Restorative and urgent
Emergency dentistry
Severe toothache, swelling or a broken tooth? We hold same-day emergency slots every weekday and answer an after-hours line for patients of record.
- Same-day slots
- Held every weekday
- After hours
- Call-back within 30 minutes
- New patients
- Welcome for emergencies
What to expect from emergency dentistry
Dental emergencies rarely wait for a convenient time. We keep two emergency slots open on every weekday schedule, so if you call before noon you will usually be seen the same day, new patients included.
The first priority is getting you out of pain. We diagnose with a focused exam and x-ray, treat the urgent problem, and then schedule any follow-up work for a calmer day. After hours, our on-call dentist returns calls from the emergency line within 30 minutes.
What is included
Every emergency dentistry plan at Northstar covers these steps as standard.
- 01Focused emergency exam and digital x-ray
- 02Pain relief and infection management
- 03Temporary or permanent repair of broken teeth
- 04Re-implanting knocked-out teeth when possible
- 05Emergency root canal therapy to relieve nerve pain
- 06Written plan for any follow-up treatment
How the process works
- 1
Call
Phone the office or emergency line and describe what happened.
- 2
Triage
We tell you what to do right now and when to come in.
- 3
Treat
Exam, x-ray and treatment to stop pain and protect the tooth.
- 4
Follow up
A check-in call and a plan for any remaining work.
Why patients choose it
Cracked a molar on a Tuesday morning and was in the chair by 1 pm. Dr. Whitfield explained every option and had me out of pain the same afternoon.
Seen today
Held slots mean you are not waiting days in pain.
Skip the ER
Hospital ERs rarely treat teeth; we can.
Save more teeth
Fast care improves the odds for cracked or knocked-out teeth.
Clear costs
You get an estimate before treatment beyond the exam.
What affects the cost
A limited emergency exam with x-ray typically ranges from $95 to $165 before treatment (sample figures).
We share a written estimate, including your insurance portion, before treatment begins.
Insurance and financing- 1Exam and x-ray
- A limited emergency exam is the starting point.
- 2Treatment needed
- Palliative care, extraction or root canal are priced separately.
- 3After-hours visits
- Weekend call-ins carry an additional after-hours fee.
- 4Insurance
- Emergency exams are usually covered by PPO plans.
Emergency dentistry FAQ
Severe pain, facial swelling, a knocked-out or loose adult tooth, bleeding that will not stop, or a broken tooth with sharp edges. Swelling that affects breathing or swallowing needs the ER right away.
Hold it by the crown, rinse gently, and try to place it back in the socket. If you cannot, keep it in milk and call us immediately. Time matters.
Yes, during office hours. The after-hours line is reserved for patients of record.
Antibiotics alone do not fix the cause and are only prescribed after an exam, except in rare situations for existing patients.
Related services
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Book your emergency dentistry visit
Tell us what you need and when you are free. Our front desk confirms within one business day.
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