Dental Emergencies
Tooth pain, trauma, a knocked-out tooth, or sudden swelling? Call the office closest to you now. We hold time in our schedules every day for emergencies.
When to call us, when to go to the ER
Most dental problems — even painful ones — are best handled at a dental office, not a hospital emergency room. Hospitals can manage pain and prescribe antibiotics, but they can't actually treat the tooth. That part still needs a dentist. Calling us first usually gets you to a real resolution faster.
That said, there are situations where the ER is the right call: uncontrolled bleeding, facial swelling that affects your breathing or vision, a broken jaw, or trauma involving a significant head injury. When in doubt, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room first, then call us afterward to follow up on the tooth itself.
For everything else — pain, broken teeth, knocked-out teeth, lost crowns, abscesses, stuck objects — we want to hear from you. We hold emergency slots in our daily schedule at each of our Fremont, Cupertino, and Milpitas offices.
What to do right now
While you're calling us, here's what to do for the most common dental emergencies. Acting quickly often makes the difference between saving and losing a tooth — especially in the first hour after trauma.
Knocked-out tooth (adult)
- Find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown only, never the root.
- Rinse gently with water if dirty. Don't scrub.
- If you can, place it back in the socket and bite gently on gauze.
- If not, store it in milk or saliva — never water.
- Call us immediately. We need to see you within 30–60 minutes.
Broken or chipped tooth
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water.
- Save any pieces you can find — bring them in.
- Apply a cold pack outside the cheek to reduce swelling.
- Take over-the-counter pain reliever if needed.
- Call us same-day — even if it doesn't hurt yet.
Severe toothache or abscess
- Rinse with warm saltwater (1 tsp salt in 8 oz water).
- Floss gently to dislodge any trapped food.
- Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain.
- Do not apply heat or place aspirin directly on the gum.
- Call us — abscesses won't resolve on their own and need treatment.
Lost crown or filling
- Keep the crown if you find it.
- Avoid chewing on that side.
- Drugstore temporary cement can hold the crown in place short-term.
- Cover an exposed filling site with dental wax if it's sharp.
- Call us within a few days to get the crown re-cemented or replaced.
Bitten lip, tongue, or cheek
- Clean the area gently with water.
- Apply firm pressure with clean gauze for 10 minutes.
- Cold pack to reduce swelling.
- If bleeding doesn't stop after 15 minutes, head to the ER.
- Call us for a follow-up if a tooth was involved.
Object stuck between teeth
- Try flossing gently to dislodge it.
- Don't use sharp objects (pins, needles) — they can damage gums.
- If flossing doesn't work, leave it and call us.
- Do not force or jab repeatedly — you'll make it worse.
Cases where the ER comes first
Most dental issues belong with a dentist. But certain situations are genuinely medical emergencies first — and dental concerns second. According to ADA guidance on dental trauma, the symptoms below warrant immediate medical care.
Go to the ER or call 911 first. Once you're stable, call us to plan how to address the dental side of things.
Easing pain while you wait
If you can't be seen for a few hours, here's what genuinely helps in the meantime — and what to avoid.
- Alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen on a 3-hour schedule for stronger relief than either alone. Follow package dosing.
- Cold pack on the outside of the cheek for 20 minutes on, 20 off — reduces both swelling and pain.
- Warm saltwater rinses for inflamed gums or after trauma.
- Sleep with your head elevated on extra pillows to reduce throbbing.
- Avoid extreme temperatures — hot coffee, ice water — until seen.
- Don't apply heat to the outside of the face if you suspect infection. Heat encourages it to spread.
- Don't place aspirin directly on the gum. It burns tissue and doesn't help.
Things patients often ask
How fast can you see me for an emergency?
Most days, same-day. We hold emergency slots in our schedule at all three Bay Area locations. Call as early in the day as you can — Fremont (510) 792-5551, Cupertino (408) 873-8321, or Milpitas (408) 935-9555. If you're calling after hours, leave a message describing the issue and we'll get back to you first thing the next morning.
What if I'm not an existing patient?
That's fine — we see emergency patients regardless of whether you've been to us before. We'll get your basic information when you arrive and treat the emergency. After things settle down, we can talk about whether to become a regular patient.
Can a knocked-out tooth really be saved?
Often, yes — but the window matters. If we can re-implant within 30 to 60 minutes, the chance of saving the tooth is good. After about 2 hours, success rates drop significantly. Keep the tooth in milk or saliva (never water), handle it by the crown, and call us immediately.
What about a child's knocked-out baby tooth?
Don't try to re-implant a baby tooth — it can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. But still call us. We need to check that no fragments remain in the gum, evaluate for any injury to neighboring teeth, and discuss whether a space maintainer is needed.
Will antibiotics fix a dental infection?
Antibiotics can temporarily knock down infection and pain, but they don't resolve it. The source — usually a dying nerve or a deep cavity — still needs treatment (typically a root canal or extraction). The infection will return until the source is addressed. We may prescribe antibiotics to control the situation before definitive treatment.
Is my insurance going to cover an emergency visit?
Most PPO dental plans cover emergency exams and necessary treatment. We verify benefits while you're being seen and provide an estimate before any major work. For uninsured patients, we discuss costs openly upfront. The goal is to get you out of pain first, then sort out the financial details.
What counts as a "dental emergency"?
Any of these: severe pain, knocked-out tooth, broken or fractured tooth, lost crown or filling exposing nerve, abscess or swelling, uncontrolled bleeding after dental work, or trauma to the mouth from injury. When in doubt, call. Even if it turns out to be non-urgent, we'd rather hear from you.
Call the closest office now
Don't wait to see if it gets better. Even minor-looking dental injuries often need attention sooner rather than later. We're here.