Do this right now
Call us first
Call (530) 406-1730 and say “toothache”. The front desk gives you a same-day time and tells you what to do until then.
Take pain relief you can normally take
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) works best for tooth pain; acetaminophen (Tylenol) if you cannot take ibuprofen. Follow the label. Never put aspirin on the gum — it burns.
Rinse with warm salt water
Half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, swish and spit. It eases the gum and clears food from around the tooth.
Floss gently around the tooth
A trapped piece of food can cause a surprising amount of pain. Floss once; do not dig at the tooth.
Cold compress on the cheek
Twenty minutes on, twenty off, if the face is swollen or the pain is sharp. No heat — it makes swelling worse.
Do not
- Very hot, cold or sweet food and drink on that side
- Chewing on the painful tooth
- Aspirin or any tablet placed directly on the gum
- Waiting “to see if it goes away” once there is swelling
Go to the ER instead of us if
- You have trouble breathing or swallowing.
- Swelling is spreading to the eye, under the jaw or down the neck.
- Bleeding will not stop after 15 minutes of firm pressure.
- There was a blow to the head with confusion, vomiting or loss of consciousness.
- Fever over 101°F (38.3°C) with facial swelling.
We are open Monday to Thursday 8 AM to 5 PM and Friday 9 AM to 2 PM and are not a 24-hour clinic. The nearest ER is Woodland Memorial Hospital, 2000 Sutter Place — or call 911.
What we do at the visit
X-ray and exam
One digital X-ray of the tooth shows a cavity, a crack, an abscess or a failing filling. Dr. Singh shows you the picture on screen.
Out of pain first
The tooth is numbed straight away. If there is infection we start antibiotics and, where needed, drain it the same visit.
The fix, explained with the cost
Usually a filling, a root canal, or an extraction. You get the options and the written fee before anything is done. Many are finished the same day.
What it costs
The emergency exam and X-ray fee is quoted when you call. Any treatment is priced in writing before it starts, and nothing is done without your OK. Most PPO plans cover emergency exams; monthly plans through CareCredit and Cherry. We do not accept HMO plans or Medi-Cal.
Request a same-day call
Three details and we call you. If it hurts badly, calling is faster: (530) 406-1730
Questions people ask
Can a toothache go away on its own?
The pain can fade for a while when the nerve dies, but the infection underneath does not go away. It comes back as an abscess, often worse. A toothache that lasted more than a day or two needs an X-ray.
Will I need a root canal?
Not always. A shallow cavity gets a filling. A root canal is needed when decay or a crack has reached the nerve. The X-ray decides, and Dr. Singh explains the choice and the cost before starting.
What can I take for tooth pain while I wait?
Ibuprofen is the most effective over-the-counter option for dental pain; acetaminophen is the alternative if you cannot take it. Take them as the label says. Numbing gels help for a few minutes only.
Can I be seen today if I am not an existing patient?
Yes. New patients with an emergency are seen the same day during office hours, Monday to Friday. Call (530) 406-1730 first thing.
Can the ER fix a toothache?
A hospital ER can give antibiotics and pain medicine but does not treat the tooth. For breathing difficulty, swelling that closes the eye or spreads to the neck, or a high fever, go to the ER; otherwise a same-day dentist visit solves the problem.
Other dental emergencies
Emergency dentist near: Davis · West Sacramento · Dixon · Winters · Esparto · Knights Landing