A throbbing molar at 6 AM, a front tooth snapped on a lacrosse stick, a cheek that has started to puff up overnight: these are the calls we get from Springfield. Our only office sits at 6505 Sydenstricker Rd in Burke, about 2 miles from the Old Keene Mill Shopping Center in West Springfield. We see same-day emergency patients, including people who have never been here before. This page is the practical version for Springfield residents: who to call, where to go, how long the drive takes and what usually happens next. For routine care and the other services we offer Springfield families, see our dentist for Springfield, VA overview.
Phone us before you get in the car
Walk-ins are accepted when the schedule allows, but a phone call to (703) 250-5072 almost always gets you seen faster. While you are on the line, the front desk will ask a handful of questions so the team can set aside the right chair and the right amount of time:
- Which tooth hurts, or which one broke, and when it started
- Whether there was an accident or a blow to the face
- Any swelling, fever or bad taste in the mouth
- Medicines you take, especially blood thinners
- Your dental plan, if you have one, so benefits can be checked while you drive
New patients can complete intake forms online, which shortens check-in. We open at 8 every morning except Sunday, closing at 5 PM Monday through Thursday and at 2 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. If the problem starts on a Saturday afternoon or a Sunday, call first thing on the next open morning; same-day and next-day slots are often available.
When the ER, not a dentist, is the right call
Some dental problems are medical emergencies. Dial 911, or head directly to a hospital ER, when a swollen face is puffing up around one eye or along the throat, when breathing or swallowing becomes hard, when mouth pain comes with a high fever, or when firm pressure fails to stop bleeding. A broken jaw or a serious facial injury also belongs in an ER first.
The closest ER for most of Springfield is Inova's emergency room at the HealthPlex in Franconia–Springfield, near the Metro station, which Inova lists as open 24 hours. An ER can stabilize you, treat a spreading infection and manage pain, but it is generally not set up to repair or remove teeth, so you will still need a dentist afterward. Our article on dentist, urgent care or ER in Springfield walks through that decision for nights and weekends.
Getting here quickly from your part of Springfield
For an emergency, the useful number is how long you will be in the car with a sore tooth. From the shops at Old Keene Mill and the streets around West Springfield High School, it is a 5-to-7-minute run in light traffic. Springfield Town Center sits roughly 11 minutes out, North Springfield closer to 15, and Newington, the NGA campus and the Franconia–Springfield Metro area around 16 to 17. Those are free-flow estimates; the evening crawl on Old Keene Mill Road can stretch them considerably. Our Springfield overview lists exact mileages.
Coming from the east, Old Keene Mill Road leads west almost directly to our corner of Keene Mill Heights. From Newington or Fort Belvoir, the Fairfax County Parkway to Rolling Road is often the easier approach. If someone else can drive, let them; pain, numbness and nerves do not mix well with traffic.
Urgent problems we see from Springfield
The treatment side is covered in depth on our full guide to emergency dental care and on the same-day appointments page. In short:
Toothache that keeps you up
Pain that lingers after hot or cold, throbs on its own or wakes you at night usually means the pulp at the center of the tooth is inflamed or infected. Digital X-rays and an exam show which tooth is responsible. Often the fix is root canal treatment for Springfield patients; sometimes it is a filling, and occasionally the tooth cannot be saved.
Broken or cracked tooth
A small chip can often be smoothed or bonded the same day. A larger break may need a temporary cover first and a crown later; our page on crowns and bridges for Springfield explains that two-visit sequence. Save any broken pieces in a clean bag and bring them.
Swelling or a suspected abscess
A pimple-like bump on the gum, a bad taste or a swollen jaw points to infection. Treatment can include draining the area and antibiotics, followed by a plan to deal with the source, which may be a root canal or a tooth extraction for Springfield patients. Swelling that is spreading is the ER situation described above.
Knocked-out adult tooth
This is the one where minutes matter. The American Association of Endodontists says it is best to see a dentist within 30 minutes, although a tooth can sometimes be saved after an hour or more out of the mouth (AAE: Knocked Out Teeth). Pick it up by the chewing end, never touching the root, give it a quick water rinse only if it is dirty, and either ease it back into the socket or keep it in milk. From most of Springfield, the drive fits comfortably inside that window. Baby teeth are the exception: leave a knocked-out primary tooth out and call us. Many of these injuries happen in school sports, which is why we wrote about mouthguards for Springfield student athletes.
What follows the emergency visit
Relief and infection control come first. Final repairs, such as a crown over a root-canal-treated tooth, are usually booked as a separate appointment once things have settled, and Dr. Pejman Ghorbani will tell you how many more trips to expect before you leave. If you are very anxious, ask about sedation for Springfield patients; oral and IV sedation both require a companion to take you home afterward. Where possible, the front desk confirms your dental benefits and handles the claim paperwork; uninsured patients can spread costs with an in-house payment plan. Our guide to dental coverage for Springfield federal and military families explains how FEDVIP and TRICARE dental plans work.
In pain right now? Call (703) 250-5072 and tell us you are coming from Springfield, or send an appointment request if the problem can wait a day. Our office sits in Burke, just past the western edge of Springfield.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be seen for an emergency if I have never been to your office?+
Yes. Emergency patients who are new to the practice are welcome. Calling ahead and filling in the online intake forms lets the team check your history and benefits before you arrive, so the visit can focus on the problem tooth.
Can I fit an emergency exam into a lunch break at the NGA campus?+
Often, for an evaluation. The drive from the NGA campus is about 16 minutes outside rush hour, so an emergency exam and X-rays can fit a long lunch, but treatment such as a root canal or extraction may need more time. Ask the front desk how long to block off when you call.
My crown came off. Does that count as an emergency?+
It is urgent but rarely an ER matter. Keep the crown, avoid chewing on that side, and call during office hours to have it checked and recemented if it still fits. If the tooth underneath is broken or very painful, tell the front desk so you are seen sooner.
What should I do on a Sunday when the office is closed?+
For pain without swelling, an ice pack on the cheek plus a nonprescription painkiller used exactly as labeled can carry you to Monday morning, when you should call as soon as the office opens. Spreading facial swelling, fever, trouble swallowing or breathing, or bleeding that will not stop means going to an emergency room or calling 911.
Is it worth driving from Springfield for a chipped tooth that does not hurt?+
It does not need a same-day visit, but it should be seen within days. A chip with no pain can still have a crack that spreads or a sharp edge that cuts your tongue. Book a regular appointment and mention the chip so enough time is scheduled to repair it.