Emergency Dentistry FAQs in El Segundo, CA

So, what is a dental emergency? A dental emergency is any sort of sudden problem with the teeth, braces, or even the jaw that might require some medical intervention. Dental emergencies can include braces wires becoming loose, a tooth being knocked out, chipped or cracked teeth, or even an infection in the mouth. Sudden acute pain in the mouth, bleeding that won’t stop, and cuts or scrapes to the interior of the mouth may also be emergencies.

Most dental emergencies are not life threatening by, so you really don’t need to worry or overly freak out. Give us a call at El Segundo Modern Dentistry & Orthodontics at (424) 277-2671 and we can help.

There are just a few times where you might want to go to the hospital. One is if there is a massive infection that is causing a super high fever. Excessive bleeding might also require a trip to the ER. Another is if the jaw is broken. With a broken jaw, you will want to keep the jaw immobile and go to the nearest emergency room. Also, if a tooth is knocked out, you can save the tooth, and if you are unable to get to our office within an hour, you should also go to the emergency room.

Always call El Segundo Modern Dentistry & Orthodontics at (424) 277-2671 if you think you are having a dental emergency. We can often determine over the phone whether what you are experiencing is truly an emergency or whether it is somewhat urgent or can even be handled at home.

For example, it might be “urgent” if a wire on a set of braces becomes loose, because it can poke into the gums and hurt. However, this may not need an immediate emergency trip to our office in El Segundo. If you have orthodontic wax, you can cover the end of the wire with the wax to protect the gums, and then schedule an appointment to come to us to fix the braces at your convenience.

For certain problems, such as a chipped or cracked tooth, we might want to see you right away. We will ask you questions on the phone to determine whether this is necessary. Sometimes if a tooth fractures, it can become infected, or the nerve exposed, and so you don’t want to wait too long before it is looked at.

If a tooth is knocked out and you can obtain the tooth, then time is of the essence. If you are able to see a dental or medical professional within the hour, the tooth can potentially be put back into the gums and reattached.

Of course, it’s better to save the natural tooth if possible, so you do not want to delay. First, secure the tooth and rinse it off with some clean water. Do not take any of the tooth pulp off the tooth. You can try to reinsert the tooth into the tooth socket, or hold the tooth inside the mouth in the cheek. If you happen to have some milk, you can also put the tooth in some milk to bring to either our office or the nearest emergency room.

The specific cost of a dental emergency depends on the level of severity. Your dental insurance may cover some of the costs. If you need to go to the emergency room, then your health insurance may cover some of it. Here at El Segundo Modern Dentistry & Orthodontics, we take most forms of dental insurance and are happy to work with you on payment plans.