What counts as a dental emergency?

A dental emergency includes severe tooth pain, a knocked-out tooth, a broken or cracked tooth, a lost filling or crown, a dental abscess, uncontrolled bleeding, or swelling in the mouth or jaw. If you are experiencing any of these, contact Smile Craft Dental in Redwood City right away.

What should I do if I knock out a tooth?

Pick up the tooth by the crown, not the root. Rinse it gently with water without scrubbing. Try to reinsert it into the socket if possible, or keep it moist in milk or saliva. Call our Redwood City office immediately — the sooner you're seen, the better the chance of saving the tooth.

Can I go to the emergency room for a dental emergency?

The ER can treat pain, swelling, and infection but cannot perform dental procedures. For true dental emergencies, it is always better to contact a dental provider. Smile Craft Dental prioritizes same-day emergency appointments whenever possible.

How quickly can I be seen for a dental emergency?

Smile Craft Dental works to see emergency patients as quickly as possible, often the same day. Call our Redwood City office at (650) 880-1550 and describe your symptoms so we can prioritize your care.

What if my dental emergency happens after hours?

If you experience a life-threatening emergency after hours, go to the nearest emergency room. For urgent dental issues, call our office and listen for after-hours instructions. Severe infections and uncontrolled bleeding should always be treated immediately.

Does insurance cover emergency dental care?

Many PPO insurance plans cover emergency dental visits, though coverage varies by plan. Smile Craft Dental accepts most major PPO insurance plans. Cherry financing is also available to help cover any out-of-pocket costs.

Emergency Dentistry in Redwood City, CA

Same-Day Emergency Dental Care When You Need It Most

Dental emergencies happen when you least expect them. At Smile Craft Dental, we provide same-day emergency dental services in Redwood City to help you find relief quickly and protect your oral health long-term.

Request an Appointment

Request An Appointment

"*" indicates required fields

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Choose a Location*

First & Last Name*

Email*

Date*

Phone Number*

How Did You Hear About Us?*

Same-day emergency care available

Emergency Dentistry Provider · Redwood City, CA

Not every dental issue requires immediate attention, but certain situations do — severe toothaches, knocked-out teeth, cracked or fractured teeth, lost fillings or crowns, and soft tissue injuries all call for prompt care. The American Dental Association recommends keeping a knocked-out tooth moist and seeking treatment right away.

Prompt, compassionate care designed to relieve pain and protect your long-term oral health.

Our Emergency Dental Services in Redwood City

Our Redwood City team treats a full range of dental emergencies, from sudden pain to dental trauma.

Severe Toothaches

A throbbing tooth usually signals an infection, deep decay, or nerve irritation — we diagnose the cause and provide prompt relief.

Knocked-Out Teeth

Time is critical — teeth reimplanted within 30 to 60 minutes of being knocked out have the best chance of long-term survival.

Chipped or Cracked Teeth

A cracked tooth may require bonding, a crown, or root canal therapy, depending on the extent of the damage.

Lost Fillings or Crowns

A lost filling or crown can expose sensitive tooth structure — we provide prompt repair to protect the tooth and relieve discomfort.

Root Canal Therapy

When decay reaches the tooth's pulp, a root canal can relieve pain and save the natural tooth.

Emergency Tooth Extraction

When a tooth is severely damaged, infected, or can't be saved with root canal therapy, we offer extraction with sedation options and tooth replacement solutions like implants or bridges.

Not sure if your situation is a true dental emergency? Call our Redwood City office and we'll help you decide.

The Emergency Dentistry Experience at Smile Craft Dental

Many dental emergencies result from sports-related injuries, falls, car collisions, or biting down on hard objects. Others develop gradually from untreated decay, weakened restorations, or gum disease. When you arrive at our Redwood City office, we prioritize relieving your pain and stabilizing your condition. Our team performs a thorough examination, often including digital imaging, to determine the extent of the damage and develop a treatment plan. We believe you deserve to understand every step of your treatment, and we take time to explain your options and answer your questions.

What to Expect During Your Emergency Visit

Here's what happens when you come in for emergency dental care.

Examination & Diagnosis

We perform a thorough exam, often including digital imaging, to determine the extent of the damage and develop a treatment plan.

Pain Relief & Stabilization

Our first priority is relieving your pain and stabilizing your condition the moment you arrive.

Treatment

A cracked tooth may need bonding, a crown, or root canal therapy; a knocked-out tooth may be reimplanted or replaced with an implant; infections often require antibiotics and drainage.

Sedation Options

We offer sedation dentistry options for patients with dental anxiety, helping you remain comfortable throughout your emergency visit.

Your Next Steps

Our team takes time to explain your options, answer your questions, and help you make informed decisions about your care.

Emergency Dentistry Cost & Insurance

The cost of emergency dental care varies based on the treatment needed. We accept most major insurance plans and offer flexible payment options to make emergency care accessible. Call (650) 880-1550 to schedule your same-day appointment.

What to Do Before You Reach Our Office

Knowing how to respond in the moments following a dental emergency can improve your outcome. For a knocked-out tooth, locate it if possible, then rinse it gently with water without scrubbing or removing any attached tissue. Try to reinsert it into the socket, or store it in milk or saliva to keep it moist. Time is critical, as reimplantation success drops significantly after 30 minutes.

Chipped Tooth & Severe Toothache: What to Do

For a chipped tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling. Save any tooth fragments you can find. For severe toothaches, rinse with warm salt water and use over-the-counter pain relievers as directed. Avoid placing aspirin directly on the gums, as this can cause tissue damage.

Emergency Room or Emergency Dentist?

Not sure where to go? Here's how emergency rooms and emergency dentists compare.

Factor Emergency Room Emergency Dentist (Smile Craft Dental) Dental Procedures Cannot perform extractions, root canals, or crown repairs Treats the actual cause with extractions, root canals, and restorative care Pain & Infection Control Can provide pain medication and antibiotics Diagnoses and treats the source of pain, often same-day Best For Uncontrolled bleeding, major facial trauma, jaw fractures, or swelling that affects breathing or swallowing Toothaches, knocked-out or broken teeth, lost fillings/crowns, and most dental trauma

Your Care Team in Redwood City

Dr. Amy Nguyen and our Redwood City team bring careful, patient-centered attention to every emergency visit.

Dr. Amy Nguyen, DDS · Lead Dentist, Smile Craft Dental Redwood City. We believe you deserve to understand every step of your treatment — our team takes time to explain your options, answer your questions, and help you make informed decisions about your care. Learn more about Dr. Amy Nguyen, DDS.

What Redwood City Patients Say

See what patients say about their experience at Smile Craft Dental.

Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Dentistry

Answers to the questions patients ask most about emergency dentistry in Redwood City.

What is considered a dental emergency?

A dental emergency is any oral health issue that requires same-day treatment to relieve pain, stop bleeding, or save a tooth. Common dental emergencies include severe toothaches, knocked-out or loose teeth, broken or cracked teeth, lost fillings or crowns, dental abscesses or swelling, and trauma to the mouth from accidents or sports. If you’re unsure whether your situation is urgent, call our Redwood City office at (650) 880-1550. Our team helps you decide whether to come in immediately, schedule same-day, or manage at home.

Can I get a same-day emergency dental appointment in Redwood City?

Yes. Our Redwood City office reserves time each day for urgent and emergency cases, and we make every effort to see patients in pain the same day they call. Call (650) 880-1550 as early as possible so we can triage your situation and fit you in quickly. We are located at 2531 El Camino Real and are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

What should I do if I have a throbbing toothache?

A throbbing tooth usually signals an infection, deep decay, or nerve irritation that needs prompt dental attention. For temporary relief until your appointment, rinse with warm salt water, take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen as directed, and apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek. Avoid placing aspirin directly on the gums. Call our Redwood City office right away, because ignoring a throbbing toothache can lead to a dental abscess that may require urgent treatment or root canal therapy.

What do I do if my tooth gets knocked out?

A knocked-out permanent tooth is a true dental emergency. Time matters. Pick up the tooth by the crown, not the root, and rinse it gently with water if it is dirty. If possible, place it back in the socket and bite down on a clean cloth to hold it in place. If that is not possible, store the tooth in milk or saliva to keep the root cells alive. Call our Redwood City office immediately at (650) 880-1550 — teeth reimplanted within 30 to 60 minutes have the best chance of long-term survival.

Do I need an emergency tooth extraction?

Emergency tooth extractions are sometimes necessary when a tooth is severely damaged, infected, or causing significant pain that cannot be addressed with root canal therapy or other restorative treatment. At our Redwood City office, we always try to save your natural tooth first when possible, but severely fractured teeth, advanced infection, or extensive decay below the gum line may require extraction. We offer sedation options to keep you comfortable and discuss tooth replacement solutions like implants or bridges at the same visit.

Should I go to the emergency room or an emergency dentist?

For most dental emergencies, an emergency dentist is the better choice. Emergency rooms can provide pain medication and antibiotics but typically cannot perform dental procedures like extractions, root canals, or crown repairs. An emergency dentist treats the actual cause, not just the symptoms. However, you should go to the ER for uncontrolled bleeding, major facial trauma, jaw fractures, or swelling that affects breathing or swallowing. For dental pain, broken teeth, and most other urgent issues, call our Redwood City office first at (650) 880-1550.