Emergency Dentistry in Mount Vernon, WA
If you are in dental pain right now, call Perry Family Dentistry at (360) 424-3133. The office makes time for same-day emergency visits Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Dr. Blake J. Perry and his team handle cracked teeth, knocked-out teeth, severe toothaches, infections, and other urgent dental problems in Mount Vernon and across Skagit Valley.
A dental emergency is any mouth injury or pain that needs care the same day to save a tooth, stop an infection, or control bleeding. Waiting days or weeks can turn a fixable problem into a much bigger one. Dr. Perry carries the tools, training, and same-day CEREC crown technology to treat most emergencies in a single visit.
You do not need to be an existing patient. New patients are welcome for emergency visits.
What counts as a dental emergency?
Not every dental problem needs same-day care, but several do. Call Perry Family Dentistry right away if you notice any of the following:
- A tooth that got knocked out in the last 30 minutes (time matters for saving it)
- A cracked or broken tooth with sharp pain or exposed nerve
- A severe toothache that does not respond to over-the-counter pain relief
- Swelling in your face, jaw, or gums that is getting worse
- An abscess or pus pocket on your gums
- Bleeding from the mouth that will not stop after 15 minutes of pressure
- A lost crown or filling that is causing pain or sensitivity
- A broken wire or bracket that is cutting your cheek or gums
- Pain or swelling after a recent dental procedure
If you are not sure whether your problem is an emergency, call the office and describe what is going on. The team can help you decide whether you need a same-day visit or can safely wait for a regular appointment.
What should I do before I get to the office?
Knowing what to do in the first 30 to 60 minutes after a dental injury can save a tooth or reduce the damage. The steps below cover the most common emergencies. Follow them while you are on the way to the office or waiting for your appointment time.
Knocked-out tooth
Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part you can see in the mouth), not the root. Rinse it gently with water if it is dirty, but do not scrub or remove any tissue. Try to place it back in the socket and bite down on a clean cloth to hold it. If you cannot put it back in, store it in a cup of milk or hold it between your cheek and gum. Get to the office within 30 minutes for the best chance of saving it.
Cracked or broken tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water. If there is bleeding, press a piece of clean gauze to the area. Apply a cold pack to your cheek near the break to reduce swelling. Do not chew on that side. Save any tooth pieces and bring them with you.
Severe toothache
Rinse with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of water). Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen. Do not place aspirin directly on the gum, because it can burn the tissue. Avoid hot or cold food on the painful side. Call the office to get in the same day.
Lost crown or filling
If a crown falls off, try to slide it back onto the tooth as a temporary cover. Do not use household glue. If a filling falls out, you can place a small piece of sugar-free gum or dental cement from a drugstore kit over the opening to protect the tooth until you get to the office.
Swelling or abscess
Do not try to pop or drain the swelling yourself. Rinse with warm salt water every few hours. Apply a cold pack to the outside of your cheek in 20-minute cycles (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off). Take ibuprofen for pain and swelling. Call the office and mention that you have swelling, because infections can spread fast and may need same-day treatment with antibiotics.
Bleeding that will not stop
Bite down on a piece of clean, damp gauze and hold firm pressure for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not keep checking the area. If the bleeding slows but does not stop, call Perry Family Dentistry. If the bleeding is heavy and will not stop after 20 minutes, go to the nearest emergency room.
What emergency treatments does Perry Family Dentistry provide?
Dr. Perry handles a wide range of urgent dental problems in-house, so you rarely need a referral to another office. Here are the most common emergency treatments.
Same-day CEREC crowns for broken teeth
If your tooth cracks but the root is still healthy, Dr. Perry can scan, design, and mill a ceramic crown the same day using CEREC technology. You leave with a permanent crown instead of a temporary patch. No second visit needed.
Root canals for infection
When an infected nerve causes a toothache, a root canal removes the infection and saves the tooth. Dr. Perry performs anterior and bicuspid root canals in-house. The procedure usually takes 60 to 90 minutes and stops the pain the same day.
Extractions
If a tooth is too damaged to save, Dr. Perry performs simple and surgical extractions, including wisdom tooth removal. He also handles emergency extractions when a cracked tooth has split below the gum line and cannot be repaired. Sedation is available for patients who need it during the procedure.
Abscess drainage and infection control
An abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection. Left untreated, it can spread to the jaw, neck, or bloodstream. Dr. Perry drains the abscess, clears the infection, and may prescribe antibiotics to stop the spread.
Re-cementing crowns and fillings
A lost crown or filling exposes the tooth underneath to bacteria, temperature, and pressure. Dr. Perry can re-cement the original restoration or replace it the same day with a new CEREC crown if the old one is damaged.
How much does emergency dental care cost?
Emergency dental costs depend on the problem and the treatment needed. Here are typical ranges for a private dental office in the United States:
- Emergency exam and X-ray: $100 to $250
- Toothache or infection relief: $100 to $400
- Broken tooth repair (filling or bonding): $150 to $600
- Lost filling or crown re-cement: $100 to $600
- Simple tooth extraction: $150 to $450
- Root canal (anterior or bicuspid): $500 to $1,000
- Same-day CEREC crown: $1,000 to $2,500
These are general ranges. Your actual cost depends on the severity of the problem and the treatment Dr. Perry recommends. He gives you the price before starting any work so there are no surprises.
Emergency exams and treatments done for medical reasons (pain, infection, trauma) are usually covered at 80 to 100 percent for the exam and at lower rates for the treatment itself. Perry Family Dentistry is out-of-network with all insurance carriers. The office accepts assignment of benefits and files claims for covered services on your behalf.
Payment options
Perry Family Dentistry offers several ways to pay:
- Cherry plans with 0% APR and no hard credit check
- CareCredit
- Sunbit
- In-house payment plans
- A dental savings plan for patients without insurance
Cost should not stop you from getting emergency care. The team works with you on payment during or after the visit.
How can you reduce your risk of a dental emergency?
You cannot prevent every emergency, but a few habits lower your odds.
- Wear a mouthguard during sports and high-impact activities
- Do not chew ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, or pen caps
- Do not use your teeth to open packages or bottles
- Keep up with regular dental cleanings so small problems get caught early
- Treat cracks and chips promptly before they turn into breaks
Why choose Perry Family Dentistry for emergency dental care?
Same-day appointments for pain
The office holds time in the daily schedule for urgent cases. When you call with an emergency, the team fits you in the same day during office hours. You will not wait days to get out of pain.
Dr. Perry handles it all in-house
Dr. Blake J. Perry graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 2002 and has over 20 years of experience in restorative and surgical dentistry. He performs extractions, root canals, CEREC crowns, and abscess treatments under one roof. That means one call, one office, and one visit for most emergencies.
CEREC technology for same-day repairs
Dr. Perry fixes a broken tooth in one visit with CEREC instead of the usual two visits and a temporary crown. Dr. Perry scans, designs, and mills a permanent ceramic crown while you wait.
Sedation for anxious patients
Dental emergencies are stressful enough without adding dental fear on top. Dr. Perry trained through DOCS Education in sedation methods. If you need sedation to get through the visit, it is available.
Emergency dentistry in Mount Vernon and Skagit Valley
Perry Family Dentistry sits at 2017 Continental Pl #9, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. The practice serves patients from Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, Anacortes, Oak Harbor, Stanwood, and Arlington.
Emergency hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The office closes Friday through Sunday. If your emergency happens outside office hours, call (360) 424-3133 and leave a message. The team returns calls as soon as the office reopens the next business day. For after-hours guidance on what to do while you wait, the voicemail includes basic instructions for common problems.
For life-threatening emergencies involving difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or loss of consciousness, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Voters have named Perry Family Dentistry the Best Dental Clinic in Skagit Valley for 7 straight years through the community choice award. Spanish-speaking staff are part of the team for families who prefer their first language.
If you are in pain right now, call Dr. Perry’s office at (360) 424-3133. Same-day emergency appointments are available during office hours. New patients welcome.
