What to do right now,
before you reach us
Call us first at (323) 654-2840. Then, while you are on your way or waiting for your appointment, here is what helps and what to avoid for each situation.
Knocked-out tooth
This is the one true race against the clock. A tooth put back within 30 to 60 minutes has the best chance of surviving.
- Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), not the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water. Do not scrub it and do not remove any tissue attached to it.
- If you can, place it gently back in the socket and hold it there by biting on a clean cloth.
- If you cannot, keep it wet: in milk, in a tooth preservation kit, or tucked inside your cheek. Never let it dry out.
Abscess or swelling
An infection at the root of a tooth or in the gum. Throbbing ache, swelling, a bad taste, sometimes a bump on the gum or fever. It does not go away on its own, and it can spread.
- Call the same day. This is not a wait-and-see situation.
- Warm salt water rinses can ease it while you wait.
- Do not try to pop or drain it yourself.
- Swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, or trouble swallowing or breathing: go to the ER. See below.
Broken, cracked, or chipped tooth
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- If there is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze for ten minutes.
- Save any pieces you can find and bring them.
- Cover a sharp edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum if it is cutting your tongue or cheek.
- A small chip with no pain can usually wait a day or two. A break that exposes the inner tooth, hurts, or bleeds should be seen the same day.
Severe toothache
- Rinse with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water).
- Floss gently around the tooth in case trapped food is the cause.
- Cold compress on the outside of the cheek, 15 minutes on and 15 off.
- Over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the label. Do not put aspirin or any painkiller on the gum; it burns the tissue.
- A drop of clove oil on a cotton swab, dabbed on the tooth, numbs it briefly. Use very little.
- Pain that keeps you up at night, throbs, or comes with swelling usually means infection. Call the same day.
Lost crown or filling
- Keep the crown if you have it. It can often be re-cemented.
- The exposed tooth will be sensitive. Avoid very hot, cold, or sweet foods and chew on the other side.
- Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can cover it for a day or two. Do not use household glue.
- Left uncovered for weeks, the tooth can decay or shift, so do not put it off.
Bleeding that will not stop
- Bite firmly on clean gauze or a damp tea bag for 20 minutes without checking.
- Keep your head raised. No rinsing, spitting, or straws, which dislodge the clot.
- If bleeding is heavy and has not slowed after 30 minutes of steady pressure, go to the emergency room.
When to go to the emergency room instead
Most dental emergencies belong with a dentist, not a hospital. Hospitals rarely have a dentist on site and will usually give pain relief and antibiotics, then send you to us. But a few situations are medical emergencies first. Go to the ER, or call 911, if you have:
- Facial swelling that is spreading, especially toward the eye or down the neck
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Bleeding that does not stop with 30 minutes of firm pressure
- A suspected broken jaw (you cannot close your mouth normally, or your bite suddenly does not line up)
- High fever with a dental infection
- A head injury along with the dental injury
The nearest emergency room to our office is Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, about ten minutes away.
Emergency care,
the holistic way
Urgent does not mean compromising
Everything we use in an emergency is the same as in any other appointment here: metal-free, mercury-free, and biocompatible. A temporary filling placed in a hurry is still a filling you will live with, so we do not reach for a different shelf when the schedule is tight.
Where it helps, we use ozone therapy to reduce bacteria in an infected area, and we favor treatments that preserve tooth structure over ones that remove it. And we look for the cause. A cracked tooth is sometimes a grinding problem; a repeat abscess is sometimes a failing old filling. Fixing the emergency and missing the reason means seeing you again for the same thing in six months.
What to expect at an
emergency visit
An emergency visit is not a full exam. The goal is to stop the pain, deal with the immediate problem, and make sure nothing is going to get worse before a proper follow-up.
When you arrive, we will look at the tooth, take an X-ray if needed, and tell you what is going on in plain language. Then we treat what needs treating that day: re-cementing a crown, placing a temporary filling, draining an abscess, starting a root canal to relieve pressure, or removing a tooth that cannot be saved. Some problems are fully resolved in one visit. Others get stabilized on the day and finished in a scheduled follow-up.
If you are anxious about dental work, tell us when you call. We offer sedation options for patients who need them, including in emergencies.
Cost and insurance for
emergency visits
An emergency visit costs the same as a regular visit for the same treatment. There is no surcharge for being seen quickly. The cost depends on what the tooth needs: an exam and X-ray is a small fee, re-cementing a crown is modest, a root canal or extraction is more. We tell you the cost before we do anything, and you decide.
Most dental insurance plans cover emergency exams and the common treatments that follow. Bring your insurance card and we will check your benefits while you are here. Call us if you want to confirm coverage before you come in.
Financing available
For larger treatments such as a root canal and crown, or an implant after an extraction, we offer financing through CareCredit. Ask when you call and we can have the details ready for you.
New patients: your first consultation with us is free.
Emergency dentistry questions
Is a chipped tooth an emergency?
Not always. A small chip that does not hurt can wait a few days. A chip that exposes the inner tooth, causes pain, bleeds, or leaves a sharp edge cutting your cheek should be seen the same day. When in doubt, call and describe it; we will tell you.
How fast can you see me?
Call (323) 654-2840 and we will tell you the first available time. We keep time in the schedule for emergencies and can usually see you the same day, Monday to Saturday. Sundays we are closed; leave a message and you will be first on Monday, or use the emergency room guidance above if it cannot wait.
Do you see emergency patients who are not existing patients?
Yes. You do not need to be a current patient to be seen for an emergency.
Can I walk in without calling?
You can, but calling first is faster for you. It lets us prepare, and it means you are not sitting in the waiting room while we finish another patient's procedure. If you are close and in pain, call from the parking lot.
What if my tooth got knocked out?
Hold it by the crown, not the root. Rinse briefly if dirty, do not scrub. Put it back in the socket if you can, or keep it in milk. Come in immediately. The first hour matters most.
I have a bad toothache but no swelling. Is that an emergency?
Severe pain that does not respond to over-the-counter relief, keeps you awake, or throbs is usually infection or nerve involvement, and it will not get better on its own. Call the same day. It is far easier to treat before swelling starts.
Will the emergency treatment use metal or mercury?
No. We use the same metal-free, biocompatible materials in emergencies as in every other appointment.
What does an emergency visit cost?
The same as the equivalent regular treatment. There is no emergency fee. We tell you the cost before treating, and most insurance plans cover emergency exams and the usual follow-up treatments.
In pain? Call now.
7865 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood. Monday to Friday 9 to 6, Saturday 9 to 3.
