Alexandria • Dumfries • Washington DC
Dental team responding quickly to a patient emergency
Urgent Care

In pain now? We'll see you today.

A broken tooth, a bad infection, or a tooth that's been knocked out can't wait for next week's opening. Call any of our three offices and we'll get you into a chair the same day.

Alexandria Dumfries Washington DC
Same-Day Appointments Three Convenient Offices Sedation Available Pain Relief First In-Network with Most PPOs Financing Available Same-Day Appointments Three Convenient Offices Sedation Available Pain Relief First In-Network with Most PPOs Financing Available
Overview

Fast relief when something goes wrong.

A dental emergency rarely happens on a convenient schedule. Whether it's a tooth that's suddenly throbbing, a crack from biting down on something hard, or a full-on knocked-out tooth after a fall, the first priority is getting you seen quickly and getting the pain under control.

We keep same-day slots open specifically for emergencies at all three offices, so you're not stuck waiting days while an infection spreads or a broken tooth gets worse. Call ahead and describe what happened, we'll tell you what to do in the meantime and get you in as soon as possible.

3
Offices Nearby
1
Day Typical Wait
24/7
Phone Guidance
Dentist consulting with a patient about urgent dental pain
Is It an Emergency?

Situations that call for a same-day visit.

Some dental problems can wait for a regular appointment. These generally can't. If you're unsure, call, we'd rather check than have you guess.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Time matters most here. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root, and get to us within an hour if possible.

Severe or Swelling Toothache

Throbbing pain with facial swelling often means an abscess that needs same-day attention.

Cracked or Broken Tooth

A visible crack, a sharp edge, or a piece that's broken off needs to be assessed before it worsens.

Lost or Broken Restoration

A crown, filling, or bridge that's come loose leaves the tooth exposed and vulnerable.

Uncontrolled Bleeding

Bleeding from the mouth that doesn't stop with steady pressure after a few minutes needs evaluation.

Injury to Teeth or Jaw

A fall, sports injury, or accident affecting the mouth should be checked even if pain is mild at first.

The Process

From urgent call to lasting fix.

01

Call the Office Nearest You

Describe what happened. We'll give you immediate guidance for the ride over and find you the soonest same-day slot.

02

Same-Day Exam

We take a focused X-ray, identify the source of the problem, and get you numb or otherwise comfortable right away.

03

Immediate Stabilization

The priority is controlling pain and infection first, that might mean draining an abscess, splinting a knocked-out tooth, or placing a temporary restoration.

04

Definitive Treatment

Once things are stable, we plan whatever permanent fix is needed, whether that's a filling, crown, root canal, or extraction, and schedule the follow-up.

Calm, focused dental team at work in an operatory

Urgent doesn't mean rushed. We move fast and stay careful.

Emergency Visit vs. Waiting It Out

Why it's worth coming in right away.

Tooth pain and infection almost never improve on their own, even when they seem to ease up for a day or two. What feels manageable now can become a much bigger, more expensive problem within a week.

 
Same-Day Emergency Visit
Waiting It Out
Infection Risk
Treated before it spreads
Can spread to jaw or bloodstream
Pain Control
Addressed same day
Often worsens over days
Tooth Survival
Higher chance tooth is saved
Delay lowers odds of saving it
Total Treatment Cost
Usually the simpler fix
Often needs more extensive work later
Time Off Work or School
One focused visit
Repeated disruption as it worsens
Knocked-Out Tooth Odds
Best within 30–60 minutes
Reimplantation unlikely after a few hours
Investment

Cost, insurance & financing.

Get a Quote

Emergency visit cost depends on what's actually needed once we see you, a simple fix costs far less than a neglected one. We treat the emergency first and give you a clear cost breakdown before any further treatment, and most dental insurance plans cover emergency exams and X-rays.

In-Network

Most PPO Plans

Our clinic is in network with most PPOs and accepts all insurance plans. We'll verify your benefits and file the claim on your behalf.

  • Coverage & co-pay verification
  • Annual deductible review
  • Claim filed for you
Financing

Interest-Free Options

Spread payment over time with interest-free financing through Lending Club or CareCredit, so cost isn't the reason you delay treatment.

  • LendingClub interest-free financing
  • CareCredit accepted
  • Discover, Visa, MasterCard & Amex
Members Save

Dental Serenity Membership Club

Not insured? Our in-house membership plan simplifies preventative care and saves on treatment, a smart alternative when insurance isn't a fit.

Learn About Membership
Your Care Team

Four doctors. One standard of care.

With four doctors across three offices, there's almost always someone available for a same-day emergency, and our restorative team steps in for complex trauma cases.

AA

Dr. Assal Assadi

DMD, Tufts University

Over a decade of practice in the DC area. Certified Invisalign provider and AAFE-certified in Botox therapeutics for TMJ and facial pain.

NR

Dr. Narissa Ross

DMD, UAB · AEGD, NYU Langone

Restorative, cosmetic, and complex oral surgery. Invisalign and dental implant certified, with a special focus on patients with dental anxiety.

OT

Dr. Omar Taha

DMD, East Carolina University

Compassionate care with a friendly approach. A Fairfax native who combines clinical expertise with genuine warmth that puts patients at ease.

AT

Dr. Aadil Toor

DDS, Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center

Multi-disciplinary, comprehensive dentistry with a pragmatic approach. Passionate about patient education and staying current with advances in dental care.

Common Questions

What patients ask about dental emergencies.

If you're dealing with a dental emergency right now, call the office nearest you first, but here's what we hear most often.

Book Consultation
What actually counts as a dental emergency?

Severe pain, facial swelling, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, uncontrolled bleeding, or a lost restoration that's exposing a tooth all count. If you're weighing whether to call, it's worth calling, we can quickly tell you over the phone whether it needs a same-day visit.

Should I go to the ER instead of a dentist?

Go to the ER for facial trauma with heavy bleeding, jaw fractures, or swelling that's affecting your breathing or swallowing. For tooth pain, abscess, or a broken tooth without those signs, a dentist can treat the actual dental problem, which most ERs aren't set up to do, they'll typically just prescribe antibiotics or pain medication and refer you to us anyway.

Will an emergency visit hurt?

We numb the area before doing anything, so the visit itself shouldn't be painful even if you came in with severe pain. Sedation is available if you'd like extra help staying relaxed. Most patients feel noticeably better walking out than they did walking in.

My tooth got knocked out. What do I do right now?

Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root, and avoid touching the root surface. If it's clean, try to gently reinsert it into the socket; if not, keep it in milk or your own saliva and get to us within 30 to 60 minutes, the odds of successfully saving the tooth drop quickly after that.

What if I don't have insurance?

We'll still see you same day. We offer CareCredit and Lending Club financing to spread out the cost, and our Membership Club gives uninsured patients discounted rates on exams, X-rays, and treatment. We'll walk through the numbers with you before starting anything.

What if it happens outside office hours?

Call the office nearest you and follow the voicemail instructions for after-hours guidance. For serious trauma or uncontrollable bleeding, go to the ER first, then follow up with us as soon as we're open.

Where to Start

Call now, or request a same-day visit.

Alexandria office interior

Alexandria, VA

4660 Kenmore Ave, Suite 312
Alexandria, VA 22304
(703) 997-6307
Mon–Fri 8am–5pm · Sat 8am–2pm
Dumfries office interior

Dumfries, VA

17181 Wayside Dr
Dumfries, VA 22026
(703) 445-9600
Mon–Tue 8am–5pm · Wed–Thu 8am–7pm
Fri 8am–3pm · Sat 8am–2pm
Washington DC office interior

Washington, DC

1145 19th St NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 296-7455
Mon–Fri 8am–5pm · Sat 8am–2pm
Don't Wait

In pain or dealing with a broken tooth right now?

Call the office nearest you first for the fastest response. If it's easier to request online, fill out the form and mark it urgent, our team checks these throughout the day.

No pressure. No obligation. Just a clear picture of what's possible.

Request Urgent Care Call Any Location
Dental Serenity doctor with patient
Schedule Your Consultation

Need to be seen today?

For anything severe, call the office nearest you directly. Otherwise, fill out the form and mark it as urgent, we check these throughout the day.