Emergency Dentistry in Gainesville, VA
Emergency dentistry at Lunar Dental covers active dental pain, swelling, broken teeth, lost crowns, knocked-out teeth, and trauma. Same-day visits are often available — call 703-349-0099 immediately, including after-hours (the line forwards to an on-call number). For life-threatening swelling, difficulty breathing, or severe facial trauma, go to the ER first and call us as you go. Most emergencies seen here cost $150–$400 for evaluation plus treatment.
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Invisalign Certified · Implant Provider · Oral Conscious Sedation · Dental Sleep Medicine · Owner, Lunar Dental
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Who it's for
Anyone with sudden, severe dental pain or visible trauma — including patients who have never been to Lunar Dental before. We don't turn away emergency cases because you're not "established." Parents with a child who fell and chipped or knocked out a tooth. Patients whose crown or filling fell out before a trip. Anyone with swelling around a tooth that's gotten worse over 24 hours rather than better.
What it costs
Emergency evaluation at Lunar Dental is $150–$200 for the visit and limited x-ray, plus the cost of whatever treatment we perform that day (extraction, temporary crown re-cement, root-canal access, antibiotic prescription, etc.). Most insurance — including Cardinal Care — covers emergency dental visits. We give you the price before treatment, even in urgent situations. CareCredit available if needed.
How it works
The emergency dentistry process at Lunar Dental.
- 1
Call us first (any hour)
Dial 703-349-0099. During office hours you reach the front desk; after hours the line forwards to an on-call number for triage. Describe what happened — we tell you whether to come in immediately, wait for opening, or go to an ER.
- 2
In-office triage (10–15 min)
Targeted exam of the affected area, focused x-ray if needed, and a clear explanation of what's going on. Pain management starts here — local anesthetic if appropriate, prescription ibuprofen-acetaminophen combination if not.
- 3
Same-day treatment when possible
Many emergencies are fixable the same visit: re-cement a lost crown, treat an abscess with a root-canal access opening, extract a non-restorable tooth, splint a luxated tooth, place a temporary filling. We do what's needed to get you out of pain.
- 4
Definitive follow-up scheduled
Some emergencies (e.g., root canals requiring multi-visit treatment, fractured teeth needing a crown) need follow-up. We book that visit before you leave and give you written care instructions for the interim.
- 5
After-hours guidance
If we can't see you tonight, we walk you through what to do until morning — managing pain, protecting a knocked-out tooth in milk or saliva, when to escalate to an ER. We don't leave you guessing.
Why it's different here
What Lunar Dental does that others don't.
A solo-doctor practice with same-day digital infrastructure handles emergencies differently than a large group practice. Dr. Zan personally returns after-hours emergency calls (no answering service that just takes a name). Same-day crown milling means a fractured front tooth often gets a real crown the same visit, not a band-aid temporary. The CBCT lets us diagnose a deeply infected tooth or fractured root in three dimensions rather than guessing from a 2D x-ray. Cardinal Care patients are seen for emergencies under the same workflow as anyone else.
When this isn't the right answer
For uncontrollable bleeding, facial swelling spreading to the eye or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or severe head trauma, the ER is the right first stop — they have capabilities (IV antibiotics, airway management, CT) we don't. Call us as you head there and we'll coordinate the follow-up dental work. For severe TMJ pain without a clear dental trigger, an oral/maxillofacial specialist may be a better path; we refer when appropriate.
Common questions
About emergency dentistry.
What counts as a dental emergency?
Severe tooth pain that's waking you up, swelling around a tooth or in the face, a knocked-out permanent tooth, a tooth pushed out of position, uncontrolled bleeding after an extraction, a broken tooth with sharp edges or exposed nerve, a lost crown or filling with significant tooth structure exposed. When in doubt, call.
Do you see emergency patients who haven't been to Lunar Dental before?
Yes. We don't require you to be an established patient for emergency care. Call 703-349-0099 and describe what's happening — if we have a same-day slot and you can get here, we'll see you.
What if I have an emergency after hours?
Call 703-349-0099. After hours the line forwards to an on-call number for triage. Dr. Zan personally takes urgent emergency calls — not an answering service taking a name. We tell you whether to come in first thing, head to an ER, or whether the problem can safely wait for morning.
My child knocked out a tooth — what do I do?
If it's a baby tooth, do NOT re-insert — call us. If it's a permanent tooth, time matters: pick it up by the crown (the white part, not the root), rinse gently with milk if dirty, and try to re-seat it in the socket if you can. Otherwise transport in milk or your child's saliva. Call us as you head over.
How much does an emergency visit cost?
Emergency evaluation at Lunar Dental is $150–$200 for the visit and limited x-ray, plus whatever treatment we perform that day. Most insurance covers emergency dental — including Cardinal Care. We give you the price before treatment, even when it's urgent.
Does Cardinal Care cover emergency dentistry?
Yes. Virginia Medicaid (Cardinal Care) covers emergency dental services for both adults and children. We verify your specific plan and tell you any out-of-pocket cost before treatment.
I have a lost crown — how urgent is it?
Important but not always same-day urgent. If the crown is intact, save it — we can usually re-cement it. Don't glue it yourself with household adhesive (it can damage the underlying tooth). Avoid chewing on that side. Call us as soon as possible to schedule.
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