Dental emergencies happen without warning and require immediate, expert attention. At Lifetime Smiles Bellevue, Dr. Michael Beke provides calm, confident emergency care for severe tooth pain, cracked or knocked-out teeth, dental injuries, and urgent situations that can’t wait. Drawing on his unique military experience as a dentist with the 82nd Airborne Division treating trauma cases during multiple deployments, Dr. Beke brings unparalleled expertise to managing dental emergencies with precision and composure.
Dr. Beke’s military service treating dental trauma in high-pressure situations translates directly to exceptional emergency care. His experience managing urgent cases under challenging conditions means he remains calm and focused when you’re in pain or distress, quickly diagnosing the problem and implementing effective treatment to relieve your discomfort and save your tooth whenever possible.
Our goal is not just to address your immediate pain but to provide comprehensive treatment that protects your long-term oral health. We’ll explain what happened, what needs to be done right away, and what follow-up care may be required. You’ll understand your treatment options and expected outcomes before we proceed—even in urgent situations, clear communication remains our priority.
Dental emergencies come in many forms, from sudden severe pain to traumatic injuries. At Lifetime Smiles Bellevue, we’re equipped to handle a full range of urgent dental situations. Whether you’re experiencing unbearable toothache, have suffered a sports injury, or are dealing with a dental abscess, our team provides prompt, effective care that addresses both your immediate discomfort and the underlying problem.
Common emergencies we treat include severe toothaches and dental pain, cracked, chipped, or broken teeth, knocked-out teeth (avulsed teeth), lost fillings or crowns, dental abscesses and infections, soft tissue injuries to gums, lips, or cheeks, broken or damaged dental work, and jaw injuries or suspected fractures. Dr. Beke’s nearly 20 years of experience and emergency training ensure you receive the highest level of care during these stressful situations.
Knowing how to respond during a dental emergency can make the difference between saving and losing a tooth. At Lifetime Smiles Bellevue, we want you to feel prepared and empowered to take the right steps before you reach our office. While every emergency is different, following these general guidelines can help protect your oral health and improve treatment outcomes.
If you’ve knocked out a tooth, time is critical. Gently rinse the tooth with water without scrubbing or touching the root, and try to place it back in the socket if possible. If that’s not feasible, keep the tooth moist by storing it in milk or saliva and contact us immediately—ideally within 30 minutes for the best chance of successful reimplantation. For severe toothaches, rinse your mouth with warm water and use dental floss to remove any trapped food, but avoid placing aspirin directly on the gums as this can cause tissue damage.
The most important step in any dental emergency is to contact our office right away—Dr. Beke will provide specific guidance based on your situation and schedule immediate care to address your urgent needs.
When you’re facing a dental emergency, you need a dentist you can trust to provide calm, expert care. Dr. Beke’s unique combination of military trauma experience, nearly 20 years of clinical expertise, and genuine passion for helping patients in urgent situations makes Lifetime Smiles Bellevue the right choice when dental emergencies strike.
Dr. Beke’s service with the 82nd Airborne Division provided extensive experience managing dental trauma and emergencies under pressure. This background translates to exceptional care when you need immediate attention, with quick assessment, decisive treatment, and calm professionalism that puts you at ease even in stressful situations.
Our Bellevue office is equipped with diagnostic imaging that allows Dr. Beke to quickly and accurately assess the extent of dental injuries, infections, or trauma. This enables him to provide definitive treatment immediately rather than referring you elsewhere, saving you time and discomfort when you need relief most.
Even in urgent situations, we take time to explain what’s happening and what treatment options are available. Dr. Beke’s calm, reassuring approach helps anxious patients feel more comfortable during emergency visits. We’re here to solve your immediate problem and ensure you understand the path forward for complete recovery.
Schedule your appointment today and experience personalized dental care that puts your comfort first. Healthy teeth. Confident you.
Dental emergencies are stressful and often confusing situations. Here are answers to the most common questions our Bellevue patients ask about emergency dental care. Understanding what constitutes a true emergency and how to respond can help you act quickly and appropriately when urgent dental issues arise.
A dental abscess is a serious infection that requires immediate attention—ideally within 24 hours. Symptoms include severe, throbbing pain, swelling in your face or gums, fever, a foul taste in your mouth, and sensitivity to hot or cold. Left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body and become life-threatening. If you notice swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, go to the emergency room immediately. Otherwise, contact Lifetime Smiles Bellevue right away so Dr. Beke can drain the abscess, prescribe antibiotics, and address the underlying cause to prevent recurrence.
If you break a tooth outside of regular office hours, rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If the broken edge is sharp and cutting your tongue or cheek, cover it with dental wax or sugar-free gum temporarily. Take over-the-counter pain medication as needed and avoid chewing on that side. Save any tooth fragments in a moist container. Contact our office first thing Monday morning, or if you’re experiencing severe pain or significant trauma, call our emergency line—we make every effort to accommodate urgent cases even outside normal hours. The sooner you receive treatment, the better the outcome for saving your tooth.
While not all dental emergencies are preventable—accidents and trauma can happen to anyone—regular checkups significantly reduce your risk of emergency situations caused by dental disease. Dr. Beke can identify and treat small cavities before they reach the nerve and cause severe pain, detect early signs of gum disease or infection before they become abscesses, identify weakened teeth that may be at risk of fracturing, and address worn dental work before it fails. Many “sudden” dental emergencies are actually the result of long-standing problems that went undetected. Our comprehensive exams every six months help catch and resolve issues before they turn into painful emergencies requiring urgent care.
Lifetime Smiles offers dental services including general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, family dentistry, sedation dentistry and emergency dentistry. Contact our office in Bellevue, WA to schedule your appointment today!
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