When a tooth hurts, swells or breaks, call us as early in the day as you can. We keep room for same-day emergency visits during office hours, find the cause with an exam and a digital X-ray, and relieve the pain first. Dr. Kim, DDS, a woman dentist, treats children and adults, and we speak English, Spanish and Korean.
What counts as a dental emergency
Call us the same day for a severe or throbbing toothache, swelling of the gum or face, a cracked or broken tooth, a knocked-out or loose tooth, a lost filling or crown, painful wisdom teeth, or bleeding after an injury.
Go to the nearest emergency room first if swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, if the swelling spreads toward the eye or neck with a fever, or if the jaw may be broken.
What to expect
Most emergency visits follow the same three steps.
1. Call us early
Tell us what happened and when it started. We fit you in the same day whenever we can during office hours.
2. Exam and X-ray
A focused exam and a digital X-ray show the cause, whether it is a deep cavity, an infection, a crack or a wisdom tooth.
3. Relief and a plan
We relieve the pain first, then explain your options and the cost before any further treatment.
Many emergencies are finished in the same visit, for example an extraction or a temporary filling. Others, such as a root canal or a crown, are started that day and completed at a follow-up visit.
Cost and insurance
Denti-Cal (Medi-Cal Dental) covers emergency exams, X-rays and many treatments such as extractions and fillings. Most PPO plans do as well. We explain the cost before treatment.
Payment plans are available: CareCredit, Sunbit, and in-house plans for larger treatments.
Dr. Kim's approach
Pain relief comes first, and saving the tooth comes next. If a tooth can be kept with a filling or a root canal, Dr. Kim tells you so; an extraction is recommended only when the tooth cannot be saved.
Anxious patients are welcome. We go slowly, explain each step, and make sure you are numb before we start.
Why Happy Light Dental for a dental emergency
Same-day care
Emergency visits are fit in the same day during office hours whenever possible. Call early.
Gentle hands
Dr. Kim, a woman dentist known for a gentle approach, takes extra care with nervous patients and children.
X-rays on site
Digital X-rays and a 3D CBCT scanner in the office find the cause without sending you elsewhere.
Your language
We speak English, Spanish and Korean.
Dental emergency questions
Ready to talk about a dental emergency?
Call (310) 644-4648 or book online. Se habla español · 한국어 진료 가능.