Comfort-Focused & Emergency Care
For the nervous, the overdue, and the “this really hurts right now.”
Sedation options for anxious patients and same-day care when something can’t wait — with clear guidance on what to do first.
In pain right now? Call or text 754-240-4820
Call or text us as early as you can and we’ll do our best to see you the same day.
Call or text 754-240-4820If the dentist makes you anxious
You’re far from alone, and you won’t be judged here — plenty of our patients haven’t been in years. Dental fear is common and real, and it’s usually built on a bad past experience. We move at your pace, explain everything before it happens, and offer comfort options so you can finally get the care you’ve been avoiding.
The hardest part is almost always the phone call. Once you’re here, we take it slowly, tell you what’s happening before we do anything, and stop the moment you need a break. Fear should never be the reason someone loses a tooth.
Sedation options, explained
We offer two levels of conscious sedation — you stay awake and able to respond, just relaxed. Both doctors are ACLS-certified and trained in sedation and airway safety, and we review your health history to choose the safest fit.
| Nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) | Oral conscious sedation | |
|---|---|---|
| How it’s given | Breathed through a small nose mask | A prescribed pill before your visit |
| How you feel | Light, calm, takes the edge off | Deeply relaxed, drowsy |
| Wears off | Within minutes | Hours — lingers after the visit |
| Need a driver? | No | Yes — a responsible adult |
| Best for | Mild nerves, shorter visits | Higher anxiety, longer visits |
Is it actually an emergency? How to tell
When in doubt, call — we’ll help you judge it over the phone. As a quick guide:
- Call us immediately (same-day) — a knocked-out adult tooth, severe or worsening pain, facial or gum swelling, or bleeding that won’t stop.
- Call us soon (a day or two is usually okay) — a small painless chip, a lost filling or crown with no pain, or mild sensitivity — but tell us so we can advise.
- Go to the ER or call 911 — trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading toward the eye or throat, uncontrolled bleeding, or a serious facial injury. The ER stabilizes; we fix the tooth afterward.
| Situation | First step | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Knocked-out adult tooth | Hold by the crown, keep in milk, come now | Emergency — minutes matter |
| Severe / worsening pain | Call us; OTC pain relief meanwhile | Same day |
| Facial swelling or fever | Call same day; ER if breathing/swallowing is hard | Urgent |
| Broken tooth with pain | Rinse, cold compress, save pieces | Same day |
| Lost crown or filling | Keep the crown, avoid chewing there | A day or two |
| Small painless chip | Tell us at your next chance | Non-urgent |
What to do right now — before you reach us
A little first aid in the first hour genuinely changes the outcome. Here’s what to do for the most common dental emergencies while you’re on your way to us:
- Knocked-out (avulsed) adult tooth — a true emergency. Pick the tooth up by the crown (never the root), rinse it gently, and if you can, place it back in the socket and bite on a clean cloth. If you can’t, tuck it in a cup of milk. Then get to us fast — the first 30 to 60 minutes matter most.
- Cracked or broken tooth — rinse with warm water, use a cold compress for swelling, and avoid chewing on that side until we see it. Save any pieces.
- Bad toothache — rinse with warm salt water and gently floss to clear any trapped food. Over-the-counter pain relief helps; put it on the gum, not directly on the tooth. Pain that’s building rather than fading is your cue to call.
- Lost crown or filling — keep the crown if you have it, avoid chewing there, and temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can protect the tooth until we see you.
- Swelling in the gum or face — don’t wait it out. Facial swelling or a fever with a toothache can signal a spreading infection; call us the same day — and seek urgent medical care if you have trouble breathing or swallowing.
When something can’t wait
A cracked tooth, sudden pain, a knocked-out tooth, a lost filling — these don’t keep office hours. Call or text us at 754-240-4820 as early as you can and we’ll do our best to see you the same day. If you’re a new patient in pain, we still want to hear from you.
- Severe or worsening tooth pain
- A broken, cracked, or knocked-out tooth
- Swelling in the gums or face
- A lost crown or filling
- An injury to the mouth, including after an accident
Injured in an accident? We also treat dental trauma on a Letter of Protection when a personal-injury case is involved.
What to expect at an emergency visit
- Call or text. Tell us what happened; we’ll give you first-aid guidance and a time to come in — often the same day.
- Focused exam & X-ray. We pinpoint the problem quickly and get you out of pain first.
- A clear plan & price. We explain what’s going on and give you a price for any treatment before we do it.
- Relief today, repair planned. We stabilize and relieve the pain now, then plan any fuller repair — with sedation if you’d like it.
A note from Dr. Dillon
If it’s been years since your last visit, you’re exactly who we built this practice for — and you won’t be judged here. I trained in sedation and airway safety alongside an anesthesiologist for one reason: so that fear never has to be why someone goes without care.
We’ll move at your pace, explain everything before it happens, and stop whenever you need to. The goal is simple — get you comfortable, and get you healthy again.
— Dr. Matthew Dillon, DDS, MAGD
What an emergency visit costs
An emergency visit starts with a focused exam and any needed X-ray to pinpoint the problem — typically a modest visit fee — and then we give you a clear price for whatever treatment you choose before we do it. If you’re in pain, cost should never be the reason you wait: call us and we’ll be straight with you about your options, including financing and our in-house membership plan.
Common misconceptions
- “If the pain stops, the problem is gone.” Sometimes pain fading means a nerve has died and an infection is brewing. Don’t assume you’re in the clear — get it checked.
- “The ER can fix my tooth.” ERs manage pain, infection, and trauma, but usually can’t restore the tooth. See a dentist for the actual repair.
- “Sedation means being put under.” Ours is conscious sedation — you stay awake and responsive, just relaxed.
- “A knocked-out tooth can’t be saved.” Often it can — if you act within the first hour and keep it moist.
- “I waited too long to be helped.” It’s rarely too late to improve things. We start from where you are, today.
Why patients choose MSD when it matters most
- Same-day effort for real emergencies, including new patients in pain.
- Sedation done safely. Both doctors are ACLS-certified and trained in sedation and airway safety.
- No judgment, ever. Overdue or anxious, you’re exactly who we’re here for.
- Straight talk on cost, with a price before treatment and options if money is tight.
- Doctor-owned, in English & Spanish, for Coral Springs, Parkland, and Coconut Creek.
Related care
After we get you comfortable: restorative dentistry to repair a broken tooth, replacing a tooth that can’t be saved, and preventive care to stay ahead of the next surprise. New here? Start with a first visit.
Patient guides — how the decision is made
Doctor-reviewed guides that walk through the choices on this page in plain language:
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Medically reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Matthew Dillon, DDS, MAGD, FICOI · Updated July 2026 · Editorial policy.
Do you take dental emergencies the same day?
We do our best to see urgent cases the same day. Call or text 754-240-4820 as early as you can and we'll get you in.
What should I do if my tooth got knocked out?
Pick the tooth up by the crown (not the root), rinse it gently, and if you can, place it back in the socket and bite on a clean cloth — otherwise keep it in a cup of milk. Then get to us fast; the first 30 to 60 minutes matter most.
Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency?
It can become one. Rinse with warm water, use a cold compress for swelling, and avoid chewing on it. Building pain, a large fracture, or swelling means same-day attention; a small painless chip can usually wait a day or two.
How much does an emergency dental visit cost?
It starts with a focused exam and any needed X-ray — typically a modest visit fee — and then we give you a clear price for any treatment before we do it. Cost should never be why you wait; ask us about financing and our in-house membership plan.
What sedation options do you offer?
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral conscious sedation. Both doctors are ACLS-certified and trained in sedation and airway safety.
Is dental sedation safe?
Yes, when it's done by a trained team. Both of our doctors are ACLS-certified and trained in sedation and airway safety, and we monitor you throughout. We review your health history first to choose the safest option for you.
Will I be asleep with sedation?
No — we offer conscious sedation, not general anesthesia. You stay awake and able to respond, but relaxed and comfortable. Many patients remember little of the visit afterward.
Do I need someone to drive me after sedation?
With nitrous oxide, no — it wears off in minutes and you can drive yourself. With oral conscious sedation, yes — you'll need a responsible adult to drive you home.
I have severe dental anxiety — can you really help?
Yes, and you won't be judged. We go at your pace, explain everything before it happens, offer sedation, and stop whenever you need to. Fear should never be the reason someone goes without care — that's exactly who this practice is for.
What should I do for a bad toothache tonight?
Rinse with warm salt water, gently floss to clear trapped food, and use over-the-counter pain relief (on the gum, not directly on the tooth). Pain that's building rather than fading is your cue to call us as early as you can.
Does throbbing tooth pain mean I have an abscess?
Persistent throbbing, sensitivity to heat, or a pimple on the gum can signal an infection or abscess, which needs prompt treatment. Facial swelling or fever means call us the same day — and seek urgent medical care if you have trouble breathing or swallowing.
Can you help if I lost a crown or filling?
Yes. Keep the crown if you have it, avoid chewing on that side, and pharmacy temporary cement can protect the tooth until we see you. It's usually not an emergency unless there's pain, but don't leave it too long.
I'm a new patient in pain — can you help?
Yes. Even if you've never seen us, we want to hear from you. Call or text and we'll do our best to help today.
Do you treat teenagers' dental emergencies?
Yes — we care for teens age 14 and up, and adults. Call us and we'll advise on what to do right away.
When should I go to the ER instead of a dentist?
Go to the ER or call 911 for trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that's spreading toward the eye or throat, uncontrolled bleeding, or a serious facial injury. ERs stabilize infections and trauma but usually can't fix the tooth — so follow up with us afterward.
¿Hablan español?
Sí. Llame o envíe un mensaje de texto al 754-240-4820. La Dra. Shantall y nuestro equipo la atienden en español y harán lo posible por verla el mismo día.
Anxious, overdue, or in pain? We’re here.
Call or text 754-240-4820 as early as you can and we’ll do our best to help today.
Call or text 754-240-4820