Any emergency dentist request will be given priority

Office Hours:30
Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am – 2:00pm
Tuesday & Thursday: Evening Appointments

After hours please call 323 533-7768

By Arthur Kezian

A dental emergency can happen at any time and anywhere. Types of dental emergencies can be caused by an impact to the mouth and include, chipped teeth, knocked out teeth, or loose teeth. It is vital that in the event of a dental emergency, one should visit their dental professional immediately.

Types of Dental Emergencies:

1. Tooth aches: Tooth pain can be generally attributed to a broken tooth, as well as a new cavity or decay under an old filling. It may also be caused by damage to the tooth as a result of excessive grinding or clenching. Generally there is not a lot you can do about tooth pain other than see a dentist immediately and take some temporary pain relievers such as ibuprofen or Tylenol in the meantime.
2. Sore and swollen gums: Swollen gums are usually a result of infection from plaque and gum disease or from food becoming stuck in between teeth. One may try to gently brush or floss the affected area to try and dislodge any food that may be stuck or rinse the area with warm salt water. Otherwise it is important to see and emergency dentist as soon as possible.
3. Broken tooth: A broken tooth can occur as a result of the following: accidental falls, sports-related injuries, fighting, car accidents, or accidentally biting on hard food. They can also occur as a result of cavities that weaken the tooth which may cause chipping or fractures. Teeth with large portions broken off can often become very painful due to exposed nerves and internal damage. Teeth with smaller cracks or fractures may or may not be painful and can be more difficult to detect.
4. Lost crown: If your crown falls off, be sure to make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible and bring the crown with you. In the mean time you can apply a cotton swab with some clove oil to the sensitive area if the tooth is causing pain. If at all possible you want to replace the crown back over the tooth, but before doing that you will want to coat the inside with an over-the-counter dental cement or toothpaste, never use superglue.

If you can’t visit a dentist right away, cover the broken part of the tooth with dental cement that can be found at any drugstore.

Take an over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen or Tylenol to relieve your pain.

What to do in the event of a Knocked out or broken tooth:

Teeth are extraordinarily strong, but they can chip, fracture, or break. In rare cases, teeth can even be knocked out. Fortunately for you, there are things that can be done to save the tooth, but the one thing that is required is an immediate visit to the Los Angeles Emergency Dentist. In the event of a dental emergency even half an hour could mean the difference between being able to save the tooth or not.

When your tooth is knocked out:

If a tooth is knocked out, or “avulsed,” it can often times be reimplanted by your dentist as long as the following measures are taken:

• Handle the tooth only by the crown (chewing edge) and do not touch the roots
• Do not try to brush or clean the tooth, only lightly rinse it
• Try to replace the tooth in its socket, but take care not to lose or swallow the tooth
• If the tooth cannot be replaced, store it in a small container filled with whole milk or saliva
• Seek dental emergency service as soon as possible

Knocked out teeth have the highest chances of being saved when they are treated by the dentist and returned to their socket within 1 hour of being knocked out, so be sure to make an appointment for dental services right away.

When your tooth is broken:

If a tooth is broken, you must go see your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will be able to figure out if there were any cavities involved in the breaking of your tooth and if the tooth’s nerve is in danger. Before you get to the dentist’s office, there are several measures you should take in order to try and save your tooth. Knocked out teeth have the highest chances of being saved when they are treated by the dentist and returned to their socket within 1 hour of being knocked out, so be sure to make an appointment for dental services right away.

• First it is important to next find and save all the pieces of the broken tooth.
• Next rinse your mouth out well with warm water
• Keep a cold ice pack on your cheek or lips covering the area with the broken tooth, this will help reduce swelling and relieve pain.
• If you can’t visit a dentist right away, cover the broken part of the tooth with dental cement that can be found at any drugstore.
• Take an over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen or Tylenol to relieve your pain.

If the break was clean, the emergency dentist may be able to re-cement the tooth back together. The doctor may also need to perform a root canal in order to save the tooth in the event that the tooth nerve is injured.

When your tooth is cracked or fractured:

Cracked teeth can often be difficult to detect, they do not show up in x-rays and may require several appointments to diagnose. Not all cracked or fractured teeth can cause pain. The level of pain experienced when one crack a tooth depends on the severity of the fracture and the response of the pulp to outside irritants allowed to enter into the tooth. Sometimes the tooth may look just fine, but is in pain when you eat something hot or cold. If the tooth simply hurts all the time, this could be a warning sign of nerve damage.

Types of fractures:

1. Cuspal Fracture: This occurs when the cusp or pointed part of a tooth’s chewing surface becomes weakened. Part of the cusp can completely break off or may need to be removed by your dentist. Depending on the severity of the fracture the pulp may also be damaged.
2. Cracked tooth: This fracture extends from the chewing surface down into the tooth, sometimes below the gum line. The pieces remain in place, but the crack can gradually spread due to the biting forces of chewing. If caught early enough, the tooth can be simply crowned or repaired with a filling, but if nerve damage has occurred, you will need endodontic therapy, or a root canal.
3. Split tooth: A split tooth is a cracked tooth where the crack has progressed to the point that there are 2 distinct pieces of tooth that can be separated from each other. A split tooth can never be fully saved intact. Most of the tooth will have to be extracted. In rare cases, endodontic treatment, gum surgery, and a crown can be used to save a portion of the tooth.

How to prevent cracked teeth:

Cracked teeth are not fully preventable, but there are steps you can take to make your teeth less likely to crack

• Do not clench or grind your teeth
• Do not chew on hard objects such as popcorn kernels, pens, and especially ice
• If you clench or grind your teeth in your sleep, talk to your dentist about wearing a mouth guard to protect your teeth
• Wear a mouth guard any time you play contact sports

Dental Emergencies are not a cause for alarm. In the event of a dental emergency, it is important not to panic or lose control, but rather keep calm and seek dental emergency service as soon as possible. Like most medical situations, prevention is always much easier and more effective than any cure. To prevent injury one should always wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports, avoid fights and hard foods such as bones, stale bread, and hard bagels. Also brush and floss regularly and see your dentist on a regular basis.

Los Angeles emergency dentist gives priority to your emergency request even if it’s made beyond official hours. We care for your dental emergencies. To book your emergency appointment, please call us to at 323.467.2777 during the office hours and 323.533.7768 after hours.

You might have landed on this page due to some dental emergency which requires immediate attention. If you are feeling severe pain in teeth, need tooth extractions, Los Angeles Root Canal therapy, dental veneers or any other form of dental discomfort, emergency dental care in Los Angeles is always at your disposal. We will remain available from

Monday to Friday (8:00am – 6:00pm). You can also visit us on Saturday from 8:00am to 2:00pm or book for evening appointments on Tuesday & Thursday.

Dr. Arthur Kezian, a reputed emergency dentist in Los Angeles, is known for state-of-the-art dental care facilities and quality dental services. We have been attending to dental emergencies of people in and around Los Angeles for several years. We are the first of its kind emergency dental care that specializes in handling all kind of dental emergencies including porcelain veneers, dental implants, dental bleaching, root canal therapy and much more. Call us or fill up the contact form above now if you want us to extend help in any of the above mentioned dental emergencies and relieve you of the unrelenting pain.

If you want to get in touch with us after official hours then call us at 323 533-7768. We assure proper guidance and treatment in time. First, we will provide you with instant relief from pain and later sit together to find out a long term solution to your dental problems.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us and fix an appointment to get quality emergency dental care and that too at a surprisingly affordable price!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS – 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777