What to do in a dental emergency — before you reach us.

For almost everything else, your first call should be to your dentist. We keep same-day emergency appointments open for exactly these situations — call 818.890.1000 as early as you can.

A knocked-out adult tooth

This is the most time-sensitive dental emergency. A permanent tooth has the best chance of being saved if it's back in its socket within about 30–60 minutes.

1. Pick it up by the crown (the white chewing part) — never by the root.
2. If it's dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water. Don't scrub it, dry it or wrap it in tissue.
3. If you can, gently push it back into the socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
4. If that isn't possible, keep it moist in a small cup of milk or in the patient's own saliva (between cheek and gum, for adults only).
5. Call us and come in immediately.

For a knocked-out baby tooth, don't try to put it back — doing so can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Bring your child in so we can check the area.

A severe toothache

Toothaches range from a dull ache to throbbing pain that keeps you up at night. Until you can be seen:

• Rinse with warm water and gently floss to remove anything trapped between the teeth.
• Use an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label.
• Hold a cold compress on the outside of your cheek for 15–20 minutes at a time.
• Don't put aspirin or pain tablets directly on the gum — it can burn the tissue.

Pain that wakes you up, lingers after hot or cold, or comes with swelling often means the nerve is inflamed or infected. Our endodontist can pinpoint the source — which isn't always the tooth that hurts.

Swelling or a dental abscess

A pimple-like bump on the gum, a bad taste, or facial swelling can signal an infection. Rinse with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water) and call us the same day. Infections don't go away on their own, and antibiotics alone usually don't fix the cause.

A chipped, cracked or broken tooth

• Save any pieces you can find and bring them with you.
• Rinse your mouth with warm water and use a cold compress to limit swelling.
• If there's a sharp edge, cover it with sugar-free gum or dental wax to protect your tongue and cheek.

Small chips can often be repaired with tooth-colored bonding in a single visit; larger breaks may need a crown.

A lost filling or crown

Keep the crown somewhere safe. A drugstore temporary dental cement can hold it in place for a day or two — never use household glue. Avoid chewing on that side and book a visit so we can re-cement or replace it before the tooth underneath is damaged.

Bitten lip, tongue or cheek

Clean the area gently with water and press a clean cloth or gauze firmly on it for 10–15 minutes. A cold compress helps with swelling. If the bleeding won't stop, go to the emergency room.

The single best thing you can do in a dental emergency is call early. A tooth that might be saved at 9 AM may not be by 5 PM.

Build a simple dental first-aid kit

Keep a small container at home, in the car or in your kid's sports bag with: gauze, a small lidded container, a travel-size bottle of milk or saline, temporary dental cement, dental wax, and our number — 818.890.1000.