Toothaches and dental injuries don’t respect business hours. They happen at 9 p.m. on a Saturday, on the way home from soccer practice, in the middle of dinner. When they do, the first question is usually the same: Is this an emergency, or can it wait until Monday?
Here’s how to tell the difference.
Call now (true dental emergencies)
These need attention as soon as possible — usually within a few hours, not days. Call the office. If we’re closed, the urgent care number on our voicemail can route you, and serious facial trauma should be seen in the ER:
- Knocked-out adult tooth (avulsion). Every minute matters. If possible, rinse the tooth gently (don’t scrub), place it back in the socket if you can, or store it in milk or saliva, and get to a dentist within an hour.
- Severe, spreading facial swelling. Especially if it’s affecting your eye, neck, or your ability to swallow or breathe — this can be a serious infection that needs immediate care.
- Uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth. Bleeding that doesn’t stop with 10–15 minutes of firm gauze pressure.
- Significant trauma to the face or jaw. Especially after a fall, sports injury, or car accident — rule out a fracture first, then dental.
- Severe, throbbing pain that won’t quit. Especially with fever, swelling, or a bad taste in your mouth — often means an active infection.
Call tomorrow (urgent, but not middle-of-the-night)
These deserve a same-week appointment, but they’re not after-hours emergencies:
- A cracked or chipped tooth with no pain.
- A lost filling or crown with no pain.
- A dull, intermittent toothache.
- A loose adult tooth that isn’t bleeding heavily.
- A broken denture or appliance.
- Pain after a recent procedure that’s tolerable with OTC pain relief.
Call us when we open. We hold time in the schedule for urgent same-day fits.
Probably can wait (still get checked, but not urgent)
- Mild gum sensitivity or bleeding when brushing.
- A small chip that isn’t sharp.
- Tooth sensitivity to cold or sweets.
- A canker sore or cold sore.
These are worth a routine visit, but you don’t need to interrupt your week.
What to do while you wait
If you have pain or an injury and can’t be seen immediately, a few things help:
- Rinse with warm salt water. Half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Helps with most kinds of mouth pain and minor infections.
- Use OTC pain relievers. Ibuprofen (if you can take it) works well for tooth pain. Follow the dose on the package.
- Cold compress on the cheek. 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off, for swelling.
- Don’t put aspirin directly on the gum. It’s a common myth — it actually burns the tissue.
- For a knocked-out tooth: Keep it moist (milk, saliva, or a tooth preservation kit), and get to a dentist as fast as possible.
What we do for urgent visits
If you call us with an urgent problem, here’s what to expect:
- We’ll triage on the phone — same-day, next-day, or routine.
- We’ll get pain under control first, before anything else.
- You’ll get an honest read on what’s going on, what’s urgent, and what the options are — including cost — before any treatment.
- We’ll handle as much as possible in one visit, but we won’t rush a complex plan into a 45-minute window.
If you’re in pain right now
Call Kitto Family Dental at (805) 922-4109. We’ll help you figure out what’s happening, what’s urgent, and when we can see you. You can also learn more about our same-day care for dental pain in Santa Maria.