutions available at our Worcester office! The first is CareCredit, which prevents you from having to pay for the entire cost of your emergency dental care at once. The second is our periodic specials, which are created with the goal of keeping our patients’ out-of-pocket expenses to a minimum. If you want to learn more about either of these options, let us know; we’d be happy to answer any questions you have!

How Caring for Your Smile Helps You Save

a patient smiling during her implant consultation

Oftentimes, patients don’t think about emergency dental care (or the associated costs) until they are already in our chair. However, you can protect your smile and your wallet with a few healthy habits in place. Some examples include coming in twice a year for a checkup and cleaning, brushing and flossing consistently at home, wearing a mouthguard during sports, and not using tobacco products.

We know that patients often experience stress, anxiety, and nerves stemming from the cost. That’s why we go the extra mile to make navigating the financial side of your care as easy as possible.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Dentist pointing to model of teeth in office with patient

Sadly, there’s no way you can completely avoid experiencing a dental emergency. There are, however, some preventive measures you can take to reduce your chances of ending up in your emergency dentist’s treatment chair. Keep reading to learn a few of our recommendations!

Visit Your Dentist Twice a Year for a Checkup and Cleaning

Dentist examining patient's teeth

Remember, even if you brush and floss consistently, it’s possible for plaque and tartar to build up. It’s also possible for oral cancer, tooth decay, and gum disease to develop under the radar. That’s why it’s so important that you come to our Worcester dental office every six months for a dental checkup and teeth cleaning.

Tip: If you start to experience abnormal dental symptoms between visits, like pain when chewing your food, then get in touch with us ASAP!

Brush, Floss, and Rinse with Mouthwash Consistently

Woman smiling while brushing her teeth

Of course, you need to take great care of your smile at home too. That way, your risk of damaged restorations, cavities, and other common oral health problems is significantly less. Make sure that, in addition to brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently, you don’t go on autopilot in the process. It’s important that you focus on thoroughly removing food particles, plaque, and other debris from your teeth, tongue, and gumline.

Maintain a Balanced Diet

Smiling woman cutting apple in kitchen

It’s no secret that sugar is one of the leading causes of cavities. However, that’s not the only way what you eat can impact your oral health. Extremely crunchy foods, like hard pretzels, increase the risk of a chip, crack, or fracture, which is why we recommend avoiding them. Instead, stick to a well-balanced diet filled with nutrient-dense foods, like plain yogurt, oatmeal, and scrambled eggs.

Wear a Mouthguard During Sports

Closeup of man wearing blue mouthguard

Wearing a mouthguard while participating in sports like football and soccer is essential. We also recommend wearing one if you rollerblade, run, skateboard, or lift weights. That way, your teeth are protected from impact, grinding, and clenching, reducing your risk of a dental emergency in the process.

Tip: If you don’t have a mouthguard, schedule an appointment with us so we can have a custom one made!

Break Bad Habits

Smiling woman sitting in dental office

Just like smoking can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums, biting your nails can damage your enamel and chewing on ice cubes can lead to a fracture. For those reasons, we strongly recommend breaking bad habits, even if you haven’t run into any issues yet. It may be difficult, but your effort could save your smile and your wallet!

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Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? There is a common misconception that toothaches can be ignored. Not only is that not the case, but there are actually several signs that it requires same-day treatment from our Worcester emergency dentist! If you have a pimple-like bump on your gums, the tooth that’s causing you pain is discolored, or you’re experiencing symptoms of an infection (like a fever), then call us right away.

How you should handle a toothache: Calling our team is an important first step. Between now and your appointment, there are several things you can do to help alleviate your discomfort, including placing a cold compress against the outside of your cheek and taking OTC pain medication as directed.

How We Treat toothaches: Before determining which treatment is best, we need to take X-rays and conduct an oral exam to pinpoint the root of the problem. If your pain is stemming from a cavity, then we can remove the damaged tissue and restore your tooth with a filling, dental crown, or root canal therapy. There are also some cases (although rarer), where the best choice for the health and function of your smile is to extract the tooth and replace it with a dental implant or bridge.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy Learn More About Tooth Extractions Learn More About Dental Implants

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Yes, it is! Since pain is a common symptom of a cracked tooth, this might be reason enough to schedule a same-day appointment with our Worcester dental team. However, it’s also important not to put off treatment because the tooth is now vulnerable to developing an infection as well as sustaining additional damage.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Handling this dental injury properly really comes down to two steps: rinsing your mouth with clean water and covering the sharp edge of the tooth to prevent a soft tissue injury. You can use a piece of dental wax or sugar-free gum to do so!

How we treat cracked teeth: Dental bonding and veneers are two of the most popular treatments for chipped teeth. They both come in a wide range of enamel-like shades as well, which allows us to restore the look and function of your tooth seamlessly.

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Although chipped teeth aren’t always a dental emergency, they do always warrant a call to our Worcester dental office. That way, we can learn more about your situation and schedule a time for you to come in for an exam. It’s crucial that we make sure the tooth isn’t vulnerable to splitting further!

How you should handle a chipped tooth: In addition to rinsing your mouth with clean, lukewarm water, we recommend using a piece of sugar-free gum to cover the chipped tooth. This will help prevent sensitivity as well as soft tissue injuries. As with most dental emergencies, you shouldn’t use that tooth to chew, and you can take OTC pain medication as directed in the meantime.

How we treat chipped teeth: Of course, numerous factors need to be considered, including the size of the chip and the location of the tooth. However, cosmetic bonding and veneers are the two most popular treatment options since they are lifelike and completely customizable.

Learn More About Cosmetic Bonding Learn More About Veneers

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? If you’re experiencing dental sensitivity, then it’s worth calling our Worcester dental office so we can at least make sure an untreated oral health issue isn’t the source. If it is, then we can intervene with the necessary treatment right away. If it isn’t, then we can recommend some desensitizing toothpastes and mouthwashes to help.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth There are some short-term measures you can take, like avoiding hot coffee and ice cream. It can also be helpful to switch out your current oral hygiene products with ones made for patients with dental sensitivity. Of course, to get the long-term relief you’re looking for, you need to come in for an exam so we can determine what the best treatment is.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth After pinpointing the root of the problem – whether it’s a small cavity or an advanced stage of gum disease – we will be able to provide you with your treatment options as well as our recommendations.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency that requires immediate treatment. In fact, you need to visit our Worcester emergency dentist within 60 minutes (the sooner, the better). So, after you’ve assessed the situation and determined that you don’t need medical attention, call us ASAP to schedule an appointment.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth Priority number one is finding the tooth. From there, gently pick it up by the crown (the chewing surface). To preserve the root, you have two options: submerging the tooth in a container of milk or placing it back in its socket. The latter should only be done if it slides into position without any force.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth Our top priority is saving your tooth, which may be possible if it wasn’t damaged during transport. If we can’t save your tooth because you don’t have it or it isn’t in good condition, then we will discuss your other options, like filling the new gap in your smile with a dental implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS BUTTON

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Even if you aren’t in any pain, a lost filling or crown does warrant a call to our office. In fact, in some cases, it may even necessitate a same-day appointment.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown Aside from calling us to schedule your treatment, we recommend finding your restoration and storing it safely in a clean container. Additionally, you should do your best to keep your mouth clean by taking measures like rinsing with clean, lukewarm water periodically.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns Of course, we always have the option of replacing your old restoration with a new one. However, if you have your dental crown and it’s in good condition, then re-cementing it back in place may also be a viable solution.

Broken Denture

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes – it doesn’t take much for the tooth to fall out completely, after all! So, whether your tooth is just slightly loose or is barely hanging on, contact our Worcester dental team ASAP.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth We recommend calling us to schedule an appointment. Then, do what you can to prevent additional dental damage at home, like not chewing on that side of your mouth or touching the tooth with your tongue.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth Typically, we have two options: providing your tooth with the support it needs to heal back in place or removing the tooth and replacing it with a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS BUTTON

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS BUTTON

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes – it doesn’t take much for the tooth to fall out completely, after all! So, whether your tooth is just slightly loose or is barely hanging on, contact our Worcester dental team ASAP.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth We recommend calling us to schedule an appointment. Then, do what you can to prevent additional dental damage at home, like not chewing on that side of your mouth or touching the tooth with your tongue.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth Typically, we have two options: providing your tooth with the support it needs to heal back in place or removing the tooth and replacing it with a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS BUTTON

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS BUTTON

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Usually, soft tissue injuries aren’t a dental emergency. If, however, the cut is bleeding uncontrollably, then you should call 911 or go to the ER immediately.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue There are three simple steps: rinse the cut with clean, cool water, apply pressure to the cut with a damp washcloth, place a cold compress against the area once the bleeding stops.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue In rare cases, we can stitch the wound closed. However, soft tissue injuries can usually be handled at home or are severe enough that they warrant a trip to the ER.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Although jaw pain definitely shouldn’t be ignored, it also doesn’t usually warrant a same-day visit to our Worcester dental office.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain We recommend scheduling an appointment with us at your earliest convenience and doing what you can to alleviate your discomfort in the meantime, like sticking to soft foods and placing a cold compress against your jaw.

How We Treat Jaw Pain With detailed X-rays and a visual exam, we’ll be able to determine what’s causing your jaw pain. Sometimes, the fix is as simple as wearing a mouthguard to prevent nighttime grinding. Other times, something more extensive is needed, like removing an impacted wisdom tooth.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

In most cases, having something stuck between your teeth isn’t a dental emergency. Try rinsing with warm saltwater thoroughly to help loosen the debris. Then, use some floss to carefully clean between your teeth. If this doesn’t work, don’t turn to toothpicks, tweezers, or any other sharp objects. Instead, call us, explain your situation, and we’ll handle it from there.