Relief From the Pain
Finding and treating the cause, often an infection inside the tooth, is what relieves a toothache that will not go away.
Emergency Dentist in McLean & Alexandria, VA
High-quality dentistry when you need it most.
We understand that dental emergencies can be alarming. Whether you’ve suffered oral trauma or are experiencing a toothache with no obvious explanation, you want fast relief. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a trip to the emergency room.
Do I Need an Emergency Dentist?
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Benefits of Emergency Care
What Prompt Emergency Care Gives You
A dental emergency does not necessarily mean a trip to the emergency room. Our practice treats toothaches, broken teeth, infections and knocked-out teeth at both offices, and sees you the same day wherever possible.
A Chance for the Tooth
A knocked-out adult tooth that is put back in its socket in time and held with a splint may be saved.
Infection Stopped at the Root
An abscess is treated at its source, usually with a root canal that removes the damaged pulp from inside the root.
Damage Caught Early
A broken tooth is treated promptly, because the damage can go beyond the outside to the inside of the tooth.
Dental Care for Dental Problems
Call us for a tooth, filling, abscess or socket problem. For head or neck pain, uncontrolled bleeding, dizziness or severe trauma, call 911.
Calm in the Chair
Nitrous oxide or oral sedation, set to you, helps when you arrive in pain and anything but relaxed.
Dental Emergency or Medical Emergency?
Please note: If you’re having neck or head pain, are bleeding uncontrollably, are feeling dizzy, or have suffered severe trauma, please seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 or by getting transportation to the nearest medical facility. Medical personnel are best equipped to assist you with symptoms such as these.
For everything below, whether a tooth, a filling, an abscess or a socket, call us.
Right Now
Common Dental Emergencies
The first twenty minutes matter more in some of these than in others.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Act now. This one is time-critical. An avulsed (knocked-out) tooth or one that has been partially dislodged requires immediate attention. If you’ve lost an adult tooth, put it back in the socket if possible and hold it there until you receive emergency care. Never put a baby tooth back in. Otherwise, place the tooth in a small container of milk to preserve it. If replaced in the socket by our emergency dentist within the proper timeframe and held secure with a splint, the tooth may be able to be saved. Do not scrub it clean.
Persistent Toothache
Tooth pain that does not go away is generally a sign that infection is present, sometimes inside your tooth. A filling may be all you need. However, extreme tooth sensitivity or sharp pain when you bite or chew can also indicate an emergency dentistry situation involving your tooth root. These cases often require root canal therapy before your painful toothache can be relieved.
Broken Tooth
Suffering severe damage to a tooth after oral trauma or injury should be treated immediately. Minor chips and cracks can wait, but if you have broken or fractured a tooth, you can experience more than a severe toothache. Damage may go beyond the outside to the inside of the tooth and will need immediate attention from our emergency dentist in McLean & Alexandria, VA. Depending on the size and extent of the break, you may need a filling, dental crown, or a root canal. More severe cases may require emergency tooth extractions.
Tooth Abscess
An infection due to an injury, cavity, or previous dental work can cause an abscess to form at the base of the tooth root. Treatment frequently involves an emergency root canal to eliminate the damaged pulp from inside the root.
Dry Socket
Have you recently received a tooth extraction? A dry socket occurs when the blood clot in an empty tooth socket is dislodged and exposes underlying nerves and bone. To prevent infection and resolve intense oral pain, this requires immediate treatment, usually involving cleaning the empty socket and packing the space with gauze.
Your Trusted Emergency Dentist in McLean & Alexandria, VA
Emergency Dentistry Conditions That We Treat
We offer a variety of emergency dentistry treatments at our McLean and Alexandria offices including root canals, repair of a loose or lost filling, and treatment of painful infections.
- Sudden or severe toothache
- An infected or abscessed tooth
- A loose tooth or filling
- A fractured or broken tooth
- Painful or inflamed gums
- A dislodged or knocked-out tooth
- A broken or damaged denture
- A chipped or cracked tooth or crown
We sincerely hope you never need any emergency dentistry services from us. However, if you should require immediate attention, count on our team to treat you with the sense of urgency and compassion you need at a difficult time. Whenever possible, we’ll make space in our schedule so that we can see you the same day. Consider us your home for emergency dentistry in McLean & Alexandria, VA.
Why Choose Us
Why Call Dr. Nahlah in a Dental Emergency
An emergency is fixed twice: once to stop the pain, and again to rebuild what broke. At our practice, the same specialist and the in-house lab handle both.
What to askOur practiceOther offices
Getting inSpace made in the schedule to see you the same day, wherever possibleSome offer the next routine opening
Who sees youA board-certified prosthodontist, who can also rebuild what was brokenSome patch the emergency and refer the repair elsewhere
ComfortNitrous oxide or oral sedation, set to youSome offer local anesthetic only
The repairCrowns designed and made in the in-house digital lab, in both officesSome send the work out and wait weeks for it
Hard casesComplex and failed cases accepted, including work other practices declineSome accept straightforward cases only
Two officesTysons Corner and Duke Street, whichever is closerSome have one location
LanguagesArabic and Spanish spoken as well as EnglishAsk whether anyone speaks your language
On Arrival
How We Care for You in an Emergency
At our McLean and Alexandria offices, our modern treatment rooms are fully equipped with advanced dental technology to serve you. These tools help us quickly and accurately diagnose any issues and deliver the necessary emergency dentistry you need. Our facilities and equipment are fully compliant with the most up-to-date safety standards including strict sterilization guidelines for your health, safety, and peace of mind.
To ease your discomfort throughout your visit, we’re able to offer a custom level of sedation dentistry (nitrous oxide or oral sedation) to put you at ease and allow you to finally relax. Making you comfortable and helping you heal are always our top priorities.
Dr. Esam Abou NahlahD.D.S., M.S.
Meet the Doctor
Meet Dr. Esam Abou Nahlah
As an award-winning board-certified specialist in prosthodontic dentistry, Dr. Nahlah provides patients with a premier level of dental care using the industry’s most advanced technology. He has been practicing since 2003, in Northern Virginia since 2013, entirely on prosthodontics. Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists. In 2013, the American Board of Prosthodontics awarded Dr. Nahlah the most prestigious award in prosthodontics: “Diplomate of American Board of Prosthodontics.”
Adjunct faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University, teaching the residents in its Prosthodontics Postgraduate Program, and lecturing on smile design and implants.
Across that career, over 18,000 implants placed and over 15,000 arches restored.
Credentials & Certifications
- Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
- Fellow, American College of Prosthodontists
- Adjunct Faculty, VCU Prosthodontics Postgraduate Program
- Certificate in Prosthodontics
- M.S., Master of Science in Oral Biology
- Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists
- Associate Fellow, American Academy of Implant Dentistry
What Our Patients Say
Other Options
If It Is Not an Emergency
01
Oral Surgery
When a tooth has to come out, planned around what will replace it.
Explore02
Crowns & Bridges
A cracked or broken tooth that can be saved with a new exterior.
Explore03
Dental Implants
When a tooth is lost, an implant replaces the root as well as the tooth.
Explore04
Sedation Dentistry
Nitrous oxide and oral sedation for anyone who dreads the chair.
ExploreQuestions
Emergency Dentist Questions
Can I be seen the same day?
Wherever possible, yes: space is made in the schedule the same day.
Which number should I call in an emergency?
In McLean, (571) 702-9832. In Alexandria, (571) 617-7245 for new patients and (571) 712-8958 if you are already a patient.
When should I go to the emergency room instead?
If you have neck or head pain, are bleeding uncontrollably, feel dizzy or have suffered severe trauma: call 911 or go to the nearest medical facility.
What should I do with a knocked-out tooth?
Act now: if it is an adult tooth, put it back in its socket and hold it there, or keep it in a small container of milk. Never put a baby tooth back in. Do not scrub it clean.
Is sedation available for emergency treatment?
Yes, nitrous oxide or oral sedation, set to you: people arriving in pain are rarely calm.Sedation options →
Book a Consultation
7901 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 220
McLean, VA 22102
2855 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Book Online, or Ask Us First
Stay calm and contact us without delay. Whenever possible, we make space in our schedule.
Tysons Corner · McLean
Dr. Nahlah Implants and Prosthodontics Specialists7901 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 220
McLean, VA 22102
New patients(703) 448-3312
Current patients(571) 702-9832
DirectionsBook OnlineAlexandria
Dr. Nahlah Implants and Prosthodontics Specialists2855 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
New patients(571) 617-7245
Current patients(571) 712-8958
DirectionsBook Online