Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for severe swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, trouble breathing or swallowing, facial trauma, or a high fever with dental swelling.
What to do right now
- Knocked-out adult tooth: hold it by the crown, not the root. Rinse gently, try to put it back in the socket, or keep it in milk. Call us immediately; the first hour matters most.
- Broken or chipped tooth: save any pieces, rinse your mouth with warm water and use a cold compress for swelling.
- Toothache: rinse with warm salt water, floss gently to remove trapped food, and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed. Don't put aspirin on the gum.
- Lost crown or filling: keep the crown, avoid chewing on that side, and call to have it re-cemented (more about crowns).
After hours
Call (310) 829-4322. If we are closed, follow the voicemail instructions to reach the on-call dentist. For severe swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, trouble breathing or facial trauma, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
A badly infected tooth can often be saved with root canal therapy, so call before deciding on an extraction.
What to expect at your visit
- Call (310) 829-4322 and describe what happened.
- We find the earliest available appointment.
- Exam and X-ray to see what's wrong.
- Treatment to relieve pain, with a plan for any follow-up care.
Common questions
Do you take same-day emergency appointments?
We do our best to see urgent cases the same day during office hours. Call as early in the day as you can.
What counts as a dental emergency?
Severe or throbbing pain, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, swelling, an abscess, or bleeding that won't stop. A small chip with no pain can usually wait for a regular appointment.
What if it happens after hours?
Call (310) 829-4322. If we are closed, follow the voicemail instructions to reach the on-call dentist. For severe swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, trouble breathing or facial trauma, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Should I go to the ER for a toothache?
Go to the ER if swelling affects breathing or swallowing, or if you have a high fever. Otherwise a dentist is usually the faster way to treat the cause of the pain.