Emergency Dentistry in Charlottesville
Toothache, broken tooth, or knocked-out tooth? Call Swett Dentistry at (434) 303-5615. We offer same-day emergency appointments Monday–Thursday, 8:00am–4:00pm, at our office off Rio Road East in Charlottesville, VA.
If you have a dental emergency, call us now at (434) 303-5615. We see emergency patients the same day whenever possible, Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 4:00pm, whether you're an existing patient or have never visited us before. After hours, call the same number — our voicemail explains how to reach the on-call dentist.
What to do right now
- Knocked-out tooth — Pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root. Rinse it gently with water if it's dirty; don't scrub it. Put it back in the socket if you can, or keep it in a cup of milk. Call us immediately — the best chance of saving the tooth is within an hour.
- Severe toothache — Rinse with warm salt water and floss gently to clear anything trapped between teeth. Take over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed. Don't put aspirin directly on the gum. Call us for a same-day visit.
- Chipped, cracked, or broken tooth — Rinse your mouth with warm water, save any pieces, and use a cold compress on your cheek for swelling. Cover a sharp edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum until we see you.
- Lost filling or crown — Keep the crown if you have it. Cover the tooth with dental wax or temporary dental cement from a pharmacy, avoid chewing on that side, and call us — we can usually re-cement or replace it the same day.
- Swelling, abscess, or a pimple on the gum — This is an infection and needs treatment quickly. Rinse with salt water and call us today. If swelling spreads to your eye or neck, or you have trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest emergency room first.
- Broken denture or appliance — Don't try to glue it. Bring all the pieces and we'll repair or replace it, often with our in-house 3D printer.
- Soft-tissue injury (lip, tongue, cheek) — Rinse with salt water and apply gentle pressure with clean gauze. If bleeding doesn't stop after 15 minutes, go to urgent care or the ER.
Same-day emergency appointments
We hold time in our schedule every day we're open so a patient in pain can be seen within hours, not days. Call (434) 303-5615 as early in the day as you can, tell us what happened, and we'll get you in the same day whenever possible. If you'd rather not call, use the appointment request on our contact page and mark it as an emergency — but a phone call is always the fastest way to reach us.
New patients are welcome. You don't need to be an established patient of the practice to be seen for an emergency.
After-hours dental emergencies
Our office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 4:00pm, and Friday by appointment. If your emergency happens evenings, weekends, or holidays, call (434) 303-5615 — the voicemail message explains how to reach the on-call dentist, and we'll help you decide whether you need to be seen right away or first thing the next morning.
For anything life-threatening — uncontrolled bleeding, a jaw you think is broken, or swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow — call 911 or go to the UVA Medical Center or Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital emergency department first, then call us to follow up.
What counts as a dental emergency?
Any problem that causes significant pain, bleeding, or risk to a tooth is worth a call: a severe or persistent toothache, a tooth that's been knocked out, loosened, or pushed out of position, a cracked or broken tooth, a lost filling or crown, an abscess or facial swelling, or a broken denture, bridge, or retainer. If you're not sure, call us — we'd much rather talk it through than have you wait.
What to expect at your emergency visit
We'll start by getting you out of pain. Our doctors use digital X-rays and microscope-enhanced exams to find the cause quickly, then talk you through your options and what each one costs before doing anything beyond the immediate fix. Many emergencies — a filling, a re-cemented crown, a root canal started to relieve pressure, an extraction — can be handled that day. Anything that needs more time is scheduled as a priority follow-up. Sedation is available for patients who are anxious about emergency treatment.
Emergency dentistry FAQ
Do you take walk-ins? Please call first, even if you're on your way — it lets us prepare a room and see you faster when you arrive.
Do you see emergency patients who aren't current patients? Yes. Emergency care is open to anyone in the Charlottesville area, including patients of other practices.
How much does an emergency visit cost? The emergency exam and X-rays are billed like a limited exam; treatment cost depends on what's needed, and we'll give you a clear estimate before we proceed. We accept most dental insurance and offer CareCredit financing.
Where are you located? 900 Rio E Ct, Ste B, Charlottesville, VA 22901 — just off Rio Road East, with free parking at the door. An easy drive from Hollymead, Crozet, Keswick, and Zion Crossroads.
What are your hours? Monday–Thursday 8:00am–4:00pm; Friday by appointment; closed Saturday and Sunday. After hours, call (434) 303-5615 and follow the voicemail instructions to reach the on-call dentist.
