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Focused evaluation
We examine the area causing pain or concern and ask what happened, when symptoms began, and how they have changed.
Emergency Dentistry
When something hurts now, the first job is figuring out why.
Dental emergencies can look very different from one patient to the next. Severe tooth pain, swelling, a broken tooth, or an injury to the mouth may all need prompt attention — but the right treatment depends on what is actually causing the problem. San Ramon Dental Excellence offers same-day emergency appointments when availability allows, so we can evaluate what is happening, relieve urgent symptoms when possible, and determine the appropriate next step.
After-hours dental emergency? Call 415-316-6948.
What an emergency exam is
The exam comes before the treatment.
An emergency exam is a focused evaluation of the problem that brought you in. We look at the tooth or area involved, the surrounding gum and tissue, your bite when relevant, and any signs of infection, fracture, or injury. Imaging may also be needed to see what cannot be determined from the surface alone.
The purpose is to answer two questions first: what is causing the problem, and what actually needs to happen next? A painful tooth may need a filling, a crown, root canal treatment, an extraction, or something entirely different. The symptoms tell us where to look; the exam tells us what we are treating.
When to call
Some dental problems should not wait for a routine visit.
Prompt dental evaluation is reasonable when you are dealing with symptoms such as:
- Severe or persistent tooth pain
- New or increasing facial or gum swelling
- A broken or fractured tooth
- A tooth that has been knocked loose or knocked out
- Bleeding from the mouth that is difficult to control
- Significant pain when biting
- A possible dental abscess or infection
- Dental trauma from a fall, collision, or blow to the face
Not every uncomfortable tooth is an emergency, and not every dental problem needs treatment the same day. If you are unsure, call us. We can help determine whether you should be seen promptly or whether the issue can reasonably wait for a scheduled visit.
When medical care comes first
Some injuries belong in an emergency room, not a dental chair.
Dental offices are equipped to evaluate injuries to the teeth and many problems involving the gums and mouth. But some situations require medical emergency care first.
Call 911 or seek emergency medical care for:
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing related to rapidly increasing swelling
- Severe uncontrolled bleeding
- Loss of consciousness
- Suspected jaw or facial fracture
- Significant head injury
- Severe facial trauma beyond the teeth alone
- Any emergency that appears life-threatening
If a dental injury happens alongside one of these problems, medical stabilization comes first. Dental treatment can follow once it is safe to do so.
A knocked-out tooth
A permanent tooth that comes out completely is time-sensitive.
If an adult permanent tooth has been knocked out, contact us immediately. Handle the tooth by the crown — the part normally visible in the mouth — rather than the root. If it is dirty, gently rinse it without scrubbing or removing attached tissue. If you can safely place it back into the socket without forcing it, that may help preserve it. Otherwise, keep the tooth moist in milk or an appropriate tooth-preservation solution while getting professional care. Do not let the tooth dry out.
Rapid evaluation improves the options available, though the outcome ultimately depends on the injury itself.
For a knocked-out baby tooth, do not attempt to place it back into the socket. Call for guidance instead.
What patients can expect
First, determine the problem. Then decide what needs to happen today.
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Imaging when needed
X-rays or other imaging may be used to look for decay, infection, fractures, bone involvement, or other problems that cannot be evaluated adequately from the surface.
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A next-step plan
Some problems can be treated during the emergency visit. Others may first need medication, stabilization, referral, or a separate treatment appointment. We will explain what we found and what makes sense next.
Same-day care
Same-day evaluation does not always mean same-day completion.
The practice offers same-day emergency appointments when availability allows, but the treatment itself depends on the diagnosis, complexity of the problem, and what can be done safely that day. Sometimes the right next step is straightforward treatment. Other times it may be controlling an infection, protecting a damaged tooth, arranging a more involved procedure, or referring a problem that needs care beyond what should be handled here. The priority is not rushing to perform something. It is getting the immediate decision right.
Something feels wrong? Let's figure out what it is.
A dental emergency deserves a clear answer. We'll evaluate the problem and explain what needs attention now, what can wait, and what the next step should be.
Call 415-316-6948
After-hours dental emergency? Call 415-316-6948.