Emergency Dentistry – Larchmont Village, CA

Act Quickly to Protect Your Smile

The very nature of an emergency is that it happens suddenly and often at the most unexpected and inconvenient of times; dental emergencies are no exception to this. During this trying time, what you need most is a trusted dental team who can provide the much-needed relief and skilled, personalized care you deserve. If you or a loved one is experiencing a dental emergency, please don’t hesitate to call Geller Dentistry in Los Angeles, CA.

Dr. Benjamin Geller, Dr. Gloria Garcia-Geller, and the rest of our staff members are dedicated to putting patients first. So, whether you’re dealing with a persistent toothache or a tooth that’s completely fallen out, we’re here to help. We can provide valuable guidance on the phone for how best to handle your incident, and in most cases, we’re able to see emergency patients the very same day as their first call.

Why Choose Geller Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Comprehensive Range of Dental Services
  • Board-Certified Prosthodontist
  • Honest Approach to Dental Care

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

  • Call Our Office: When you call our office with a dental emergency, we will help assess your situation over the phone. If we decide that you need urgent dental care, we’ll make arrangements to see you as soon as possible. We’ll also give you personalized first-aid tips as needed.
  • Emergency Exam: We’ll take X-rays and examine your mouth carefully to figure out what the problem is and how severe the damage is.
  • Create a Treatment Plan: After reviewing our findings with you, we’ll walk you through your treatment options and give you our recommendations. We’ll always take the time to explain the estimated length and cost of your treatment before any final decisions are made.
  • Help You Find Relief: The last step is to carry out the agreed-upon treatment plan. When it comes to emergency care, our primary goal will always be to get you out of pain and preserve your oral health.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Many different oral health issues could potentially be considered dental emergencies. If you’ve noticed worrisome symptoms but aren’t sure if they point to any urgent dental problems, call our office immediately; we’ll help you decide whether or not an emergency appointment is needed. Below are some particularly common types and signs of dental emergencies.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

You’ll naturally want to know how much you can expect to pay for your emergency care before you have to commit to any treatments. The nature of your emergency and the type of treatment needed will have to be taken into account before we can create an estimate. Remember that if you don’t have a dental issue properly addressed as soon as possible, it could lead to a severe problem that requires an even more costly procedure; it pays to be proactive with your smile’s care.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Want to avoid the need for urgent dental care? There are several steps you can take to dramatically decrease the chances of a dental emergency occurring, such as:

  • Visiting your dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings.
  • Brushing twice every day.
  • Flossing daily.
  • Dropping bad habits that can damage teeth such as chewing your nails.
  • Cutting down on sugary, hard, sticky, and acidic foods that can cause dental damage.
  • Wearing a mouthguard while playing sports.

Dental Emergency FAQs

Try as we might, there are a wide variety of factors that can damage our smiles. That’s why it’s a good idea to have as many answers ahead of time as possible. Below, we’ve gathered some of the most common questions your Larchmont Village emergency dentist gets about urgent dental care. If you don’t see the answer you’re looking for below, don’t hesitate to call us and we’ll be happy to help.

When Should I See an Emergency Dentist for My Toothache?

Any dental discomfort or tooth pain should be looked at by your dentist in a timely manner. However, a toothache can sometimes be a warning sign of a much larger issue that needs immediate care. You should call your emergency dentist right away if your toothache is accompanied by:

  • Severe pain that lasts for more than one or two days.
  • Gum tissue that is inflamed, sore, or bleeds easily.
  • Darkening or discoloration of the painful tooth.
  • Swelling in the mouth, face, jaw, or neck.
  • A small, pimple-like bump on the gums near the painful tooth.

Should I Still Call My Emergency Dentist if My Tooth Stops Hurting?

If you have a painful tooth that suddenly stops hurting, that doesn’t mean your problem has gone away. Unlike the rest of your body, your teeth can’t heal themselves. If your tooth abruptly becomes numb after hurting, the nerve inside of it may be damaged or infected. You need to see your emergency dentist right away to identify the issue and prevent it from spreading to the rest of your teeth.

Should I Call an Emergency Dentist if my Child Unexpectedly Knocks Out a Baby Tooth?

Even though your child’s baby teeth will eventually fall out on their own, you should call your dentist if one is suddenly knocked out. If the tooth isn’t broken or it was close to coming out on its own, we may not have to do anything. However, if it was knocked out prematurely, we may place a space saver to prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting into the gap and trapping the permanent tooth underneath.

I’m Not Sure if I Have a Dental Emergency – What Should I Do?

Not all dental emergencies are as easy to identify as a broken or knocked-out tooth. Any time you find yourself with new, worrisome, or uncomfortable dental symptoms, give us a call right away. We can help assess your situation over the phone and help you determine the urgency of your circumstances. After scheduling your appointment accordingly, we’ll give you personalized first-aid advice to help relieve your pain and manage your symptoms until you can reach our office.

When Should I Go to the ER Instead of My Emergency Dentist?

For nearly every dental emergency, you’ll save time, money, and discomfort by calling your emergency dentist before going to your local ER. However, some problems that are severe or life-threatening should be stabilized at the emergency room first, and we’ll be happy to help you restore your smile after. Issues that should be addressed by the ER include:

  • Dislocated or broken jaw.
  • Bleeding that won’t stop after 15 minutes.
  • Swelling in your mouth, face, jaw, or neck that’s making it difficult to swallow or breathe.

If you or a loved one is experiencing a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to contact us right away. We’ll always do our best to provide same-day care for fast pain relief when you need it most!

More to Explore

I Need a Checkup & Cleaning I Need a Family Dentist I Have a Cavity or Broken Tooth I Need a Prosthodontist I am Missing One or More Teeth I Want to Enhance My Smile I Want a Straighter Smile View Our Services

Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Not necessarily. The best way to tell if you need to schedule a same-day visit to our Larchmont Village dental office is by assessing your symptoms. If they have persisted for more than 24 hours, they are getting worse, or they are making it difficult for you to eat, sleep, and concentrate, then you should call us ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Toothache Until your appointment, it’s important to do what you can to protect your tooth from further harm. That means not chewing on that side of your mouth, rinsing with warm saltwater periodically, and avoiding sticky, sugary, and acidic foods. If needed, you can also take OTC pain medication (just make sure to follow the directions on the label).

How We Treat Toothaches Toothaches are often the result of decay, which can usually be treated with a tooth-colored filling. However, it’s also possible for the root of the problem to be something different, like a crack or an infection. That’s why we need to conduct an emergency exam before sharing our recommendation.

Chipped Tooth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Honestly, a chipped tooth can go either way. We recommend giving us a call so we can learn more about the situation and your symptoms. From there, we can determine if you need to come in the same day for an appointment.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth In addition to rinsing your mouth gently with clean, lukewarm water and covering the tooth with sugar-free gum, we recommend sticking to soft foods and taking OTC pain medication, if needed.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth If the chip is minor, then the solution may be as simple as putting cosmetic bonding on the tooth. Sometimes, the chip is too large for that, which requires us to have a veneer made instead.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VENEERS

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Both small and large cracks in your teeth are considered dental emergencies. So, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll schedule a time for you to come in for an exam, and we will provide specific instructions on what to do until you arrive.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth Basically, you want to avoid doing anything that will damage your tooth further or exacerbate your discomfort. That includes avoiding crunchy foods and hot/cold beverages as well as taking OTC pain medication as directed. You should also rinse your mouth periodically with clean, room-temperature water to help prevent an infection.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth The good news is that cracked teeth don’t always need to be extracted. If the damage is minor enough that we can save your tooth with a dental crown, then that’s the approach we will take. If it needs to be removed, however, then we will do so before filling the open space with a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? The sensitivity you're experiencing can be due to a variety of reasons, and some are more urgent than others. For instance, roots that are overly exposed or thinning enamel can result in sensitivity, but so can damaged restorations, progressive gum disease, and infection.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth: Contact our office to schedule an appointment so we can determine the cause for your dental sensitivity. In the meantime, drink lukewarm water because overly hot and cold temperatures can trigger the unpleasant sensation. Also, avoid eating anything overly spicy, sugar, acidic, or sweet that can exacerbate your condition.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth: The treatment depends on the reason for your sensitivity. Weakening enamel can be treated with topical fluoride or desensitizing toothpaste, while more severe conditions require more extensive solutions. For example, you might need to undergo scaling and root planing to clear away worsening periodontal problems.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatment & Periodontal Therapy

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Typically, yes, having your tooth knocked out warrants immediate attention, and you'll have to act quickly to save it. Contact our office, and we'll book an appointment for you to be seen on the same day.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: Find the tooth if you can, but only handle it by the crown (the tooth-shaped portion). Don't touch the roots or remove any attached tissues because you might damage the still-viable cells. Gently rinse it with water and place it in a baggy or container with a small amount of milk or some of your saliva. This can preserve it for up to an hour, so you can bring it with you when you arrive.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth: If the tooth is in decent condition, we might be able to reinsert it. Over time, it will naturally reintegrate with your jawbone and soft tissues in your mouth. However, if it's beyond repair, we might need to consider a replacement instead, like a dental bridge or implant.

Learn More About Replacing Missing Teeth

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Although they're incredibly resilient, dental restorations aren't intended to last forever, so it's not always considered immediately urgent if they're lost or broken. However, your damaged tooth is vulnerable to infection or additional injury without it in place, so it should be addressed sooner rather than later.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: Contact our team, and we'll schedule a time to examine you. Then, try to find your lost restoration to bring to your appointment. If you've lost a dental crown, you might be able to temporarily reseat it with a small amount of dental cement, wax, or toothpaste, but we don't recommend this for fillings.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns: If your filling or crown was new, we might be able to recement it into place relatively easily. Otherwise, we'll likely recommend replacing it with a new one.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings & Dental Crowns

Broken Dentures  

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Yes, especially if your denture has a severe crack down the middle or it has shattered into several pieces. Since it’s not safe to wear, it’s important that you get an appointment with us on the calendar ASAP so we can discuss the next steps.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture First, don’t wear your denture; put it in its designated case to prevent it from breaking further. Outside of that, prioritize getting an appointment with us on the calendar so we can begin the process of restoring or replacing your restoration.

How We Treat Broken Dentures Minor damage can usually be addressed at our Larchmont Village dental office. In cases where the denture has completely shattered, then we will need to start the process of having a new traditional or implant denture made for you.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTURES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Loose Permanent Tooth  

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Definitely. After all, a loose tooth interferes with your ability to eat, there’s a chance that it could fall out completely, and there’s always a risk of an infection developing. So, don’t wait – schedule an emergency appointment with us right away.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth Basically, you need to avoid doing anything that could loosen the tooth further, including touching it with your finger, wiggling it with your tongue, or chewing on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth A dental splint can help a loose tooth heal in place. If that’s not an option in your case, then we will need to carefully extract your tooth and put a dental implant in its place to restore the look, health, and function of your smile.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue  

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Usually, no. That said, you are always welcome to give us a call if you’re not sure what to do in this situation – we’d be happy to provide you with assistance over the phone!

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue Fortunately, soft tissue injuries can usually be handled by rinsing with clean, cool water and applying pressure to the cut with some gauze. If you don’t have gauze, then you can use a clean, damp washcloth instead.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue As we mentioned, soft tissue injuries can usually be handled at home. There are some exceptions, however. For example, if the cut is bleeding uncontrollably, then you should head to the ER or call 911.

Jaw Pain  

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Jaw pain can progress to the point where everyday things, like eating your breakfast or concentrating at work, are difficult. If you find yourself in that situation, then you shouldn’t hesitate to schedule an emergency exam with Dr. Benjamin Geller or Dr. Gloria Garcia-Geller.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain For short-term relief, try using a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time. Sticking to soft foods and taking OTC pain medication will help prevent your symptoms from getting more severe as well.

How We Treat Jaw Pain That depends! If we determine that your jaw pain is stemming from chronic teeth grinding, for example, then we will have a custom nightguard made. If, on the other hand, impacted wisdom teeth are the source of your discomfort, then we will need to remove them.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth  

Your first instinct may be to reach for something sharp, like a toothpick. However, this has the potential to make the situation worse. That’s why we recommend taking a different approach: rinsing with warm saltwater before gently flossing between your teeth. If the debris remains firmly lodged in place, then give us a call.