06 · Emergency
Same-day emergency dentistry. Real human, not a service.
Call us by 11am for a same-day appointment confirmed by 6pm. After hours? On-call dentist via the main number, not a triage service.
Broken tooth, swelling, severe pain — these go to the top of the next-day list.
If you’re hurting
Skip the form. Pick up the phone.
When to call right now
These go to the top of the list.
Dental emergencies are rarer than the marketing makes them sound — but when they happen, the difference between today and next week is the difference between saving a tooth and losing one. Four presentations always jump the line.
Severe pain that won't quit
Throbbing pain unrelieved by over-the-counter analgesics, especially with sensitivity to heat or cold that lingers more than 30 seconds. Often signals pulp involvement — needs to be evaluated today, not next week.
Broken tooth + bleeding
Visible fracture with any sustained bleeding. Bite gauze, apply pressure, call. We'll get you in the same day to assess whether the nerve is exposed and what the restoration path looks like.
Facial swelling
Swelling along the jaw, cheek, or under the eye is often infection-related and can escalate quickly. Call us. If swelling closes off your throat or affects breathing, go to the ER first, then loop us in.
Knocked-out tooth
Adult tooth knocked out (avulsed)? Time matters. Pick the tooth up by the crown (not the root), rinse gently if dirty, and either re-seat it in the socket OR keep it in milk or saliva. Call us on the way.
How it actually works
Two protocols, one phone number.
Same-day during business hours; on-call dentist after hours. Same number both times. No phone tree, no triage service, no callback queue.
Business hours · M–F 8am–7pm
Same-day appointment
- 1.Call (208) 555-1212 by 11am for guaranteed same-day evaluation.
- 2.Front desk takes details and pulls up your file (or starts a new one).
- 3.We confirm your appointment time by 6pm same day — no auto-callback, a real person.
- 4.Walk-in evaluation, X-ray if needed, treatment plan + quote in writing before anything starts.
After hours · evenings + weekends
On-call dentist
- 1.Call the same main number — (208) 555-1212. It routes to the on-call dentist.
- 2.On-call is one of us — Dr. Whitman or Dr. Reed — taking turns by week. Not a triage call center.
- 3.If it can wait until morning, we'll tell you and book you first thing.
- 4.If it can't wait, we open the office, or we meet you at an ER if oral surgery is needed.
Setting expectations
What’s not actually an emergency.
Honest list of things that feel urgent in the moment but route fine through routine scheduling. The on-call dentist exists for the four conditions above — every additional call dilutes that system for whoever needs it next.
If you’re reading this list and one of your symptoms is on it, book a routine appointment. We can almost always get you in within 2–3 weeks for cleanings, sooner for anything painful.
Call the same number during business hours. The front desk will sort routine vs. urgent and book you in accordingly.
- —Routine cleanings or six-month checkups
- —A filling that's been chipped for a few weeks but isn't painful
- —Cosmetic concerns (chipped front tooth that doesn't hurt, whitening interest, Invisalign questions)
- —A crown that came off but isn't bleeding or painful — we can usually re-cement during the next business day
- —Wisdom-tooth consultations (unless there's active swelling or pain)