In pain, or did something just break? Call us first.
A dental emergency is stressful enough without being rushed or judged. At Trinity Dental Care in North Scottsdale, Dr. Christine Fink and our team do our best to see patients with urgent needs the same day. Call us, tell us what is happening, and we will tell you what to do next and how soon to come in.
Outside office hours? Leave a message and tell us it is urgent.
If you are not sure, call. We would rather answer a question than have you wait with a problem that is getting worse. Here is a rough guide.
Still unsure? Read how to tell whether your tooth situation is actually an emergency, or just call. We will help you work out how urgent it is.
These are the situations we handle most often. If yours is on the list, call us.
Pain that keeps you up is not something to manage at home. We find the cause, and when the nerve is involved, we can treat it with an emergency root canal.
Does tooth pain always mean a root canal?Whether it happened at dinner or on the field, we assess the damage and repair it with bonding, a crown or the right option for your tooth.
Bonding or veneers for a chipped toothA loose or missing crown leaves the tooth exposed. We evaluate it and put the crown back or replace it as quickly as we can.
What to do in the first 24 hoursAn exposed cavity is open to pain and more damage. We protect the tooth and restore it before it gets worse.
What a broken filling meansSwelling, fever or a throbbing tooth are warning signs. Dental infections can spread quickly, so call right away.
Signs of a dental infectionTime matters, and a knocked-out tooth may still be saved. Keep it moist in milk or saliva and call us right away.
A cut, puncture or injury to the gums, lips, tongue or cheeks gets careful cleaning, pain relief and treatment to help it heal.
We regularly see patients who need work corrected or completed. Complex cases are welcome, and we listen first.
Getting a second opinionA same-day emergency exam with X-rays gives you a clear diagnosis and a plan, so you leave knowing what is happening.
Call (480) 621-4040Call us first, because what to do depends on what happened. In the meantime, these basics apply to most situations:
If you do not have everything, call anyway.
Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 if swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, bleeding will not stop, or you have a serious head or facial injury. Then call us at (480) 621-4040 when you can, so we can follow up on your teeth.
An emergency is not the moment to worry about a bill you cannot see coming. We tell you what we find and what your options cost before any treatment begins.
We work with Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Healthspring and most PPO plans, and we verify your coverage on your first call, so there are no delays and no surprises.
Tell us when you call. We will explain your options and your estimate before treatment. What paying out of pocket looks like.
Dr. Christine Fink founded Trinity Dental Care and leads your care from your first exam through your final restoration. Our approach is simple: listen first, explain every option in plain English, and never rush you toward a decision. She and our team handle dental emergencies with the same care they bring to every appointment, and they take time to explain what is happening before any treatment begins.
“Dr. Fink is incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and she is an exceptional dentist!” — Annie M., Google review
Straight answers to what patients ask us in an emergency.
Trinity Dental Care is at Frank Lloyd Wright and Shea in North Scottsdale, an easy drive from McCormick Ranch, DC Ranch, Gainey Ranch, Paradise Heights, Taliesin West, the Shea Corridor, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale Ranch and McDowell Mountain Ranch.
Trinity Dental CareNeed to reach us outside office hours? Call (480) 621-4040 and leave a message.
Call us right away for severe or throbbing pain, swelling in your gum, jaw or face, a knocked-out tooth, a broken tooth that exposes the inside or cuts your mouth, a crown or filling that has come out with pain or sensitivity, or a pimple-like bump on your gum. If you are in pain and do not know why, call anyway. Tooth pain has many causes, and we will help work out how urgently you need to be seen. Read how to tell whether your situation is an emergency.
We do our best to see patients with urgent needs the same day. Call us first at (480) 621-4040, tell us what is happening, and we will tell you how soon to come in. Calling rather than filling out a form is the fastest way to get an answer.
Our office is open Monday through Thursday. If something happens outside those hours, call us anyway, leave a message, and tell us it is urgent. If you have swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, bleeding that will not stop, or a serious head or facial injury, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 instead of waiting for us.
Keep the crown, avoid chewing on that side, and call us the same day, even if it does not hurt. Do not use household glue. In many cases the original crown can be cleaned and put back; in others a new one is needed. See what to do in the first 24 hours.
Call us the same day. A missing filling leaves the tooth open to bacteria and pressure, and waiting usually makes the repair larger. Avoid chewing on that side until we see you. Read what a broken filling means.
Common signs include throbbing or persistent pain, swelling in the gum, jaw or face, a bad taste in your mouth, fever, or a pimple-like bump on the gum near the tooth. Dental infections can spread quickly, so call us right away if you notice any of these. If swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, go to the emergency room. Read the signs of a dental infection.
It depends on the break. A small chip with no pain can often wait a few days. A break that exposes the inside of the tooth, causes significant pain, or has sharp edges that cut your mouth should be seen as soon as possible, because waiting raises the risk of further damage or infection. Call us and describe it, and we will tell you which it is.
We work with Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Healthspring and most PPO plans, and we verify your coverage on your first call, so there are no surprises before your appointment. Your insurance details, if you have them, help us move faster.
The cost depends on the exam, X-rays and treatment you need, and we cannot quote a fair number without seeing the tooth. We tell you what we find, your options and your estimate before any treatment begins. If you do not have insurance, tell us when you call. Here is what paying out of pocket looks like.
Yes. We regularly see patients who need work corrected or completed. Dr. Fink evaluates your situation carefully and explains your options clearly before any treatment begins. If you want a fresh opinion first, that is a normal thing to ask for. See what a second-opinion visit involves.
Absolutely. Many of our patients come to us after avoiding the dentist for years, often because of anxiety or a bad experience. We are gentle and judgment-free, we explain what we are doing and why before we do it, and we offer sedation options if you need them.
Tell us your travel dates when you call. We will look at what your tooth needs and plan around them, and if treatment takes more than one visit, we will tell you what can be done before you leave and what can wait. See how a crown timeline works around travel.
It helps to know what is happening and when it started, whether you have had recent work on that tooth, and your insurance provider and member ID if you have them. If you still have a crown or a piece of tooth, keep it safe and bring it. Do not worry if you do not have everything; call anyway.
Tell us what is happening and we will tell you what to do next and how soon to come in. We do our best to see urgent needs the same day.
