In most cases, yes. We keep time open every day for urgent surgical cases. Call us as early in the day as possible. If your situation involves a rapidly spreading infection, facial swelling, difficulty swallowing, or fever, emphasize this to our scheduling team — these symptoms indicate urgency that may need to be seen immediately.

Situations that require same-day or next-day extraction include: uncontrolled dental pain not responding to medication, active abscess with facial swelling, tooth fractured below the gumline exposing the nerve, infection spreading into adjacent tissue planes, and severe pericoronitis (infection around a partially erupted wisdom tooth) with trismus.

Infected tissue is more acidic, which can reduce the effectiveness of local anesthesia. We compensate by using nerve block techniques (anesthetizing the nerve trunk rather than injecting near the infected area), supplementary anesthesia, and when needed, IV sedation. You should not feel pain during the extraction. Post-operative pain typically improves once the infected tooth is removed.

If you have already been prescribed antibiotics by your general dentist or an emergency room, continue taking them. We may prescribe additional or different antibiotics depending on the type and severity of infection. However, antibiotics alone do not resolve a dental infection — the source (the tooth) must be removed.

Typically, no. When active infection is present, bone grafting is not advisable because bacteria compromise graft integration. The priority during emergency extraction is removing the tooth and eliminating the infection. Once the site has healed and is infection-free (usually 8-12 weeks), bone grafting can be performed if needed for future implant placement.

Yes. Facial swelling from a dental abscess is actually a reason to proceed urgently. The swelling indicates the infection is spreading beyond the tooth into surrounding soft tissues. Extraction with drainage and antibiotics is the appropriate treatment. Waiting for the swelling to resolve on its own risks further spread, which in rare cases can become life-threatening.

Emergency extraction fees are comparable to scheduled extractions and depend on the complexity (simple vs. surgical). There is no emergency surcharge. Most dental insurance covers extractions. If you are in acute pain, do not let cost concerns delay treatment — we will discuss payment options and work with your insurance.

We prescribe antibiotics (if not already started), pain medication, and provide detailed post-operative instructions. You will schedule a follow-up visit in 7-10 days to check healing and remove sutures if placed. Once healing is complete, we discuss tooth replacement options — implant, bridge, or partial denture — at a subsequent consultation.

IV sedation is available for emergency extractions, provided you have not eaten within the last 8 hours. If you have eaten recently, we can often perform the extraction under local anesthesia with supplemental nitrous oxide, then offer IV sedation for any follow-up procedures. Safety requirements for sedation are the same for emergency and elective cases.

Emergency rooms typically prescribe antibiotics and pain medication for dental infections but cannot perform extractions. The antibiotics buy time but do not cure the problem. You need to see an oral surgeon to extract the infected tooth. Call us promptly — ER antibiotics will reduce the acute inflammation, creating a better window for the extraction.

Seek immediate emergency care if you experience: difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling extending to the neck or under the jaw (floor of the mouth), fever above 101°F, inability to open your mouth beyond one finger width, or feeling systemically unwell. These signs suggest the infection may be spreading into fascial spaces that can compromise the airway.

A clean fracture above the gumline without pulp exposure can wait a few days with temporary protection. A fracture exposing the pulp (you will see pink or red tissue, and it will be extremely sensitive) or a fracture below the gumline with sharp edges lacerating your tongue or cheek should be seen urgently. When in doubt, call us for guidance.

We prefer that you call ahead so we can prepare and ensure surgical availability, but we understand true emergencies do not always allow for advance scheduling. If you arrive without an appointment, we will evaluate you as quickly as possible. Calling ahead — even from the parking lot — helps us serve you faster.

We routinely perform multiple emergency extractions in a single visit, especially when several teeth are fractured or infected. IV sedation is recommended for multiple extractions to keep you comfortable and allow us to work efficiently. We will remove all teeth that need urgent attention in one procedure when possible.

Recovery is similar to elective extraction: 3-7 days of modified activity and soft diet, with peak swelling and discomfort around days 2-3. Emergency extractions involving significant infection may have slightly more post-operative swelling as the body resolves the residual inflammation. Most patients notice substantial pain relief within 24 hours of having the infected tooth removed.