Home/Emergency Dentistry
Emergency Dentist in
Johnson City, TN
Toothache, broken tooth, knocked-out tooth, swelling. Call and we’ll do our best to see you the same day. Dr. John Nauss handles emergencies in-house, from stopping the pain to fixing the tooth, so you’re not bounced between offices while you’re hurting.
Same-day appointments for urgent cases
When it can't wait, neither do we.
A dental emergency is anything that hurts, bleeds, swells, or breaks and can't wait for a regular appointment. Call us first. Most of the time we can see you the same day, and if it's after hours the message will tell you what to do.
Pain in your mouth is your body telling you something's wrong, and it doesn't fix itself. A toothache is usually an infection. A cracked tooth gets worse every time you chew. A knocked-out tooth has about an hour before it can't be saved. Speed matters.
What we do at an emergency visit
First, we stop the pain. Then we figure out what's causing it with an exam and x-rays. Then we fix it, or stabilize it and schedule the fix. Because Dr. Nauss does root canals, extractions, same-day crowns, and implants in-house, most emergencies are handled start to finish without a referral.
If you're not sure it's an emergency
Call anyway. Describing what's happening takes two minutes and we'll tell you whether to come in now, tomorrow, or at your next regular visit. Nobody will make you feel like you wasted a call.
Emergency dentist in Johnson City for new patients too
You don't need to be an existing patient. If you're in pain and in the area, call. We'll get your information over the phone and have you in the chair as fast as we can.
What we see most, and how we fix it.
Each one links to the treatment that usually solves it.
Usually an infected nerve. A root canal clears the infection and saves the tooth, and the pain stops the same day.
Root canals → 02Cracked or Broken ToothA custom same-day CEREC crown covers and protects the tooth in one visit. No temporary, no waiting.
Same-day crowns → 03Tooth That Can't Be SavedA careful extraction that protects the bone, with the replacement plan started before you leave.
Extractions → 04Knocked Out or Broken at the GumlineIf the tooth can't be saved, Dr. Nauss can often place an implant the same visit and attach a temporary crown right away.
Single tooth implants → 05Lost Filling or Chipped ToothTooth-colored filling or bonding, done in one visit, usually in under an hour.
Fillings → 06Swollen or Bleeding GumsOften an abscess or advanced gum disease. We drain, treat, and get you on a plan to keep it from coming back.
Gum treatment →From your call to relief.
- 01Call
Tell us what's going on. We'll tell you whether to come now, what to do in the meantime, and get your info so there's no paperwork delay when you arrive.
- 02Get seen
We hold time in the schedule for emergencies. Most urgent cases are seen the same day, often within a couple of hours.
- 03Stop the pain
Before anything else. Local anesthetic, and if there's an infection, antibiotics. You'll feel better before we've even finished the exam.
- 04Find the cause
An x-ray and exam tell us what's really going on. Dr. Nauss shows you and explains the options, including the cheapest one that will actually work.
- 05Fix it
Same-day if possible: crowns, fillings, extractions, and many root canals happen right then. If it needs a second visit, you leave stable, comfortable, and scheduled.
Where to go and when.
Emergency rooms can give you antibiotics and pain medication, but they can't fix teeth. For almost everything dental, we're the faster and cheaper option. A few things are hospital-level.
- Toothache, mild to severe
- Cracked, chipped, or broken tooth
- Knocked-out tooth (fast: you have about an hour)
- Lost crown, filling, or bridge
- Localized swelling or an abscess
- Bleeding after an extraction that's slow to stop
- Swelling that affects breathing or swallowing
- Swelling spreading to the eye or down the neck
- High fever with facial swelling
- A jaw that may be broken or dislocated
- Heavy bleeding that won't stop with pressure
- Any head or facial injury with loss of consciousness
Dr. John Nauss, DMD
An emergency is the worst time to get bounced between offices. Dr. Nauss's surgical training means the things that usually get referred out, like difficult extractions, abscesses, and replacing a lost tooth with an implant, happen here. You come in hurting, you leave with the pain handled and a plan, and you deal with one team the whole way.
Call first. We'll fit you in.
The fastest way to be seen is to call. If it's after hours, the message will tell you what to do. If it's not urgent enough for a call, use the form and we'll get back to you first thing.
Call (423) 282-5208 Same-day appointments for urgent casesFriday to Sunday: Closed
Questions, answered.
What people ask when they call an emergency dentist in Johnson City.
Can I be seen today?
Usually, yes. We keep time open for emergencies and see most urgent cases the same day, often within a couple of hours of the call. Call as early in the day as you can. If we're closed, the voicemail will tell you what to do.
My tooth got knocked out. What do I do right now?
Pick it up by the crown, not the root. Rinse it gently with water, don't scrub. If you can, put it back in the socket and hold it there. If not, keep it in milk or in your cheek, and call us on the way. Reimplantation works best within an hour.
How much does an emergency dental visit cost in Johnson City, TN?
The exam and x-ray are a set fee, and treatment is priced by what's needed. We'll give you the number before we do anything beyond stopping the pain. We're in network with Delta Dental Premier only, we'll help you file out-of-network claims, and we offer financing and a membership plan.
Should I go to the ER instead?
Only if swelling is affecting your breathing or swallowing, you have a high fever with facial swelling, your jaw may be broken, or bleeding won't stop. For everything else, an ER can't fix a tooth. They'll give you antibiotics and send you to a dentist anyway. Save the copay and call us first.
What can I take for the pain until I get there?
Ibuprofen is the most effective for dental pain if you can take it. Acetaminophen is a good second choice, and they can be alternated. Rinse with warm salt water. Don't put aspirin directly on the gum, it burns the tissue, and don't use heat on swelling.
I'm not a patient there. Can you still see me?
Yes. Emergency visits are open to anyone in the Johnson City area. We'll take your information over the phone so there's no paperwork holding you up when you arrive.
Have a different question? Call Apex at (423) 282-5208.