Dent Directory
Emergency care

Emergency dentist in Los Angeles, what to do right now

Same-day help for knocked-out teeth, severe toothache, swelling and broken crowns, plus what each emergency typically costs in LA.

First, triage yourself

Call 911 / go to the ER if swelling is spreading toward your eye or throat, you have a high fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing. Call a dentist below for a knocked-out tooth, broken tooth, lost crown, bad toothache or a swollen gum that’s staying put. A knocked-out adult tooth is most saveable in the first 30 to 60 minutes, keep it moist (milk works) and lead with that when you call.

LA practices that take emergencies

Ranked by rating and review volume. Call ahead, “emergency slots” fill by mid-morning at busy offices.

What an emergency visit looks like

Expect three steps: an exam with an X-ray to find the cause, immediate relief (draining an abscess, a temporary filling, antibiotics, a prescription), and a plan for the permanent fix. Reputable LA offices will quote the permanent fix in writing before doing it, if someone pushes you to approve a $3,000 plan while you’re still numb, it’s reasonable to get a second opinion once the pain is controlled.

No insurance?

Ask about cash rates and in-house membership plans, many LA practices knock 20 to 40% off list prices for direct payers. Dental schools (USC and UCLA both run clinics) treat urgent cases at reduced rates if you can tolerate a longer visit, and community clinics across LA County offer sliding-scale urgent care.

Find regular care near you

Once the crisis is over, the cheapest emergency is the one you prevent. Pick a regular dentist in your neighborhood:

Dentists in Santa MonicaRanked by reviewsDentists in Beverly HillsRanked by reviewsDentists in Downtown LARanked by reviewsDentists in HollywoodRanked by reviewsDentists in West HollywoodRanked by reviewsDentists in Silver LakeRanked by reviewsDentists in KoreatownRanked by reviewsDentists in VeniceRanked by reviewsDentists in Sherman OaksRanked by reviewsDentists in Culver CityRanked by reviewsDentists in Studio CityRanked by reviewsDentists in North HollywoodRanked by reviewsDentists in WestwoodRanked by reviewsDentists in BrentwoodRanked by reviewsDentists in Los FelizRanked by reviewsDentists in BurbankRanked by reviewsDentists in EncinoRanked by reviewsDentists in GlendaleRanked by reviewsDentists in Long BeachRanked by reviewsDentists in Marina Del ReyRanked by reviewsDentists in PasadenaRanked by reviewsDentists in Woodland HillsRanked by reviewsDentists in Eagle RockRanked by reviewsDentists in Echo ParkRanked by reviewsDentists in Highland ParkRanked by reviewsDentists in Mar VistaRanked by reviewsDentists in Mid CityRanked by reviewsDentists in Mid WilshireRanked by reviewsDentists in PalmsRanked by reviewsDentists in Atwater VillageRanked by reviewsDentists in Boyle HeightsRanked by reviewsDentists in Canoga ParkRanked by reviewsDentists in Century CityRanked by reviewsDentists in ChatsworthRanked by reviewsDentists in El SerenoRanked by reviewsDentists in FairfaxRanked by reviewsDentists in Granada HillsRanked by reviewsDentists in Lincoln HeightsRanked by reviewsDentists in NorthridgeRanked by reviewsDentists in North HillsRanked by reviewsDentists in Panorama CityRanked by reviewsDentists in Porter RanchRanked by reviewsDentists in ResedaRanked by reviewsDentists in San PedroRanked by reviewsDentists in SunlandRanked by reviewsDentists in Sun ValleyRanked by reviewsDentists in TarzanaRanked by reviewsDentists in TujungaRanked by reviewsDentists in Van NuysRanked by reviewsDentists in WinnetkaRanked by reviewsDentists in ChinatownRanked by reviewsDentists in West HillsRanked by reviewsDentists in WestlakeRanked by reviewsDentists in WestchesterRanked by reviewsDentists in Arts DistrictRanked by reviewsDentists in Playa VistaRanked by reviewsDentists in Leimert ParkRanked by reviewsDentists in WilmingtonRanked by reviewsDentists in East Los AngelesRanked by reviewsDentists in West Los AngelesRanked by reviewsDentists in South Los AngelesRanked by reviewsDentists in Agoura HillsRanked by reviewsDentists in AlhambraRanked by reviewsDentists in AltadenaRanked by reviewsDentists in ArcadiaRanked by reviewsDentists in ArtesiaRanked by reviewsDentists in AzusaRanked by reviewsDentists in Baldwin ParkRanked by reviewsDentists in BellflowerRanked by reviewsDentists in Bell GardensRanked by reviewsDentists in CalabasasRanked by reviewsDentists in CarsonRanked by reviewsDentists in CerritosRanked by reviewsDentists in ClaremontRanked by reviewsDentists in ComptonRanked by reviewsDentists in CovinaRanked by reviewsDentists in Diamond BarRanked by reviewsDentists in DowneyRanked by reviewsDentists in DuarteRanked by reviewsDentists in El MonteRanked by reviewsDentists in El SegundoRanked by reviewsDentists in GardenaRanked by reviewsDentists in GlendoraRanked by reviewsDentists in Hacienda HeightsRanked by reviewsDentists in Harbor CityRanked by reviewsDentists in HawthorneRanked by reviewsDentists in Hermosa BeachRanked by reviewsDentists in Huntington ParkRanked by reviewsDentists in InglewoodRanked by reviewsDentists in LakewoodRanked by reviewsDentists in LancasterRanked by reviewsDentists in La Canada FlintridgeRanked by reviewsDentists in La CrescentaRanked by reviewsDentists in La MiradaRanked by reviewsDentists in La VerneRanked by reviewsDentists in LomitaRanked by reviewsDentists in LynwoodRanked by reviewsDentists in MalibuRanked by reviewsDentists in Manhattan BeachRanked by reviewsDentists in MonroviaRanked by reviewsDentists in MontebelloRanked by reviewsDentists in Monterey ParkRanked by reviewsDentists in NorwalkRanked by reviewsDentists in PalmdaleRanked by reviewsDentists in Palos Verdes EstatesRanked by reviewsDentists in ParamountRanked by reviewsDentists in Pico RiveraRanked by reviewsDentists in PomonaRanked by reviewsDentists in Rancho Palos VerdesRanked by reviewsDentists in Redondo BeachRanked by reviewsDentists in RosemeadRanked by reviewsDentists in Rowland HeightsRanked by reviewsDentists in Santa ClaritaRanked by reviewsDentists in San DimasRanked by reviewsDentists in San GabrielRanked by reviewsDentists in San MarinoRanked by reviewsDentists in Sierra MadreRanked by reviewsDentists in Signal HillRanked by reviewsDentists in South GateRanked by reviewsDentists in Temple CityRanked by reviewsDentists in Toluca LakeRanked by reviewsDentists in TorranceRanked by reviewsDentists in ValenciaRanked by reviewsDentists in WalnutRanked by reviewsDentists in West CovinaRanked by reviewsDentists in WhittierRanked by reviewsDentists in Westlake VillageRanked by reviewsDentists in Foothill RanchRanked by reviewsDentists in Fountain ValleyRanked by reviewsDentists in Huntington BeachRanked by reviewsDentists in Laguna BeachRanked by reviewsDentists in Laguna HillsRanked by reviewsDentists in Laguna NiguelRanked by reviewsDentists in Lake ForestRanked by reviewsDentists in La HabraRanked by reviewsDentists in Newbury ParkRanked by reviewsDentists in OjaiRanked by reviewsDentists in Simi ValleyRanked by reviewsDentists in Thousand OaksRanked by reviewsDentists in VenturaRanked by reviews

Not sure how urgent it is?

The tooth-pain symptom checker walks your exact symptoms to a likely cause and tells you whether it’s a tonight, this-week or routine problem.

Go to the ER instead of a dentist if…

Swelling is closing your throat or affecting breathing or swallowing, you have facial trauma with possible broken bones, or bleeding won't stop after 20 minutes of firm pressure. Those are hospital problems first; the tooth gets handled after.

The first 30 minutes matter for a knocked-out tooth

Pick the tooth up by the crown (not the root), rinse it gently, and try to seat it back in the socket. If that's not possible, keep it in milk or tucked in your cheek and get to a dentist within 30 to 60 minutes, reimplantation odds drop fast after that.

Common questions

How much does an emergency dental visit cost in LA?

An emergency exam with an X-ray typically runs $75 to $400 in Los Angeles. Treatment is separate: expect roughly $200 to $650 for an extraction, $900 to $1,900 for a root canal, and $1,000 to $2,000 for a crown. Offices quote before treating, ask for the number in writing.

Can I go to an emergency room for a toothache?

ERs can manage pain and infection with medication, but almost none can treat the tooth itself. Unless you have the red-flag symptoms above, a same-day dental appointment fixes the cause instead of renting relief.

What counts as a real dental emergency?

Knocked-out or badly loosened teeth, swelling of the face or gums with fever, uncontrolled bleeding, and pain that keeps you from sleeping. A chipped tooth without pain or a lost filling is urgent-but-not-tonight, book the next available slot and avoid chewing on that side.