General Dentistry
Emergency Dentistry
Same-day care for the days your teeth do not wait for an appointment.
What this is, in plain language
A dental emergency is any problem that cannot reasonably wait: a toothache that keeps you up at night, a broken or knocked-out tooth, a lost crown or filling, swelling in the gums or face. When you call Willow Lane, a real person answers, asks a few calm questions, and finds you a time, usually the same day. Our first goal is always simple: get you comfortable, then figure out the rest together.
The emergency visit itself is focused and unrushed. We take an image of the area, examine the tooth, and explain exactly what is happening in plain terms. Then we treat the immediate problem: numbing the area, sealing an exposed tooth, recementing a crown, prescribing medication for infection, or smoothing a sharp edge. If further treatment is needed, such as a root canal or extraction, we plan it clearly, and only once you are out of discomfort.
If you are not sure whether something counts as an emergency, call anyway. We would rather talk you through a small problem over the phone than have you wait on a large one. For a knocked-out adult tooth, time matters: keep it moist, ideally in milk or held gently in your cheek, and call us right away. Existing patients also receive guidance for after-hours situations.
This might be right for you if
- You have a toothache that is getting worse instead of better.
- You chipped or broke a tooth and want it looked at today.
- A crown or filling came out and the tooth feels exposed.
- You have swelling or a bad taste that suggests an infection.
- You are visiting Asheville and need trustworthy care right away.
What to expect
We hold time each day for urgent visits, and comfort always comes before anything else. A visit usually involves:
- A calm phone call first, with guidance on what to do until you arrive
- Numbing or settling the painful area before any hands-on work begins
- A focused exam and a digital image to find the exact cause
- Same-day treatment of the immediate problem when possible: a temporary filling, a recemented crown, medication for infection, or a smoothed edge
- A clear plan for any lasting treatment, made only once you are out of discomfort
How it unfolds, step by step
Call us first
Describe what happened and how it feels. We will tell you what to do in the meantime and find you a time, usually within the same day.
Comfort before anything
When you arrive, we numb or settle the painful area before any detailed work begins. Nothing else happens until you are comfortable enough to think clearly.
Find the cause
A focused exam and a digital image show us exactly what is going on: a crack, decay, infection, or a loose restoration. We show you what we see.
Stabilize the problem
We handle the immediate issue that day whenever possible: a temporary filling, a recemented crown, medication for infection, or a smoothed edge, so you leave feeling settled.
Plan the follow-up
If the tooth needs lasting treatment, we map it out clearly, with timing and costs, once the urgency has passed and you can decide without pressure.
Caring for it afterward
Once the immediate problem is settled, a little care at home keeps you comfortable until any follow-up:
- Take any prescribed medication, especially antibiotics, exactly as directed and finish the full course
- Favor soft foods and chew away from the tender side for a day or two
- Use a cold compress for swelling and over-the-counter pain relief as needed
- Protect a temporary filling or recemented crown by avoiding sticky or very hard foods
- Call us if pain, swelling, or fever increases rather than easing
Questions everyone asks
A persistent or severe toothache, a knocked-out or broken tooth, swelling in the gums or face, uncontrolled bleeding, or a lost crown or filling that leaves a tooth exposed. If you are unsure, call us. We will help you sort out what needs attention today and what can wait.
In most cases, yes. We hold time in our schedule for urgent visits, and if you call in the morning we can usually see you that day. Even when the schedule is full, we will find a way to at least get you comfortable.
Pick it up by the crown, not the root, and rinse it gently if it is dirty. Keep it moist: in milk, in saliva, or tucked carefully in your cheek. Then call us immediately. A tooth replanted within about an hour has the best chance of being saved.
Our first step is always to relieve pain, not add to it. We numb the area thoroughly before any hands-on treatment, and we explain each step before it happens. Most patients tell us the visit was far gentler than the toothache that brought them in.
You are welcome either way. We see new patients on an emergency basis regularly, and we will give you a clear picture of costs before treatment begins. Getting you out of pain comes first; the paperwork is simple and handled at your pace.
Often explored together
Wondering if emergency dentistry is right for you?
Bring us the question. A conversation costs nothing and you will leave with a straight answer either way.