Emergency Services

Dental emergencies happen without warning, and when they do, you need a team that responds quickly and effectively. At Beachwood Dental of Los Alamitos, Dr. Htet Khant, DDS and our experienced staff treat emergency patients with the same attention and thoroughness we provide during regular appointments—except we do it fast.

We’ve built our emergency protocols around one simple truth: when your tooth is broken, your face is swelling, or pain is keeping you awake at night, you can’t afford to wait days for relief. Our same-day emergency services handle everything from severe infections to knocked-out teeth, ensuring you get the urgent dental care you need exactly when you need it most.

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Understanding Dental Emergency Services

Emergency dental services provide immediate professional care for urgent oral health problems that cannot wait for a regular appointment. These situations include severe toothaches, broken or knocked-out teeth, lost fillings or crowns, dental abscesses, uncontrolled bleeding, and soft tissue injuries to the mouth. A true dental emergency involves significant pain, visible damage, or symptoms that are rapidly worsening and require prompt intervention to prevent complications. Many emergency situations develop from untreated decay, trauma from accidents or sports injuries, or infections that spread quickly without professional treatment.

Benefits of Prompt Service for Dental Emergencies

Access to Specialized Diagnostic Technology

Emergency dental appointments provide immediate access to advanced imaging and diagnostic tools that reveal the full extent of your problem. X-rays, intraoral cameras, and digital scans help identify hidden fractures, infections beneath the gum line, and damage to tooth roots that aren’t visible during a standard visual examination. This comprehensive diagnostic approach ensures nothing gets missed, allowing for accurate treatment that addresses all aspects of your emergency rather than just the obvious symptoms you can see or feel.

Prevention of Costly Future Procedures

Treating a dental emergency promptly can save you thousands of dollars by preventing the need for more extensive procedures later. A cracked tooth treated today might only require a crown, but if you wait, that same tooth could need a root canal, post and core buildup, and a crown—or worse, extraction and implant placement. Emergency care intercepts problems at their most treatable stage, protecting both your oral health and your wallet from the escalating costs of delayed treatment.

Restoration of Normal Function

Dental emergencies often make it difficult or impossible to eat, speak, or sleep normally, disrupting your daily life in significant ways. Emergency treatment quickly restores your ability to chew food comfortably, speak clearly without pain or embarrassment, and sleep through the night without waking to throbbing discomfort. You’ll be able to return to work, enjoy meals with family, and participate in social activities without the constant distraction and limitation that untreated dental problems create.

Reduction of Systemic Health Risks

Dental infections don’t stay confined to your mouth—they can enter your bloodstream and affect your heart, lungs, brain, and other vital organs if left untreated. Emergency dental care eliminates infected tissue and stops bacteria from spreading throughout your body, protecting you from serious complications like endocarditis, pneumonia, and sepsis. People with diabetes, heart conditions, or compromised immune systems face especially high risks from untreated dental infections, making prompt emergency care essential for their overall health.

Expert Guidance on Recovery and Prevention

Emergency dental visits provide you with professional education about what caused your problem and how to prevent similar situations in the future. Your dentist will explain the factors that contributed to your emergency, whether it’s grinding habits, inadequate oral hygiene, dietary choices, or missing protective measures during sports. This personalized guidance helps you make informed decisions about your dental care going forward, reducing your risk of future emergencies and helping you maintain better oral health long-term.

Our Dental Emergency Treatment Process

Emergency Assessment and Triage

When you contact our office with a dental emergency, we immediately evaluate the urgency of your situation to determine the fastest path to relief. Our staff will ask specific questions about your symptoms, including pain level, visible damage, and any swelling or bleeding you’re experiencing. We prioritize same-day appointments for urgent cases and provide clear instructions on managing your condition until you arrive at our Los Alamitos office.

Comprehensive Examination and Diagnosis

Dr. Htet Khant, DDS performs a thorough examination to pinpoint the exact cause of your emergency and identify any underlying issues that may have contributed to the problem. Digital x-rays and diagnostic imaging reveal damage below the surface, including infections, fractures, and bone involvement that aren’t visible during a visual inspection. You’ll receive a complete explanation of your diagnosis in straightforward terms, so you understand exactly what’s happening and why treatment is necessary.

Immediate Pain Management and Treatment

Your emergency treatment begins with effective pain control through local anesthesia, ensuring you remain comfortable throughout the procedure. We then address the source of your problem, whether that involves draining an abscess, performing a root canal, repairing a broken tooth, or extracting a severely damaged tooth that can’t be saved. Our focus is on providing definitive treatment during your emergency visit whenever possible, rather than simply offering temporary relief that leaves the underlying problem unresolved.

Detailed Home Care Instructions

Before leaving our office, you’ll receive specific written instructions for caring for your treated area to promote proper healing and prevent complications. These guidelines cover pain management strategies, dietary modifications, oral hygiene techniques for the affected area, and warning signs that require immediate follow-up attention. We’ll also provide prescriptions for antibiotics or pain medication when necessary, calling them directly to your preferred pharmacy so they’re ready when you need them.

Scheduled Follow-Up Care

Dr. Htet Khant, DDS will arrange a follow-up appointment to monitor your recovery and complete any additional treatment needed to fully restore your oral health. These visits allow us to verify that your emergency treatment was successful, remove sutures if necessary, and address any concerns or questions that arise during your healing process. Regular preventive care following your emergency helps identify potential problems early, reducing your risk of experiencing similar urgent situations in the future.

Why Choose Our Emergency Services

Beachwood Dental of Los Alamitos prioritizes patient care above all else, ensuring that when you face a dental emergency, you receive the prompt attention you deserve. Our dentists understand that emergencies don’t respect regular business hours, which is why we offer same-day appointments and extended availability for urgent situations. We encourage patients experiencing severe tooth pain, broken teeth, crown displacements, or other conditions requiring immediate attention to call our office and identify their situation as an emergency, allowing our medical personnel to provide appropriate guidance and coordinate rapid care.

For after-hours emergencies until 7PM, you can reach us at 562-471-5399 by call or text. Most urgent situations can be managed with a prescription called into your pharmacy and a first-available appointment the following morning. However, if you’re experiencing true emergency symptoms like uncontrolled bleeding, intense pain, or serious infection, we’ll direct you to seek immediate care at the nearest emergency room while coordinating your follow-up treatment at our office.

Need emergency Dental Care? We’ve Got You Covered!

Dental pain and damage won’t resolve on their own, and waiting only increases your risk of complications and more extensive treatment needs. Dr. Htet Khant, DDS and the caring team at Beachwood Dental of Los Alamitos are equipped to handle your urgent dental needs with the speed and expertise you deserve.

Call our dental practice at 562-598-9497 during regular business hours, or reach us at 562-471-5399 (call or text until 7PM) for after-hours emergencies—we’re ready to get you out of pain and back to your normal routine. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for helpful tips on handling dental emergencies and maintaining optimal oral health between visits.

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FAQs

Can you go to an emergency for dental pain?

Yes, you can visit a hospital emergency room for severe dental pain, particularly when experiencing uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing due to swelling, or intense pain unrelieved by medication. However, emergency rooms typically provide temporary relief through prescriptions rather than definitive dental treatment. For comprehensive care that addresses the root cause of your pain, contacting a dental office ensures you receive specialized treatment from professionals trained specifically in oral health emergencies.

What is considered a dental emergency?

A dental emergency involves any situation requiring immediate attention to save a tooth, stop bleeding, or relieve severe pain. This includes knocked-out or severely fractured teeth, abscesses with facial swelling, uncontrolled oral bleeding, and dislodged restorations causing significant discomfort. If you’re experiencing intense pain, visible dental damage, or rapidly worsening symptoms, contact a dental professional immediately to determine whether your situation qualifies as an emergency requiring same-day treatment.

What to do in a dental emergency?

Stay calm and contact a dental office immediately to describe your symptoms and receive professional guidance. For a knocked-out tooth, handle it by the crown, rinse gently, and attempt to reinsert it or store it in milk. Control bleeding with clean gauze, reduce swelling with a cold compress, and take over-the-counter pain relievers as directed. Avoid eating on the affected side and seek professional care as quickly as possible for the best treatment outcomes.

When to seek emergency dental care?

Seek emergency dental care immediately for severe, persistent pain that medication doesn’t control, visible infection signs like facial swelling or fever, or dental trauma causing tooth loss or significant damage. Contact a dentist urgently for uncontrolled bleeding, dental abscesses, or lost restorations causing major discomfort. Our team can evaluate your symptoms and determine whether you need same-day treatment or if scheduling a regular appointment is appropriate for your situation.

How to avoid dental emergencies?

Maintain excellent oral hygiene through twice-daily brushing, daily flossing, and regular professional cleanings to prevent decay and infections before they become urgent problems. Protect your teeth during physical activities with a properly fitted mouthguard, and avoid chewing hard items like ice or hard candies that can crack teeth. Address minor dental issues promptly—treating small problems early prevents them from escalating into painful emergencies that require urgent, and often more costly, intervention.