Call the office and tell us what happened. If you are in pain, we will see you today.Southwest Dental keeps same-day appointments open for dental emergencies, Monday to Friday. You do not need to be an existing patient. When you call, the front desk will ask a few quick questions about the pain, any swelling, and when it started, so the dentist is ready for you when you arrive.If a tooth has been knocked out or you have swelling that is spreading, say so first. Those cases move to the front of the line.
After hours
After hours or on a weekend.
Our office is open Monday to Friday. Here is what to do when something happens outside those hours.If it happens after hours or on a weekend, call the office line. The recording gives you the number to reach the doctor on call directly, and we hold same-day time for emergencies the next morning. For uncontrolled bleeding, swelling that makes it hard to swallow or breathe, or a jaw injury, go to the nearest emergency room first; the hospital treats the urgent problem and we handle the tooth after.Many problems can be eased overnight with cold compresses, warm salt-water rinses, and over-the-counter pain relief, then fixed properly first thing the next business day.
Children
Dental emergencies in children.
Kids chip teeth on playgrounds, bikes and bunk beds. We see children for emergencies the same day.Stay calm and check the mouth for bleeding, loose teeth, and cuts to the lip or tongue. Apply gentle pressure with gauze for bleeding and a cold compress for swelling. Call us and describe what you see. For a baby tooth that is loose or knocked out, we check the area and the permanent tooth underneath; for a permanent tooth, follow the knocked-out steps above and come in right away.A toothache in a child is usually a cavity that has reached the nerve. It will not improve on its own, so call sooner rather than later.
Toothache and swelling
Severe toothache or facial swelling.
Pain that keeps you up at night, or swelling in the gum, cheek or jaw, usually means an infection that will not clear on its own.A deep cavity, a cracked tooth or an abscess can all cause throbbing pain and swelling. The dentist will take an X-ray, find the source, and relieve the pressure the same day, often with a root canal, a filling, or in some cases an extraction. Antibiotics alone do not fix the tooth; they only calm the infection for a while.Until you arrive, rinse with warm salt water, use over-the-counter pain relief as directed, and avoid placing aspirin against the gum.
Broken or chipped tooth
Broken, cracked or chipped tooth.
A chip is rarely urgent on its own, but a break that exposes the nerve hurts fast and should be seen the same day.Save any piece you can find and keep it moist. Cover a sharp edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your tongue and cheek. Depending on the break, the dentist may smooth and bond the tooth, place a filling, or fit a crown to hold the tooth together.Front teeth with a visible chip can usually be repaired in one visit with bonding, so you leave looking like yourself again.
Knocked-out tooth
Knocked-out tooth: the first hour matters.
A permanent tooth that is put back within an hour has a real chance of surviving. Call us on the way.Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root. If it is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline for a few seconds; do not scrub it. If you can, place it back in the socket and bite softly on gauze or a clean cloth. If you cannot, keep it in milk or tucked inside your cheek, and come straight in.Baby teeth are not replanted. If a child loses a baby tooth in a fall, call us anyway so we can check the gum and the teeth beside it.
After the emergencyRelated careEmergency visits often lead to one of these treatments. Each page explains what to expect.
Call (801) 968-9003 and tell us what happened. We hold same-day appointments for emergencies, Monday to Friday, at our Taylorsville office on 4015 West.
Mon to Fri from 8 AM · 5255 S 4015 W, Suite 180, Taylorsville
Questions patients ask
Emergency questions
What counts as a dental emergency?Severe or constant tooth pain, swelling of the gum or face, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, bleeding that will not stop, and a lost crown or filling that leaves the tooth sensitive. If you are unsure, call and describe it. We would rather see you than have you wait.Do you see walk-ins?Yes, during office hours, with a quick call ahead so we can get a room ready and move you to the front of the schedule. Calling first also lets us tell you how to protect the tooth on the way in.Should I go to the ER instead?Go to the emergency room for trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a suspected broken jaw, or a head injury. Hospitals do not treat the tooth itself, so call us afterward and we will finish the job.
Costs, kids and timing
More emergency questions
Do you treat children in an emergency?Yes. We see children of all ages for same-day emergencies, from a chipped front tooth to a toothache that has kept them up all night.Can a tooth be pulled the same day?Usually, yes. If a tooth is broken below the gum or infected beyond saving, the dentist can numb the area and remove it at the emergency visit, then talk through how to replace it.Does insurance cover emergency visits?Most dental plans cover emergency exams and X-rays, and the treatment that follows at the same level as a planned visit. We check your benefits before anything beyond the exam and explain the cost up front.
Southwest Dental · TaylorsvilleReady when you are.Call the office or send a request and we will find you a time. Same-day visits are held for emergencies. We speak English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.
