An emergency dentist in Huntington Beach should be able to see you the same day, find the cause of the pain with an X-ray, and treat it rather than only prescribe antibiotics. Safari Dentistry and Implants holds same-day emergency appointments Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 4 PM, and because a board-certified periodontist and a general dentistry team work in the same Huntington Beach office, emergency dentist visits for abscesses, broken teeth and failed implants are handled without a referral.
What to do for unbearable tooth pain right now
Take ibuprofen (400 to 600 mg) and acetaminophen together if your doctor allows both, rinse with warm salt water, keep your head elevated, and call (714) 848-9200 for a same-day visit. Do not put aspirin on the gum, and do not use heat on a swollen face, which spreads infection.
The 3-3-3 rule people search for refers to taking 3 ibuprofen (600 mg) every 3 hours for 3 days; it is a rough guide, not a prescription, and it does not treat the cause. Pain from an abscess returns until the tooth is treated.
How do I fix a broken or chipped tooth?
A broken tooth is repaired the same day with bonding for a small chip, a filling or onlay for a larger break, or a crown when a cusp has fractured; if the break reaches the nerve, a root canal or extraction is needed first. Save any large fragment in milk or saliva and bring it in; it can sometimes be bonded back.
- Small chip, no pain
- Bonding or smoothing, one visit
- Large break, sensitive
- Filling, onlay or crown; temporary placed same day
- Break into the nerve
- Root canal then crown, or extraction and implant plan
- Vertical root fracture
- Extraction; socket graft to preserve bone for an implant
- Knocked-out adult tooth
- Reimplanted within 60 minutes when possible; keep it in milk, do not scrub it
Can I go to urgent care or the ER for a dental emergency?
Urgent care and emergency rooms can prescribe antibiotics and pain medication but cannot treat the tooth, so the problem returns when the prescription ends. Go to the ER for facial swelling with fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or uncontrolled bleeding; for everything else, a dental office that can see you the same day is the faster and cheaper choice.
What happens at a same-day emergency visit?
- Call before 4 PM. The front desk asks about swelling, bleeding and fever to triage the visit.
- Exam and X-ray. Usually a single digital X-ray or a panoramic image to find the source.
- Get you out of pain. Local anesthetic, drainage of an abscess, a temporary filling, or the extraction if the tooth cannot be saved.
- Written plan. If a crown, root canal, implant or denture repair is needed, the plan and price are written down before you leave, with insurance checked.
Does insurance cover emergency dental visits?
Most PPO and HMO plans cover an emergency exam and X-ray, and Medi-Cal Dental covers emergency exams, extractions and palliative treatment for adults. Bring your card; if you have no insurance, the exam and X-ray are priced as a flat fee and the treatment is quoted before it starts.
What if it is Friday, Saturday or Sunday?
The office is closed Friday to Sunday. Leave a message at (714) 848-9200; emergency calls are returned first on the next open morning and given the first available time. For swelling with fever, trouble breathing or bleeding you cannot stop, go to the nearest emergency room.
Emergency dental care for Westminster, Fountain Valley and Garden Grove
The office at 16511 Goldenwest St, Unit 101 is 10 to 20 minutes from Westminster, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Seal Beach and Midway City, with free parking at the door for a patient who is in pain.