Dental emergencies in Hanford, CA.
If you have a dental emergency during office hours, call Unzicker Dental at (559) 584-2777 and tell us what is happening. We will explain what to do and how soon we can see you.
Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies. If you have significant facial swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma to the head or jaw, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
What to do right now.
A dental emergency is any problem that needs prompt care to stop bleeding, relieve severe pain or save a tooth. Here is first aid for the most common situations.
Knocked-out permanent tooth
Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root. If it is dirty, rinse it gently with water without scrubbing. Place it back in the socket if you can, or keep it in milk. See a dentist as quickly as possible. Time matters.
Severe toothache
Rinse with warm water and gently floss around the tooth to remove anything stuck. Do not place aspirin on the gum. Call us for the earliest available appointment. A toothache with swelling or fever needs prompt attention.
Broken or chipped tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any pieces. Hold a cold compress against your cheek to limit swelling. Call us to have the tooth examined, even if it does not hurt.
Lost filling or crown
Keep the crown if you have it and avoid chewing on that side. This is usually not an emergency, but the exposed tooth can be sensitive, so call us to schedule a repair soon.
Swelling in the gum or face
Swelling can be a sign of infection. Call us right away during office hours. If swelling is spreading, affects your eye or neck, or comes with fever or trouble swallowing, go to an emergency room.
Bitten lip, cheek or tongue
Clean the area gently and apply pressure with clean gauze. Use a cold compress for swelling. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes of firm pressure, go to an urgent care clinic or emergency room.
If our office is closed.
We are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. If you have a dental problem outside those hours and it cannot safely wait until we reopen, go to an urgent care clinic or the nearest emergency room.
If you have significant facial swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma to the head or jaw, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Please do not use email or the online appointment request for emergencies. They are not monitored for urgent messages.
Emergency questions.
What counts as a dental emergency?
A knocked-out permanent tooth, a severe toothache, swelling in the gum or face, a broken tooth with pain, or bleeding that does not stop are all reasons to call a dentist right away. A lost filling or a small chip without pain is urgent but can usually wait for the next available appointment.
When should I go to the emergency room instead of the dentist?
Go to an emergency room or call 911 for facial swelling that is spreading or affecting your eye or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, bleeding that will not stop, a suspected broken jaw, or any injury to the head. Hospitals can manage those problems; a dental office cannot.
What should I do if the office is closed?
We are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. If you have a dental problem while we are closed and it cannot safely wait, go to an urgent care clinic or an emergency room. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Can I email you about an emergency?
Please do not. Email and the online appointment request are not monitored for emergencies and should not be used to send health details. Call (559) 584-2777 during office hours, or call 911 for a medical emergency.
Treatment after an emergency.
Once you are comfortable, we will talk about fixing the underlying problem. Depending on what we find, that may involve a filling, a crown, root canal treatment or an extraction. A custom sports mouthguard is the best way to prevent many dental injuries in the first place.
In pain during office hours? Call us.
We are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. For a medical emergency, call 911.