Emergency Dental Care in San Francisco

Situations that generally need prompt care include severe or worsening tooth pain, a knocked-out or loosened tooth, significant swelling, a broken tooth with sharp edges or pain, or uncontrolled bleeding. If you are unsure, it is best to call and describe your symptoms.

Handle the tooth by the crown (not the root), gently rinse it if dirty, and if possible place it back in the socket or keep it in milk, then seek care as soon as possible — time matters for the chance of saving it.

Call as early in the day as you can and describe what happened; urgent situations are prioritized. Prompt evaluation helps relieve pain and improves the options for saving a tooth.

Over-the-counter pain relief used as directed, a cold compress on the outside of the cheek for swelling, and avoiding very hot, cold, or hard foods can help temporarily — but these are stopgaps until you are evaluated.

Swelling, throbbing pain, or a pimple-like bump on the gum can signal an abscess (infection) and should be evaluated promptly, since infection can spread if left untreated.