Dental emergencies do not wait. We reserve time every day for patients who need to be seen right away — for severe pain, a knocked-out tooth, a broken filling, or anything else that just cannot wait until next week. If you are not sure whether your situation is an emergency, call us at (626) 246-1200 and we will help you decide.
What it is
Emergency dentistry is care for dental problems that need attention today. Common emergencies include:
- A toothache that will not go away
- A knocked-out tooth (call us immediately — time matters)
- A cracked or broken tooth
- A lost filling or crown
- Swelling in the face or jaw
- An abscess (a pimple-like bump on the gum that may indicate infection)
- A broken or loose denture, partial, or appliance
- Soft tissue injury — a cut to the lip, tongue, or cheek
- A tooth knocked loose by an injury
Our goal in an emergency visit is twofold: get you out of pain and figure out what is going on. Some emergencies can be fully fixed the same day. Others need a temporary fix followed by a planned visit to do the permanent work.
What to expect
Call us at (626) 246-1200 first. Tell us what is going on, when it started, and what makes it better or worse. We will tell you whether to come in right away or whether we can manage it with home care for a few hours.
A typical emergency visit:
- Quick check-in with as much paperwork as we can do later
- An exam of the area and an X-ray if needed
- Whatever immediate care is needed — pain relief, draining an infection, securing a loose tooth, repairing a broken one
- A clear plan for follow-up care if more work is needed
- Written instructions for the next 24 to 48 hours
If you have lost a tooth completely, the next two hours are critical. Pick the tooth up by the crown (not the root), gently rinse it without scrubbing, and try to place it back in the socket or in a cup of milk. Then call us right away.
Who it’s for
Call us right away if you have:
- Severe, throbbing tooth pain
- A knocked-out tooth
- Facial swelling
- A broken tooth with sharp edges or visible nerve
- Bleeding from the gums that will not stop with pressure
- Pain that is keeping you from eating, drinking, or sleeping
Some dental discomfort is not an emergency and is fine to handle at your next regular visit — a mild sensitivity that comes and goes, a small chip with no pain, or a loose crown that you can still keep in place. When in doubt, call us and we will help you figure out what to do.
We are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. For after-hours emergencies, leave a message and we will return your call as soon as we can.
This page is general information about a common dental procedure and is not medical advice. Treatment recommendations depend on each patient's situation — please call us with any questions about your own care.