Emergency Care
Dental pain doesn’t wait. Neither should the answer.
Call or text 754-240-4820. We’ll tell you today whether this needs to be seen now, seen soon, or watched — and get you in as quickly as we can.
In pain right now? Call or text 754-240-4820
Call or text as early as you can and we’ll do our best to see you the same day.
Call or text 754-240-4820What counts as a dental emergency?
Severe or worsening pain, facial swelling, a knocked-out tooth, a broken front tooth, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma to the jaw. Swelling that is spreading, affecting your eye, or affecting your ability to swallow or breathe needs an emergency room, not a dental office. For everything else, call or text MSD Dental Studio at 754-240-4820 in Coral Springs and we’ll tell you how urgent it is and what to do in the meantime.
Most people in pain aren’t trying to decide between treatment options. They’re trying to find out whether this can wait until morning. That’s the question we answer first.
What to do right now
Find your situation, do the first step, then call or text us.
A knocked-out adult tooth
This is the one true clock. Handle the tooth by the crown, never the root. If it’s dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline — not water, and don’t scrub it. If you can, place it back in the socket and bite gently on clean gauze. If you can’t, keep it in milk or in your own saliva. Then call us immediately. The first 30 to 60 minutes matter more than anything else you’ll do.
Facial swelling
Call us. Swelling means infection has moved outside the tooth. If it’s spreading toward your eye or neck, or affecting swallowing or breathing, go to an emergency room now — that’s beyond what any dental office should be managing.
A broken or chipped front tooth
Save any pieces in milk or saline and rinse gently. If there’s a sharp edge, cover it with orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum until we see you. Many front-tooth fractures are repaired in a single visit.
Severe toothache
Rinse with warm salt water and gently floss to clear trapped food. Over-the-counter pain relief helps most people — take it as directed on the packaging, and check with your physician if you take other medications. Don’t place aspirin directly against the gum; it burns the tissue. Pain that’s building rather than fading is your cue to call.
A lost crown or filling
Usually urgent, but not an emergency. Keep the crown, avoid chewing on that side, and call us. Pharmacy temporary cement or denture adhesive can hold it briefly; superglue never should.
Bleeding that won’t stop
Firm, continuous pressure with gauze for 20 minutes without peeking. If it’s still bleeding heavily after that, call us or go to an ER.
How we handle an emergency visit
We diagnose before we treat. That sounds obvious, and in an emergency it often doesn’t happen — pain gets treated as a procedure to be scheduled rather than a problem to be understood.
We take an image, find the actual source, and tell you what’s going on and what your options are, including the option to do the minimum today and plan the rest properly. Most dental emergencies have more than one reasonable path, and you should get to hear all of them before anyone picks up an instrument.
If the right answer is a specialist, we’ll say so and coordinate it rather than leaving you to find one while you’re in pain.
An emergency visit shouldn’t obligate you to a treatment plan. Get out of pain first. Decide the rest when your head is clear.
A note from Dr. Dillon
Most of the emergencies I see aren’t sudden. They’re something that was quietly getting worse for months and finally crossed a line. That’s not a lecture — when you’re hurting, the only thing that matters is getting you comfortable. But once you are, it’s worth understanding what actually happened, because that’s the part that keeps it from happening again.
If you’re anxious about coming in
Dental anxiety and dental pain are a miserable combination, and avoiding care because of it is more common than people admit. We offer nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation, and both doctors are ACLS-certified and trained in sedation and airway safety. We’ll talk through comfort options before anything begins.
Cost and insurance
We give you an itemized number before we begin. We work with many PPO plans and will check your benefits. If you’re uninsured, ask about our membership plan.
Being in pain is not a good time to be guessing at a number. We’ll tell you what today costs before we start.
Patient guides — what to do first
Doctor-reviewed guides that walk through the situations on this page in plain language:
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Medically reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Matthew Dillon, DDS, MAGD, FICOI · Updated August 2026 · Editorial policy.
Can you see me today for a dental emergency?
Often, yes. Call or text 754-240-4820 as early as you can. Even when we can’t get you in the same day, we’ll tell you honestly how urgent it is and what to do in the meantime rather than leaving you wondering.
Do you see emergency patients who aren’t existing patients?
Yes. Even if you’ve never been here, call or text 754-240-4820 and we’ll do our best to help.
What should I do if my tooth got knocked out?
Pick it up by the crown, never the root. Rinse it gently with milk or saline — not water, and don’t scrub it. If you can, put it back in the socket and bite on clean gauze; otherwise keep it in milk or your own saliva. 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.
When should I go to the ER instead of a dentist?
Go to the ER or call 911 for trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling 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.
Should I go to the ER for a toothache?
Usually no. An emergency room can manage pain and infection but generally can’t treat the tooth, so you’ll end up needing a dentist anyway. Spreading facial swelling or any trouble breathing or swallowing is the exception.
How much does an emergency dental visit cost?
It starts with a focused exam and any needed X-ray, then we give you a clear price for treatment before we do it. We separate what has to happen today from what can wait. Ask about financing and our in-house membership plan.
My tooth stopped hurting on its own. Am I fine?
Not necessarily. Pain that disappears can mean the nerve has died rather than the problem resolving, and infection can continue silently. It’s worth an image either way.
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 as directed on the packaging. Don’t place aspirin against the gum — it burns the tissue. Pain that’s building rather than fading is your cue to call us as early as you can.
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. Denture adhesive works in a pinch; superglue never should.
What if it’s after hours or the weekend?
Leave a message or text us and we’ll get back to you. For spreading facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or trauma involving more than teeth, go to an emergency room — that needs to be handled immediately and not by a dental office.
I’m anxious about the dentist and now I’m in pain. Can you help?
Yes, and you won’t be judged. We offer nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation, we move at your pace, and we stop whenever you need a break. Fear should never be the reason someone loses a tooth.
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.
¿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.
In pain right now? We’re here.
Call or text 754-240-4820. A real person will help you, and we’ll tell you honestly how urgent this is.
Call or text 754-240-4820