Dental Emergency FAQs in Whittier, CA

If you think you have a dental emergency, call Dentists of Whittier right away at (562) 414-5025. We will help determine the next course of action. In some cases, you might be able to take care of the dental emergency yourself at home, or we may be able to see you in our offices right away.

If for some reason, you cannot get a hold of us and the dental emergency is potentially serious, such as an infection with fever, knocked out tooth, profuse bleeding, or broken jaw, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Yes, absolutely! Emergency dental care is especially important for children in Whittier, as kids are more likely to have dental accidents due to playground roughhousing and the general exuberance of youth.

First of all, if your child has lost a baby tooth, it does not need to be saved. However, we will want to take a look at your child soon after the event, because a space maintainer might be necessary. A space maintained is a dental device that makes room for permanent teeth to come in.

A permanent tooth should be saved if possible. Here’s what to do:

• Rinse the tooth off with water (no soap) and leave the pulp intact
• Reinsert the tooth into the socket if possible, otherwise:
• Put the tooth into a container with milk, or alternatively have the individual (whose tooth was knocked out) carefully hold it in the side of the mouth with ample saliva.
• Come to see us in the office or visit the nearest ER within an hour to save the tooth.

An acute toothache is no fun, whether it’s yours or your child’s. A toothache can occur for a variety of reasons, from a piece of food (like a seed) lodged in the tooth to an infection. Children often get items stuck in their teeth. Thus, you’ll want to check the aching tooth with a flashlight to see what might be going on. If an item is stuck in the teeth, you should not attempt to remove it yourself but call us right away. Infections also need to be treated ASAP. A cold compress may help reduce pain until treatment.

Dental infections can become serious if left untreated. If you see signs of infection, such as an abscess, swollen gums, or bleeding, especially with a high fever, call us right away. For super high fevers, go to the hospital.

Chipped and fractured teeth can be caused by biting on hard objects the wrong way, being on the receiving end of a sporting accident, or other mishaps. Chipped teeth usually don’t need immediate treatment but should be fixed at some point. A fractured tooth, however, could become infected and is thus an emergency. You may not know the difference by looking, so call us right away for an evaluation.

The gums and other portions of the mouth can sometimes experience what’s called “soft tissue trauma.” Eating hot food can burn the mouth sometimes, though usually the discomfort is temporary and heals quickly. Accidentally biting the inside of the lip is also a common problem. Many of these issues can be treated at home with a saltwater rinse or cold compress. Call us to get directions on what to do.

A broken jaw is a very serious health concern and needs to be treated promptly. Even a minor break in the jaw such as a hairline fracture can become infected. If you suspect someone’s jaw is broken, the jaw should be stabilized as much as possible. Tell the victim to not speak and to avoid moving the jaw unnecessarily. Then, get to the nearest hospital emergency room as soon as possible.

An easy way to prevent many common dental emergencies is by getting a sports guard for the mouth. Mouth guards are available for both children and adults for common sports like football, basketball, and baseball.