At a glance
If you have a dental emergency, call (832) 612-2831 first. Same-day emergency visits are a core part of what we do: we see adults and children the same day during office hours — Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 9am–3pm — for toothaches, broken teeth, lost crowns, swelling and knocked-out teeth.
We don’t have an after-hours line. Outside those hours, use the first-aid steps below and call when we open. Go to the ER or call 911 for spreading facial swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, a high fever, bleeding that won’t stop or a possible broken jaw.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get seen | Call first: (832) 612-2831. We give you a time the same day when we can. |
| When | Same-day visits during office hours only: Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 9am–3pm. No after-hours service. |
| Visits | Usually one visit to get you out of pain; some problems need a follow-up (a crown is placed about 5 days later) |
| Numbing | Local anesthetic (numbing) only when needed |
| Price | New patient limited exam + panoramic X-ray: $49. Treatment from our published prices or a written estimate |
| Insurance | Most PPO plans (benefits checked before your visit), Medicare Advantage plans with dental benefits, and Texas Medicaid/CHIP for children (DentaQuest, MCNA, UHC Dental) |
| Saturday appointments | Yes, Saturdays 9am–3pm, plus Tuesday and Wednesday |
Do you need an emergency dentist?
Call us the same day if any of these sound like you:
- A toothache that keeps you up at night or doesn’t ease with over-the-counter pain relief
- A chipped, cracked or broken tooth, especially if it is sharp or sensitive
- A crown or filling that fell out
- A knocked-out or loosened adult tooth
- A pimple-like bump on the gum, a bad taste, or swelling near a tooth
- Pain or bleeding after a recent extraction that is getting worse instead of better
- Wisdom tooth pain with swollen gums at the back of the mouth
Is it a dental emergency or an ER emergency?
| Situation | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Toothache, broken tooth, lost crown or filling | Call us; same-day visit during office hours |
| Knocked-out adult tooth | Call us right away during office hours; if we are closed, go to the ER |
| Swelling of the face or neck that is spreading | ER or 911 |
| Trouble breathing or swallowing, or a high fever with tooth pain | ER or 911 |
| Bleeding that won’t stop with firm pressure | ER |
| Possible broken jaw after a fall or blow | ER |
What to do right now: first aid for common dental emergencies
| Problem | What to do before your visit |
|---|---|
| Toothache | Rinse with warm water and floss gently to remove trapped food. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the package. Don’t put aspirin on the gum. |
| Knocked-out adult tooth | Hold it by the crown, not the root. Rinse briefly, then put it back in the socket or keep it in milk. It has the best chance if replanted within about an hour. Don’t replant a baby tooth. |
| Chipped or broken tooth | Save any pieces, rinse your mouth and use a cold compress on the cheek for swelling. |
| Lost crown | Keep the crown in a clean bag. Don’t glue it back with household glue. |
| Gum swelling or abscess | Don’t pop or squeeze it. Rinse with warm salt water and call us. Go to the ER if the swelling spreads. |
| Something stuck between teeth | Use floss gently. Don’t dig with pins or other sharp objects. |
What happens at your emergency visit
- Call (832) 612-2831 and describe what happened. We tell you when to come in that day.
- Bring your ID, insurance card and a list of your medicines.
- The dentist examines the area and takes the X-rays needed to find the cause.
- We numb the area with local anesthetic if treatment is needed and focus on getting you out of pain. If you need a root canal, read why root canals are about relief, not pain.
- We explain your options and give you a written estimate before any treatment.
- Many problems are treated that day; others get a temporary fix and a follow-up visit.
What can be treated in-office?
Both dentists, Dr. Harsh Patel and Dr. Arpitkumar Patel, treat emergencies here, including root canals (molars too), tooth extractions including wisdom teeth (see when an emergency extraction is necessary), crowns, tooth-colored fillings and gum infections. We don’t place braces, so for a broken braces wire please call your orthodontist. We treat children’s dental emergencies here too, as part of our family dentistry. If a child needs to be sedated for treatment, we refer you to a pediatric dentist.
Cost, insurance and financing
For new patients, a limited exam with a panoramic X-ray is $49. If you need treatment, our published prices include a root canal starting at $899 and a crown starting at $1,199 — see dental prices. Anything else, such as an extraction or filling, gets a written estimate before we start.
We check PPO benefits before treatment when we can, and we accept Medicare Advantage plans with dental benefits and children’s Medicaid/CHIP plans (DentaQuest, MCNA, UHC Dental). See insurance for details. We accept Cherry, Sunbit and CareCredit for patient financing (see financing options), and you can use an FSA or HSA card for dental treatment.
Recovery and aftercare
Aftercare depends on what we treat. You’ll get written instructions before you leave. You can also read root canal aftercare, tooth extraction aftercare, filling aftercare or the full after your visit guide.
Alternatives: the ER, urgent care or waiting
| Option | Good for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Same-day visit with us | Tooth pain, broken teeth, lost crowns, gum infections | Office hours only; call first |
| Hospital ER | Spreading swelling, breathing or swallowing trouble, high fever, heavy bleeding, jaw injury | Usually can’t fix the tooth itself; you’ll still need a dentist |
| Urgent care clinic | Some can assess infection | Usually no dental treatment |
| Waiting for a routine visit | Mild sensitivity with no swelling | Pain and infection tend to get worse, not better |
When to call us
Call us the same day for a toothache, broken tooth, lost crown, knocked-out tooth or gum swelling. If swelling spreads, or you have trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the ER or call 911 instead. Call (832) 612-2831 — we’re open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 9am–3pm.
Why patients in Richmond choose us
- Same-day emergency visits during office hours, including Saturdays; call first
- Emergency care for the whole family, children included
- Published prices, including a $49 new patient limited exam with panoramic X-ray
- Root canals, extractions and crowns done here by our two dentists
- We speak English, Spanish, Gujarati and Hindi
Related guides
- When to seek emergency dental care and when it’s safe to wait
- Is emergency dental care available after hours or on weekends?
- Weekend emergency dental care in Richmond: when pain can’t wait
- Can popping a gum abscess kill you? Why to leave it to a dentist
- Emergency tooth extraction in Richmond: tooth pain not to ignore
Frequently asked questions
Please call (832) 612-2831 before you come. We fit emergency patients in the same day during office hours, and calling first lets us give you a time and tell you what to bring.
No. We see emergencies Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 9am–3pm. Outside those hours, follow first-aid steps and call when we open, or go to the ER for serious symptoms such as spreading swelling or trouble breathing.
Yes. We are open Saturdays 9am–3pm and see same-day emergencies then too. Call first. See our Saturday dentist page.
Yes. An untreated abscess can spread to the face and neck. Swelling that spreads, fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing need the ER right away.
Call us. We treat children’s dental emergencies in our office, from age 1. If a child needs to be sedated for treatment, we refer you to a pediatric dentist. For a knocked-out baby tooth, don’t put it back in; call us right away.