24 Hour Emergency Dentist

Dr. Sam and David Ganji provide 24-hour emergency dental services to the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Emergency Root Canal Dentist
Emergency Toothache Dentist

Common Emergency Dentist Situations:

• Chipped Teeth – this is very common amongst those involved in sport activities, but can happen for many other reasons. If you accidentally chip a tooth, don’t panic. Instead, salvage what you can and schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist as soon as you can.
• Nagging Toothaches – toothaches that do not seem to go away or increase in pain quickly should be addressed promptly. This is a telltale sign that a problem exists, which could be caused by a variety of factors. Waiting around for the pain to go away on its own only puts your tooth at risk for severe decay.
• Dental Crown Falls Out – dental crown technology allows them to last for several years, but over time they may fall out on their own due to general wear and tear. To cover up the hole in your mouth, we recommend placing sugar-free gum over it. Book an appointment as soon as you can in order to have Dr Ganji restore it.
• Knocked-Out Teeth – don’t panic, find your tooth and store it in a small container with saliva or milk. Schedule a same day appointment and bring don’t forget to bring your tooth with you. R. Ganji will evaluate your situation with a dental exam and x-rays.
• Oral Infections – fever, swollen gums, and severe pain in your mouth could point to a possible oral infection which must be treated with antibiotics as soon as possible in order to stop the infection from spreading further.

Better to Be Safe Than Sorry, Take Action Today!

If you have another condition or problem that is not listed above that you also believe to be an emergency, then contact us immediately. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Our teeth are strong, but accidents happen and modern dentistry enables our Manhattan Beach emergency dentists to correct your issues in a timely, affordable manner. Call us at 310-643-8045 in case an emergency dental emergency arises.

Dental issues may sometimes require urgent medical attention. Otherwise, you may end up having severe pain, gum and tooth infections, or you may lose a tooth. An emergency dentist can help you save your teeth and get you out of pain during dental emergencies. At Ganji Dental, we offer dental assistance for emergencies associated with your teeth and gums. We are here for any patient requiring emergency dental attention throughout Hawthorne, CA and surrounding areas.

When Should I See an Emergency Dentist?

You should seek emergency dentist services in case you are experiencing bleeding from the mouth, have extreme pain emanating from your teeth or mouth, have any loose or misaligned teeth, and/or have an injury to the mouth causing swelling in your gums or teeth. These conditions are red flags that indicate the urgent need for a visit to an emergency dentist.

When you have issues with your teeth or mouth, you may experience some discomfort and pain while ingesting hot or even warm foods. In such cases, avoid such foods and apply a cold compression (such as ice) on your cheeks to lessen the pain. You may also experience difficulties breathing in due to a sensitivity to cold. Under such conditions, keep off cold areas and try breathing via the nose. In case of pain associated with biting, consult an emergency dentist because this could signal an abscess which is a severe dental issue.

Dental Issues Requiring Emergency Dentist

Accidents involving oral injuries can occur at any time in your life. It is crucial to know the types of dental injuries requiring urgent attention to help in avoiding further complications. Some of these issues include:

Knocked-out Tooth/Teeth

Knocked-out teeth are one of the most common types of dental issue requiring an emergency dentist. It usually occurs during a fight, accident, or participating in contact activities, and it is prevalent among children and athletes. If the necessary emergency procedures are followed, problems with a knocked-out tooth can be fixed possibly by inserting the tooth. When a tooth is knocked out, pick it up by holding the crown. While picking up the fallen tooth, take caution and try not to touch the root as this may result in the propagation of germs. Use clean water to flush out the tooth while being cautious not to scrub any tissue off that is still attached to the tooth. Instead, wash it out gently and carefully.

If you are able to reinsert the tooth yourself into the socket, do it by placing the tooth gently in the gap then try to bite down on the fallen tooth in a gentle manner to keep it in place. In case you find it difficult to reinsert your tooth, put it in an empty clean container or preferably in a cup containing milk. Immediately call your emergency dentist or visit them as soon as possible. Urgency is vital because, if you delay, the success of reinserting your knocked-out tooth may become impossible or less viable.

Loose or Misaligned tooth

Having a misaligned or a loosely attached tooth is another severe problem which requires emergency attention. When faced with such a situation, call your emergency dentist to ensure that it does not require immediate attention. However, you can try putting your tooth in the correct position by using your finger. While repositioning your tooth with your finger, take caution and try not to use excessive force. You can try biting down gently on your tooth once it is in place to keep it from falling out or moving apart. Your emergency dentist may deem it necessary to splint your tooth with the other adjacent teeth to ensure that the loose tooth/teeth are stabilized.

An excessive biting force, a blow to the face, and extensive loss of jawbone are the major causes of loose teeth. If you struggle with excessive biting or constant teeth grinding and teeth clenching; after emergency treatment, the dentist may advise you on the need to use a mouth guard to avoid excessive teeth grinding. Extensive jawbone loss is also termed as an advanced periodontal disease may also cause loose teeth and an emergency dental implant may be used to replace the loose tooth.

Cracked, Chipped or Fractured Teeth

You may realize that your tooth is chipped but if it does not hurt, this situation may not be an emergency, and you can wait before seeing the dentist. However, it is advisable (during this time) to chew carefully to prevent further injuries. Your emergency dentist can check the condition by either smoothening the chip or adding a composite filling substance to reconstruct the tooth.  Still, it is important that you contact an emergency dentist to reassure that you do not have an emergency situation.  

For a cracked tooth, take immediate action because, unlike a chipped tooth, it is an emergency dental issue. Cracking or a fractured tooth usually signals damage that has affected both the inside and outside of the tooth. The fractured tooth is often so severe that it may be hard to restore the tooth. Thus, replacements are usually the most viable treatment method for fractured teeth. There are some steps to follow whenever you notice a fractured tooth:

• Use warm water to rinse your mouth;
• Apply a cold compression if your injury involves a facial trauma such as swelling;
• If you are experiencing severe pain, take some painkillers, preferably, acetaminophen. Dentists advise on the necessity to temporarily stop aspirin intake for patients with pending oral surgery. This is because aspirin has a non-coagulation effect that leads to a continuous loss of blood during and after surgery;
• In case you take painkillers, don’t let them contact the sensitive tissues of the gum because they can quickly erode the tissues to yield further pain.

In most cases, your emergency dentist may decide to subject you to x-rays to adequately diagnose the severity of your condition. Depending on the situation and extent of your tooth damage, remedies may differ. For instance, if the dentist discovers that the part of your tooth that is damaged, is soft tissue such as the pulp and root, the treatment will include the replacement of the root with an implant. However, if the injury does not affect the soft tissue, a crown replacement will be applicable as well.

Where do I Get a New Crown If Mine Is Damaged?

A crown or an artificial tooth can be used to replace the original crown. Most emergency dental clinics have temporary crowns that can be fitted instantly to a patient’s mouth. Otherwise, new crowns will be acquired from dental labs, which could be either permanent or temporary crowns. Permanent crowns are custom-made to resemble your natural teeth. In case you need to get a permanent crown from a dental lab, your emergency dentist may replace your mouth gap with a temporary one.

Should I Seek Emergency Dentist in case My Temporary Crown Falls Out?

In many cases, a temporary crown falling off is not considered an emergency because it can be placed back. You can try setting it back by the using of over the counter dental cement, Vaseline or toothpaste:

• First, try to put your temporary crown and feel how comfortable it fits;
• If it is fitting, try applying adhesives (such as over the counter dental cement) on the crown and refit it properly;
• Take a clean washcloth and firmly bite down the crown.

Once the crown has attached to the socket, wash the unnecessary adhesive after a few minutes of placement. It is prudent that you see your dentist so that they can determine if your issue will require further dental attention. For instance, a permanent crown can be fitted instead of a temporary crown to avoid subsequent crown failures.

Facial Pain and Tissue Injury

Sometimes you may realize that you have injuries within your mouth. The lesions may range from mild lacerations on the surface of your cheeks to severe injuries like a torn tongue and wounds resulting from punctures. Injuries affecting the mouth, tongue, and the cheeks constitute tissue injuries and, hence, described as dental emergencies since any issues within your mouth may affect your teeth or gums. The following prompts will help you in case of such problems:

• Clean the affected region immediately using clean and warm water, especially if you are bleeding;
• Pull your tongue outside your mouth if blood is oozing out. You can apply some pressure on the area to stop bleeding using a gauze.

If you experience any facial injury, get rid of the pain by using painkillers like acetaminophen while following the dosage instructions on the label. However, never use aspirin or other painkillers; that are known to prevent coagulation, hence, will prolong bleeding.

Dental Sinus

Dental sinuses comprise of abnormal channels that drain a long-lasting abscess, which is usually related to or associated with a decayed tooth in the mouth or some aspects of necrotic infections. It can either drain to the inside of the mouth or even to the skin’s surface, mostly, around the neck or the facial region. Dental sinuses that drain into the mouth are referred to as intraoral sinuses. The most common causes of dental sinus include infections following a tooth removal and dental decays caused by the stagnation of food. If you have undergone endodontic surgery and you are using an immunosuppressant, you are also more vulnerable to dental sinus infections.

Most people confuse sinuses for toothaches because they both are characterized by tooth pains. However, sinusitis (sinus infection) often causes toothaches, precisely on the upper teeth – you might be having sinusitis if your dentist rules out any other dental causes of a toothache. Thus, visiting an emergency dentist is advisable in this situation.

A Dental Abscess

This dental condition is characterized by severe inflammation emanating from the accumulation of pus in your gum or your pulp. Also known as a tooth abscess, the condition results from bacterial accumulation, especially in the pulp. This dental problem is detrimental to your health in general because of the bad smell from the mouth and constant pain you have to endure. Consequently, it is prudent to seek immediate medical attention from your emergency dentist. In most cases, you may be subjected to the preliminary stages of a root canal or instead, be referred to a specialist that will open up the abscess and drain the pus. Crown cementation can also be done depending on the situation.

Is It Possible to Avoid a Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies are unplanned; you may even experience them while traveling or on vacation. The best thing to do is to observe the following techniques for your dental health and minimize unexpected surprises:

Regular check-ups

Regular checkups can help reduce your chances of dental emergencies because your dentist can ensure that you have no mouth and teeth related problems. When facing dental problems, the dentist can recommend possible measures to help avoid further infections that would otherwise necessitate dental emergencies. Through regular checkups, you can be assured of healthy and decay- free teeth.

Use a mouth guardMany dental problems and related emergencies occur during sports when you are hit on the mouth. Other instances are related to habitual teeth grinding while sleeping. You may find your teeth chipped off, broken, or even knocked-out entirely. To avoid such cases, try putting on a mouth guard. The devices act as a protective barrier between your upper teeth and lower teeth, thereby preventing chipped or broken teeth.

Avoid chewing/munching on hard objects or ice

Many people might find themselves using their teeth to open containers or to rip nonfood items when tools are unavailable. This can be a dangerous practice and you may be putting your teeth at risk for a chip or a fracture. Additionally, extremely cold substances are also detrimental to your teeth, especially if proceeded by warm or hot substances which may cause sudden contractions. Your teeth may possibly crack if this is common practice for you.

Visit your dentist before a lengthy vacation

In case you are planning to leave for an extended period of time for vacation (especially out of the country), ensure that you meet your dentist to make sure that you don’t have any dental related problems that may require an emergency dentist. Among the issues your dentist will examine are loose crowns, loosely attached teeth, tooth decays near the nerves of your tooth, or any other dental problems you may have. You can have them fixed before your departure to avoid future emergencies.

Be prepared at all times

A dental emergency occurs unplanned; being prepared at all times makes you able to perform first aid and see an emergency dentist. It is advisable that you refrain from panicking whenever you are faced with a dental emergency. Always have a dental first aid kit with you when you travel, the contents of the first aid kit should include a clean handkerchief, gauze, sterilized small can/container with a lid, painkillers preferably made with acetaminophen. On the kit, indicate the name and address of your emergency dentist so that they could be contacted quickly in case of an emergency.

What Are the Effects of Losing Teeth if I Fail to Seek Emergency Dental Services?

Many people have lost one or more of their teeth through various incidences. Most of them don’t consider replacing them due to the high cost associated with implants, dentures, or replacement teeth. However, failure to replace your tooth urgently is detrimental to your life because of the associated aftereffects.

You risk losing your jawbone. Teeth are vital in stimulating and supporting the jaw bone. If your tooth falls out and you don’t replace them, the jaw bone remains unstimulated. The muscles surrounding your jawbone may get atrophied, which exposes the unused jawbone to more damages and loss of bone.

Unstable or shifting teeth may also arise if you don’t replace your teeth. Some factors such as tooth decay or gum recession may cause your teeth to move. Losing your tooth can accelerate the shifting of your teeth due to the gaps between them and also can impact your biting negatively.

Another effect of losing your teeth are biting abnormalities. When you are missing one or several teeth, biting irregularities may occur; this may negatively impair or affect the working mechanics of the remaining teeth. Your teeth are arranged in a manner that they meet at a certain angle when biting; hence, missing teeth can reduce your ability to bite properly. Impaired occlusion can also cause unnatural wearing off of your teeth, muscle pain, and headaches among other issues.

Difficulty munching or chewing can also happen when you do not replace your missing tooth. In case you have lost your front teeth, your ability to bite and tear food might be impaired. As such, you risk losing the sole enjoyment of eating certain types of food that rely on these specific teeth to eat. Similarly, if you lose back teeth especially the molars and the premolars, your ability to grind food is impaired, and you may sequentially lose the ability to eat foods that involve chewing, or if you do, you may not be able to chew it well; in turn, this affects the internal digestive organs by not properly chewing your food before ingesting.

Loss of facial beauty is another issue associated with teeth loss. Teeth play a vital role in structuring your face. If you lose a tooth and fail to replace it, your facial symmetry will be affected. Your face possibly may shrink, sink, or you may appear older.

Finally, speech issues. Speech issues are common effects of losing your teeth. Your teeth are an essential part of your speech. If you lose a tooth or teeth, you risk experiencing difficulties pronouncing some words or letters. While talking, you may find yourself slurring certain words or find other issues with your speech.

Find an Emergency Dentist Near Me

Are you experiencing pain in your teeth or gums? Have you lost your tooth by an accident, do you have fractured teeth, loose teeth, or any emergency dental problem? Don't worry because Ganji Dental is available to take care of your emergency situation. We have emergency dentists serving all of Hawthorne, CA and surrounding areas. You can call our Hawthorne dentist anytime at 310-643-8045 for further inquiries and discuss how we can help you. Don't let any dental issue affect your health or confidence, we have emergency dentists awaiting your call.