Severe Tooth Pain
Throbbing, persistent pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter medication or that wakes you up at night. Often signals infection, advanced decay, or nerve involvement that needs immediate evaluation.
01 — Emergency Care
Same-day dental emergencies.
Tooth pain, broken teeth, knocked-out teeth, lost crowns. Call us first, we reserve same-day appointments for emergencies.
02 — What qualifies
When is it actually an emergency?
Dental emergencies are not always obvious. Severe tooth pain, knocked-out teeth, broken or cracked teeth, lost fillings or crowns, abscess swelling, and trauma to the mouth or jaw all qualify as emergencies that need same-day care. Some other concerns can wait, but if you are unsure, call us. We help patients triage over the phone every day.
When you call about an emergency, our team will assess the situation, give you guidance for what to do at home before you arrive, and reserve a same-day appointment when possible. For after-hours emergencies, we provide guidance on what to do until our office opens, and in true medical emergencies (uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing, head trauma) we will direct you to the appropriate emergency room.
Most dental problems get worse, not better, when they are ignored. A small chip can become a fracture. A loose filling can become a lost crown. A mild toothache can become an abscess. Calling us early, even for what seems like a minor issue, often saves you significant pain, time, and treatment cost down the road.
03 — Common emergencies
What we treat as a same-day emergency.
If any of these are happening to you or someone in your family, call us right away.
Knocked-Out Tooth
A tooth completely knocked out of the mouth. Time matters: teeth that are reimplanted within 30 minutes have the highest chance of being saved. Call immediately and follow our guidance for what to do until you arrive.
Broken or Cracked Tooth
A visibly broken, chipped, or cracked tooth, especially one with sharp edges or exposed nerve. Even small fractures can quickly progress without treatment.
Lost Crown or Filling
A crown that has come off completely or a filling that has fallen out, leaving the underlying tooth exposed. Tooth structure is vulnerable in this state and needs prompt protection.
Abscess or Swelling
Visible swelling on the gums, face, or jaw, often accompanied by pain, fever, or a bad taste in the mouth. Abscesses can spread quickly and become dangerous if untreated.
Trauma or Injury
Mouth trauma from a fall, sports injury, or accident, including bleeding, broken teeth, or pushed-back teeth. Sports mouthguards prevent most of these injuries; if you do not have one, ask us.
04 — Before you arrive
What to do at home before your appointment.
When you call us with an emergency, we give you specific guidance based on your situation. Below are general steps for the most common emergencies, but always call us first for case-specific instructions.
For severe tooth pain
Rinse with warm salt water, take over-the-counter pain reliever as directed, and apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek. Do not put aspirin directly on the gum or tooth, it can cause chemical burns to the tissue.
For a knocked-out tooth
Hold the tooth by the crown (the white part), not the root. Rinse it gently with milk or saline if dirty. Try to place it back in the socket. If that is not possible, store it in milk or inside the patient's cheek and call us immediately. Time matters: bring it within 30 minutes if possible.
For a broken or cracked tooth
Save any pieces of the tooth if possible. Rinse the mouth with warm water. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Avoid chewing on that side until you are seen.
For a lost crown or filling
Save the crown or filling if you can find it, sometimes it can be re-cemented. Cover the exposed tooth with dental wax (available at most pharmacies) or sugar-free gum to protect it temporarily. Avoid eating on that side.
For abscess or swelling
Rinse with warm salt water several times. Take over-the-counter pain reliever as directed. Do not apply heat to the swelling. Call us immediately, abscesses require prompt antibiotic treatment and source treatment, often a root canal or extraction.
For trauma or bleeding
For bleeding from the mouth, apply firm pressure with a clean cloth or gauze. Use a cold compress on the outside to reduce swelling. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes of pressure, head to an emergency room. For knocked-out teeth, follow guidance above.
05 — After hours
What to do when we are closed.
If you experience a dental emergency outside our regular hours, here is what to do.
Call us first
Our after-hours phone line provides emergency guidance and routes urgent calls to the on-call doctor when needed. Most dental emergencies can be safely managed at home until morning with proper guidance.
True medical emergencies
If you have uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing, severe head trauma, or signs of a serious infection (high fever, difficulty swallowing, swelling closing your throat), go to the nearest emergency room. Hospitals can stabilize the situation and refer back to us for follow-up dental care.
Same-day morning appointments
When our office opens, we prioritize after-hours emergencies for same-day appointments. Call as soon as we open Monday through Friday.
06 — Common questions
Emergency questions answered.
These questions come up often during emergency calls. Read them now so you know what to expect.
Call NowYes. We reserve same-day appointment slots every day specifically for emergencies. When you call about an urgent issue, we triage based on what is happening and book you the soonest available time, usually that day. We prioritize true emergencies like knocked-out teeth, abscesses, and severe pain over routine appointments.
Emergencies involve severe pain, visible damage to teeth, swelling, abscess, knocked-out teeth, or trauma. These need same-day or immediate care. Regular dental issues like sensitivity, mild discomfort, a small chip without pain, or routine concerns can typically wait for a scheduled appointment within a week or two. When in doubt, call us, we help triage over the phone every day.
Time is critical: teeth reimplanted within 30 minutes have the best chance of being saved. Hold the tooth by the white crown (not the root). Rinse it gently with milk or saline if it is dirty. If you can, gently place it back in the socket and have the child bite down on a clean cloth to hold it in place. If that is not possible, place the tooth in milk and call us immediately. Do not scrub the tooth or use tap water, both damage the cells needed for reimplantation.
Yes. We treat dental emergencies for both established and new patients. New patient emergencies follow the same protocol: call us, we triage your situation, and we book you the soonest appointment available. We will need to gather basic intake information, but the focus of your first visit is addressing the emergency.
Most dental insurance plans cover emergency exams, X-rays, and basic emergency procedures. Coverage for follow-up treatment (root canals, crowns, extractions) varies by plan and the specific procedure needed. We verify your benefits before treatment begins so you know exactly what your insurance covers and what your out-of-pocket cost will be. We accept most PPO plans.
Cost depends on what is needed: an emergency exam alone is significantly less than emergency exam plus extraction, for example. We provide a clear cost estimate before any treatment begins. We accept most PPO plans, offer flexible financing through CareCredit, and will not start treatment without your full understanding of what it involves and what it costs.
For most dental emergencies, a dentist is the right destination, we have the equipment, expertise, and follow-up capability that ERs do not. The exception is true medical emergencies: uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing, signs of a serious spreading infection (high fever, swelling that affects breathing or swallowing), severe head trauma. In those cases, go to an ER first. They can stabilize the medical situation, then refer you back to us for the dental work that follows.
Most dental emergencies are not actually random. Routine cleanings every 6 months catch small issues before they become emergencies. Wearing a custom mouthguard during sports prevents the majority of dental injuries. Avoiding chewing on hard objects (ice, pens, hard candy) reduces fracture risk. And addressing dental concerns early, even minor ones, prevents the cascade of issues that often turns into a 2am emergency.
07 — Why us
Emergency care, done right.
When you are in pain or scared about a dental issue, you need a practice that responds quickly and treats you like a person, not a number.
Same-day appointments daily
We hold daily appointment slots specifically for emergencies. Call us first, most patients are seen within hours.
Bilingual emergency triage
Our team takes emergency calls in both English and Spanish. When you are in pain or anxious, communicating in your natural language matters.
After-hours guidance
Our after-hours line provides immediate guidance and routes urgent issues to the on-call doctor when needed. You are not alone with a dental emergency.
Care without judgment
Some patients avoid emergencies because they are embarrassed about how long it has been since their last visit. We do not judge. We treat the emergency, make a plan, and help you get back on track.
08 — Explore more
You may also be interested in.
Root Canal Therapy
Save a tooth with deep infection or nerve involvement. Often the right next step after an emergency abscess or severe pain.
Learn moreTooth Extractions
When a tooth cannot be saved, we extract gently and discuss replacement options like implants or bridges.
Learn moreDental Crowns
Custom restorations for cracked, broken, or weakened teeth. Often used to repair teeth after emergency damage.
Learn more
Book Your Visit
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New patients welcome. Same-week appointments available for most visits.