Emergency Dentist in Los Angeles
The short answer
Dental emergency? Dr. Farahnik is on call. Call (818) 658-9285
Dental emergency? Call (818) 658-9285. Dr. Faraz Farahnik, an emergency dentist in Los Angeles, is on call for emergencies, including evenings and weekends. He treats severe toothaches, broken or knocked-out teeth, swelling, and lost crowns or veneers. If swelling affects your breathing or swallowing, call 911. For bleeding that won't stop or serious facial trauma, go to an ER.
- Dentist
- Faraz Farahnik, DDS
- Training
- DDS, USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
- License
- California-licensed dentist
- Patients
- Patients travel from across the country and around the world.
Emergency Dentistry
What counts as a dental emergency?
Severe pain, swelling, bleeding, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, and signs of infection all need prompt care. In Dr. Farahnik's experience, minor chips, a dull ache or a loose filling that doesn't hurt can usually wait for a regular visit.
Call us promptly for:
- A knocked-out adult tooth
- A tooth that is badly broken, cracked down the middle, or pushed out of position
- Severe, throbbing or persistent tooth pain, especially with a bad taste or fever
- Swelling of the gums, face or jaw
- Swelling of the gum over a sore tooth that looks like a pimple, which can signal an abscess
- A lost crown, veneer or large filling that leaves a tooth painful or sharp
- Heavy bleeding several hours after a tooth extraction
- An injury to the teeth, lips or tongue from a fall or a blow to the face
Usually able to wait for a regular visit:
- A small chip that doesn't hurt and leaves no sharp edge
- Mild sensitivity to cold that fades quickly
- A dull, occasional ache with no swelling
- A crown or veneer that has fallen off but causes no discomfort (keep it safe)
Emergency Dentistry
What should I do right now?
Stay calm, protect the tooth or area, save any broken pieces, and call our Encino emergency dentist at (818) 658-9285. The steps below are first aid until Dr. Farahnik can see you. They don't replace treatment. The ADA's MouthHealthy page on dental emergencies covers the same first-aid basics.
If an adult tooth is knocked out
Put back only an adult tooth, never a baby tooth. Hold it by the crown (the white part you chew with), never by the root. If it's dirty, rinse it gently in milk, without scrubbing or wrapping it in tissue. If you can, push it gently back into its socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it. If that isn't possible, keep it in a small cup of milk or tucked inside your cheek, and call right away. Speed makes a real difference to saving the tooth.
Baby teeth are different: if a child knocks out a baby tooth, don't put it back in. Keep your child calm and call us so the area can be checked.
If a tooth is chipped or broken
Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any pieces in a clean container. Hold a cold compress against your cheek to limit swelling. If there's bleeding, press gently with clean gauze. Avoid chewing on that side.
If you have a severe toothache
Rinse with warm water and floss gently to remove anything caught between the teeth. A cold compress on the outside of the cheek can help. If you take an over-the-counter pain reliever, follow the label and your own doctor's advice. Never place aspirin or tablets directly on the gums, which can burn the tissue.
If your face or gums are swelling
Swelling often means infection. Call us promptly. If swelling in your face, cheek or neck makes it hard to breathe or swallow, call 911. If the swelling comes with a fever, call us right away, or go to an emergency room if you can't reach us. If your eye becomes swollen or painful or your eyesight changes, go to an emergency room.
If a crown, veneer or filling comes off
Call us and bring the restoration if you have it. Dr. Farahnik can then check it and rebond or replace it. Please don't try to reattach it yourself before you've spoken with us. Porcelain veneers
If you've bitten your lip or tongue
Clean the area gently and press a clean cloth against it. A cold compress helps with swelling. If bleeding doesn't stop with steady pressure, go to an emergency room.
If something is stuck between your teeth
Try to remove it gently with dental floss. Don't use pins, knives or other sharp objects, which can cut the gums or scratch the tooth. If it won't come out, call us.
Emergency Dentistry
What happens when you call?
When you call Veneers & Co. Dental Group in Encino, you'll describe what happened and how you feel. Together we'll work out how urgent the problem is and what should happen next. That might mean a visit to our emergency dentist office, first-aid advice, or a referral to emergency medical care.
Emergency Dentistry
What happens at an emergency dental visit?
At an emergency dentist visit in Encino, Dr. Farahnik's first goal is to relieve pain and stabilize the problem. The second is to plan any longer-term repair. Dr. Farahnik examines the area, takes any X-rays needed, explains what he finds, and tells you your options before treating.
Dr. Farahnik's emergency care depends on the cause. It might include cleaning out and treating an infected area, or smoothing or bonding a broken edge. He might also place a temporary filling or crown, recement a crown or veneer, splint a loosened tooth, or start a root canal. He can fully fix some problems in one visit. Others need stabilizing first and finishing at a later appointment.
If you need an extraction or surgical care, Dr. Farahnik works with the periodontist and oral surgeons on our in-house team.
Emergency Dentistry
What if a veneer, crown or implant is the problem?
Because so many of our patients have cosmetic or implant work, some emergencies involve restorations rather than natural teeth.
- A veneer that chips or comes off. Keep it and call. Dr. Farahnik may need to rebond, repair or replace a veneer that chips or loosens.
- A loose implant crown. Call us. A loose or twisting feel can come from a loosened screw, and a loose implant needs prompt attention.
- Pain or swelling around an implant. Call promptly; infection in the gums and bone around an implant can lead to it failing.
- A cracked temporary. Temporaries are for short-term use until your final restoration is ready.
Call us so Dr. Farahnik can repair or replace it, and keep the area clean in the meantime.
Emergency Dentistry
What if a problem starts after dental treatment?
Some discomfort after a procedure is normal, but certain signs mean you should call.
- Heavy bleeding several hours after an extraction, even after biting on damp gauze.
- Continued pain after an extraction, or the blood clot falling out days later (a dry socket).
- Severe swelling, pus, fever or chills, which can be signs of infection.
- A bite that doesn't feel right after a new veneer, crown or filling.
- A reaction after taking a new medicine. Trouble breathing is a 911 call.
If any of these happen after treatment with us, call your emergency dentist at (818) 658-9285.
Emergency Dentistry
What belongs in a dental first-aid kit?
A few inexpensive items make the first moments of an emergency easier. Keep them at home, in a gym bag or in your luggage.
- Clean gauze
- A travel-size carton of milk or a tooth preservation product with the ADA Seal of Acceptance, for a knocked-out tooth
- Dental floss
- A cold pack
- The pain reliever you normally use, with its label
- Our number saved in your phone: (818) 658-9285
Emergency Dentistry
How can I prevent dental emergencies?
Simple habits help you avoid some dental emergencies. Wear a mouthguard for sports, and avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, which can crack a tooth. Use scissors, never your teeth, to cut things open.
If you grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist whether a night guard would protect your natural teeth and porcelain. If a tooth has been sensitive for a while, have your dentist check it before it turns into a weekend emergency.
Emergency Dentistry
How much does emergency dental care cost?
The fee for an emergency dentist visit in Encino depends on what you need, from a simple recementation to treating an infection. We'll explain your options and the fee before treatment. The exception is immediate care to relieve severe pain, which we'll discuss with you as we go.
Dr. Farahnik works with all budgets and price ranges.
We accept all PPO insurance plans. Financing: CareCredit · Cherry · Sunbit · In-house financing
Questions
Frequently asked questions about dental emergencies in Los Angeles
When should I go to the emergency room instead of calling a dentist?
Call 911 when facial swelling affects your breathing or swallowing. For bleeding that won't stop or a serious injury to your face or jaw, go to an emergency room. A fever with facial swelling needs prompt care: call us right away, and if you can't reach us, go to an emergency room. Once you're safe, call us so we can help with the dental care that follows.
Is a toothache a dental emergency?
A severe or throbbing toothache can mean infection, especially with swelling, fever or a bad taste. Have it checked promptly. A mild ache that comes and goes can usually wait for a regular appointment, but don't ignore it.
What should I do if an adult tooth is knocked out?
Pick it up by the crown, not the root. If it's dirty, rinse it gently in milk without scrubbing. Try to place it back in its socket and bite gently on a clean cloth. If you can't, keep it in milk or inside your cheek. Call (818) 658-9285 right away, because time matters.
Is a chipped tooth an emergency?
A small chip without pain can usually wait for a regular visit. Get a sooner visit for a large break or a break with pain or bleeding. The same goes for a chip whose sharp edge cuts your tongue or cheek. Save any pieces and call us.
What should I do if a crown falls out?
Call us, and bring the crown with you if you have it. Dr. Farahnik will check the tooth and recement or replace the crown. Please don't try to reattach it yourself before you've spoken with us.
Can a dental abscess go away on its own?
No. Pain may ease if the abscess drains, but the infection is still there and can spread. An abscess needs dental treatment. Call 911 for trouble breathing or swallowing. If your face swells or you get a fever, call us right away, or go to an emergency room if you can't reach us.
What if I can't reach the practice during a dental emergency?
If swelling affects breathing or swallowing, call 911. For uncontrolled bleeding or serious trauma, go to the nearest emergency room, and for a fever with facial swelling, go to an emergency room. For a dental problem that can wait, leave a message and keep the area clean until we call you back.
The dentist
Who is the emergency dentist in Los Angeles?
Dr. Faraz Farahnik, DDS, is the emergency dentist at Veneers & Co. Dental Group in Encino, and he is on call for emergencies himself. Find us at 16260 Ventura Blvd, Suite 730, Encino, CA 91436. Meet Dr. Farahnik
- Education
- UCLA, with honors · DDS, USC, 2018
- Practicing
- Practicing dentist since 2018
- Languages
- English · Farsi
Your first step is a conversation.
Faraz Farahnik, DDS · USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
Begin
Should I wait to see if it gets better?
Dental problems rarely improve on their own. A quick call can save a tooth, or at least a lot of discomfort. If it hurts, if it's swollen, or if something broke, call Dr. Farahnik, your emergency dentist in Encino, at (818) 658-9285.