Willis Family DentistryChurchville · Est. 1950

Urgent care

Same-day emergency dental care in Churchville.

Dental emergencies never pick a convenient time. Call us as early in the day as you can — we hold same-day slots for exactly this kind of moment.

When something goes wrong with a tooth — a sudden severe ache, a crown that fell off at dinner, a chip from biting down on a popcorn kernel, a fall that knocked a tooth loose — the first question is what to do next. The honest answer is usually “call your dentist, not the ER.” The hospital emergency room can stop bleeding and prescribe a painkiller, but they don’t do dental restoration. Whatever they treat will need dental follow-up anyway. Calling us first usually saves you a long wait and a separate bill.

How our same-day system works

We hold emergency appointment slots open every clinical day. When you call with an urgent issue, our front desk gets you on the schedule as quickly as the day allows — often within a few hours, sometimes within the hour. The earlier you call, the more options we have.

Most dental emergencies are resolved entirely in our office in a single visit. We handle same-day extractions, temporary crowns, fillings, root canal therapy, and abscess drainage on site. For the small subset of cases that need a specialist, we coordinate the referral and make sure you’re comfortable in the meantime.

Before you arrive

A few simple things help while you’re on the way. Rinse your mouth gently with warm water. If there’s bleeding, fold clean gauze over the area and bite down with steady pressure. If there’s swelling, hold a cold compress to the outside of your face for ten or fifteen minutes at a time. An over-the-counter pain reliever — the one you’d normally take — can take the edge off. If a piece of tooth has broken off, drop it in a small container of milk or saliva and bring it with you.

When the ER is the right place

For most dental issues, our office is the right call. But if you have severe facial swelling that’s spreading toward your eye or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding after a serious injury, or signs of a head injury, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 first. Those are signs of a serious infection or trauma that need immediate medical care. Dentistry can follow.

Frequently asked

Emergency care — common questions.

What counts as a dental emergency?

Severe tooth pain, a broken or knocked-out tooth, a lost crown or filling, sudden swelling in the face or gums, uncontrolled bleeding after an injury, and any sharp injury to the mouth. If you’re not sure, call us at 540-337-6004 — we’ll help you decide whether to come in immediately or wait.

Do you hold same-day appointments?

Yes. We keep emergency slots open during our clinical hours specifically so western Augusta County families don’t have to drive to a hospital ER for tooth pain. Call as early in the day as you can — Mon–Fri, 8 AM to 5 PM.

What about after hours?

For after-hours dental emergencies, manage pain and bleeding at home using the guidance on the specific emergency pages, and call us first thing in the morning. If you have severe facial swelling that’s spreading, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or significant bleeding that won’t stop, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 — those are signs of a serious infection or injury that need immediate medical care.

What should I do before I arrive?

Rinse gently with warm water. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your face if there’s swelling. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if you can tolerate one. Save any tooth fragments in milk or saliva. And call us so we can prepare for your arrival and get you in as quickly as possible.

Do you handle children’s emergencies?

Yes — broken baby teeth, knocked-out permanent teeth, and pediatric toothaches are all common. Same-day appointments are available for kids too. Call 540-337-6004 right away.

Something hurts? Call now.

Our front desk on Scenic Hwy can usually fit you in same-day during clinical hours.