Blog

So — Is This Actually an Emergency? If you’re wondering whether to call, that’s usually your answer

Dental pain doesn’t schedule itself around your calendar. A tooth cracks on a Tuesday afternoon. A filling falls out the night before an important week. A dull ache wakes you up at 3 a.m. and doesn’t go away by morning. and then you’re on your phone, searching “emergency dentist near me,” hoping someone can see you before the pain gets worse.

At Lumma Dental in Winter Springs, we keep room in the schedule for exactly this. Call or text us, and we’ll work to get you in the same day.

What Actually Counts as a Dental Emergency?

A lot of people wait too long because they’re not sure if their situation “counts.”

Here’s the honest answer: if you’re in pain, if something is broken, or if something doesn’t look right — call us. We’d rather help you figure it out than have you wait three days and end up needing something far more involved.

That said, here’s what clearly qualifies:

Severe or Persistent Tooth Pain

Pain that won’t go away, wakes you up at night, or gets worse when you eat or drink usually means the nerve is involved. This doesn’t resolve on its own — and waiting typically makes the treatment more complicated.

A Cracked, Chipped, or Broken Tooth

Even if it doesn’t hurt yet, a fracture exposes the inner layers of the tooth to bacteria. The sooner we look at it, the more of the tooth we can usually save.

A Knocked-Out Tooth

This is the most time-sensitive dental emergency there is. Call us immediately. If you can, pick the tooth up by the crown (not the root), rinse it gently, and try to place it back in the socket. If you can’t, keep it moist in milk or between your cheek and gum — and get here fast.

Swelling in Your Gums, Jaw, or Face

Swelling usually means infection. This is one you should never wait on, because infections don’t stay contained. If you have swelling along with fever or difficulty swallowing, seek care right away.

A Dental Abscess

A painful bump on the gum, often with a bad taste in your mouth, signals an abscess — a pocket of infection at the root of a tooth. This needs prompt treatment.

A Lost Filling or Crown

Not always painful, but the exposed tooth underneath is vulnerable to decay and fracture. It’s worth getting looked at quickly rather than “waiting until my next cleaning.”

Bleeding That Won’t Stop

Whether from an injury or after a procedure, bleeding that doesn’t stop with pressure needs attention.

Call (689) 201-6327 

Text (689) 319-9811 

Visit :1122 E State Rd 434 #1020, Winter Springs, FL 32708

Book Your Appointment — takes under two minutes

What’s Probably Not an Emergency

To be fair, some things can safely wait for a regular appointment:

• A chip so small it doesn’t hurt or feel sharp
• Mild sensitivity to cold that fades quickly
• A dull ache that comes and goes without worsening
• A lost filling with no pain and no sharp edges

Still not sure? Call us. A two-minute phone call is always better than guessing.

Call (689) 201-6327 

Text (689) 319-9811 

Visit :1122 E State Rd 434 #1020, Winter Springs, FL 32708

Book Your Appointment — takes under two minutes

Our Same-Day Emergency Exam — Flat $120

We keep this simple, because the last thing you need when you’re in pain is a surprise bill.

A flat $120 emergency exam. No hidden fees. No guessing.

What’s included:

• Same-day appointment
• Comprehensive emergency exam
• Digital X-rays, if needed
• Immediate pain relief options
• A clear treatment plan during the same visit

You’ll know what’s wrong, what it will take to fix it, and what it will cost — before you leave the chair.

Call (689) 201-6327 

Text (689) 319-9811 

Visit :1122 E State Rd 434 #1020, Winter Springs, FL 32708

Book Your Appointment — takes under two minutes

How Dr. Fernandes Handles Emergencies

An emergency visit isn’t a rushed visit. It’s a focused one.

Dr. Fernandes will find the source of the problem, get you comfortable first, and then walk you through what’s actually going on — in plain language, without jargon, and without pressure.

His approach is the same whether you’re here for a routine cleaning or a cracked molar: figure out what’s really happening, explain it clearly, and give you real options.

And there’s no lecture. If it’s been years since your last visit, or if you’re embarrassed about how the situation happened — we’ve genuinely seen it all. Nobody here is going to make you feel bad about it.

What to Do Before You Get Here

While you’re on your way, a few things can help:

For pain: Over-the-counter pain relievers can take the edge off. A cold compress on the outside of your cheek helps with swelling.

For a knocked-out tooth: Keep it moist. Milk is best. Saliva works. Water is not ideal.

For a broken tooth: Save any pieces you can find and bring them with you.

For bleeding: Apply firm, steady pressure with clean gauze.

Don’t put aspirin directly on the gum or tooth. It can burn the tissue and make things worse.

Why Getting Seen Quickly Matters

We understand the instinct to wait and see if it gets better on its own. Sometimes the pain does fade — and people take that as a sign the problem is resolved.

It usually didn’t.

Pain that disappears can actually mean the nerve inside the tooth has died. The infection is still there. It’s just gone quiet.

Left alone, a treatable problem becomes an infected one. An infected one becomes a lost tooth. And a lost tooth becomes an implant or a bridge — which is a much bigger conversation than the one we could have had a week earlier.

Getting seen quickly is almost always the cheaper, simpler, less invasive path.

Call (689) 201-6327 

Text (689) 319-9811 

Visit :1122 E State Rd 434 #1020, Winter Springs, FL 32708

Book Your Appointment — takes under two minutes

Key Takeaways

• Severe pain, swelling, a knocked-out tooth, or a dental abscess all count as emergencies — call us right away
• Lumma Dental offers same-day emergency exams at a flat $120, with no hidden fees
• Your visit includes an exam, X-rays if needed, pain relief options, and a treatment plan
• A knocked-out tooth is the most time-sensitive emergency — keep it moist and get here fast
• Pain that fades on its own often means the problem got worse, not better
• Care is available in English, Spanish, and Português
• We’re located at 1122 E State Rd 434 #1020, Winter Springs, FL 32708

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly can I be seen for a dental emergency in Winter Springs? We work to see emergency patients the same day. Call (689) 201-6327 or text (689) 319-9811 as early as you can — calling first thing in the morning gives you the best chance of a same-day slot.

How much does an emergency dental visit cost at Lumma Dental? Our emergency exam is a flat $120. That covers the exam, X-rays if needed, pain relief options, and a treatment plan — with no hidden fees. Any additional treatment is quoted separately, and you’ll know the cost before we proceed.

Do I need insurance to be seen for an emergency? No. Our $120 flat-fee emergency exam is available whether or not you have insurance. If you do have coverage, we’ll work with your plan wherever we can.

What should I do if my tooth gets knocked out? Pick it up by the crown, not the root. Rinse it gently — don’t scrub it. Try to place it back in the socket. If that isn’t possible, keep it moist in milk or between your cheek and gum, and call us immediately. Time matters more here than with any other dental emergency.

Can I come in if I’m not already a patient? Absolutely. New patients are welcome for emergency visits. Just get here — we’ll handle the paperwork when you arrive.

Is a broken tooth an emergency if it doesn’t hurt? It should still be looked at quickly. A fracture exposes the inner tooth to bacteria, and the sooner it’s treated, the more of the natural tooth we can usually preserve.

What if my pain went away on its own? Don’t assume it’s resolved. Pain that stops can mean the nerve has died — the infection is still there, just silent. Please come in and let us take a look.

In Pain? Don’t Wait.

You don’t need to tough this out. You don’t need to wait until Monday. And you definitely don’t need to sit with a problem that’s quietly getting worse.

Call us. Text us. We’ll get you in.

Call (689) 201-6327 

Text (689) 319-9811 

Visit :1122 E State Rd 434 #1020, Winter Springs, FL 32708

Book Your Appointment — takes under two minutes

Same-day emergency appointments available. We’ll fit you in.

Flat $120 emergency exam. Additional treatment, if needed, is not included and will be quoted separately. Prices subject to change without notice.