What Counts as a Real Dental Emergency?
Not every dental problem needs same-day treatment, but some absolutely do. A real dental emergency typically involves one or more of the following:
- Severe, throbbing pain that wakes you up at night or prevents normal activity
- A tooth that has been completely knocked out of the socket (avulsion)
- A tooth that has been cracked, fractured, or partially broken
- A crown, bridge, or filling that has come out
- Bleeding from the mouth that does not stop after 10–15 minutes of gentle pressure
- Swelling of the face, jaw, or gums — especially with fever
- A visible abscess (pus-filled bump) on the gums
- Trauma to the jaw, lips, or face after an accident or fall
- A persistent bad taste or odor in the mouth that suggests infection
If any of these apply, treatment should not wait. Call (305) 339-5701. Our team will guide you through immediate first aid by phone while we prepare a chair for you.
By contrast, a slightly chipped tooth that isn’t painful, a wisdom tooth that’s been mildly sore for weeks, or a routine cavity can usually wait until normal business hours. We can still see these patients quickly — usually within a day or two — but they don’t require interrupting your evening.
The 7 Most Common Dental Emergencies We Treat in Aventura
Based on our records over the past two years, these are the seven most common emergencies we see at our Aventura office:
- Knocked-out tooth (avulsion). The most time-sensitive emergency in dentistry. The tooth has the best chance of being saved if reimplanted within 30–60 minutes.
- Severe toothache from infection or cracked tooth. Often comes on quickly, intensifies at night, and may radiate to the ear or jaw. Frequently caused by a deep cavity reaching the nerve or a hairline crack.
- Broken or chipped tooth. Sometimes painless, sometimes excruciating depending on whether the nerve is exposed. Both should be evaluated quickly to prevent infection.
- Lost or broken crown or filling. Common in older restorations (10+ years old). Exposes underlying tooth structure to bacteria and decay.
- Abscess or facial swelling. A serious infection that can spread. Always requires same-day treatment, often with antibiotics and drainage.
- Soft-tissue injury. Cuts to the lip, cheek, tongue, or gums — common after sports injuries, falls, or accidents.
- Broken or lost denture / partial. Especially urgent for patients who depend on their dentures for eating and speaking.
What To Do in the First 30 Minutes — Step by Step
Here are step-by-step instructions for the most common dental emergencies. In every case, call (305) 339-5701 as early as possible — we can give you specific advice based on your situation.
If you have a knocked-out adult tooth:
- Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white part). Never touch the root.
- If dirty, rinse gently with cool water for no more than 10 seconds. Do not scrub, do not use soap.
- If possible, place the tooth back in its socket and bite down gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
- If reimplantation is not possible, store the tooth in milk, in saliva, or in a tooth preservation kit. Do not store in water.
- Get to our office within 30–60 minutes. Time is critical for survival of the tooth.
If you have severe pain:
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in 8 oz water).
- Gently floss around the painful tooth in case food is trapped.
- Take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) 400–600 mg if you have no contraindications. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is an alternative.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your face — 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off.
- Do not apply heat. Do not place aspirin directly on the gum (this causes chemical burns).
- Call us. Severe pain that persists for more than a few hours usually indicates infection or nerve involvement and needs urgent care.
If you have a broken tooth:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- If there is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with gauze for 10 minutes.
- If you can find the broken fragment, save it in milk — sometimes it can be reattached.
- Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
- Avoid chewing on that side until you are seen.
If you have a lost crown:
- Save the crown — keep it clean and dry.
- Do not try to glue it back with household glue.
- If the underlying tooth is sensitive, you can buy temporary dental cement at any pharmacy and use it to hold the crown in place until your appointment.
- Schedule an appointment within 1–3 days. While not always a true emergency, exposed tooth structure can decay quickly.
If you have facial swelling:
- Call (305) 339-5701 immediately.
- Do not apply heat to the area — this can spread infection.
- If swelling extends to your eye, makes breathing or swallowing difficult, or comes with high fever, go to the emergency room (Aventura Hospital).
- Otherwise, head to our office for evaluation, drainage if needed, and antibiotics.
When You Should Go to the ER vs an Emergency Dentist
Most dental emergencies are better treated by an emergency dentist than at a hospital emergency room. ER physicians can prescribe antibiotics and painkillers, but they do not perform actual dental procedures — meaning the source of the problem is left untreated. You’ll usually still need to see a dentist within 24 hours.
Go directly to the ER (Aventura Hospital, Memorial Hospital, or Jackson North) if:
- You have uncontrolled bleeding that does not stop after 20 minutes of pressure
- Swelling extends to your eye, neck, or throat, or makes breathing or swallowing difficult
- You have a high fever (above 101°F / 38.3°C) with facial swelling
- You have suffered a major facial injury with possible jaw fracture
- You have lost consciousness or had a head injury
For all other dental emergencies, call us first at (305) 339-5701. We can almost always see you the same day, and the treatment will actually address the cause of the problem — not just the symptoms.
How Much Does Emergency Dental Care Cost in Aventura?
Emergency dental costs vary significantly based on what is needed. Here are typical ranges at our office:
- Emergency exam + X-ray — free for new emergency patients
- Tooth extraction (simple) — $200 to $400
- Tooth extraction (surgical / impacted) — $400 to $800
- Emergency root canal therapy — $900 to $1,800 depending on the tooth
- Replacement of a lost crown — $1,000 to $1,800 for a new crown; recementing an existing crown is $100–$200
- Repair of a chipped tooth (composite bonding) — $200 to $500 per tooth
- Drainage of an abscess + antibiotic prescription — $150 to $300 in addition to the underlying treatment
- Splinting of a loose or repositioned tooth — $200 to $500
If you have insurance, emergency exams are typically fully covered. Many of the procedures above are partially covered (50–80%) under standard PPO plans. We verify coverage before treatment and provide a written estimate.
For patients without insurance, we offer CareCredit financing and in-house payment plans. The /finance/ page lists the full options.
Why Choose Dentist of Aventura for Emergency Care
There are dozens of dental offices in greater Aventura and the surrounding areas of Sunny Isles, North Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, and Hallandale. A few specific reasons emergency patients choose us:
- 24/7 emergency phone line monitored every day, including weekends and holidays
- Same-day appointments available in nearly all true emergency cases
- Free X-ray and office consultation for new emergency patients
- On-site Dr. Elaine Perez-Gutierrez, DMD, who handles surgical and complex cases personally — including emergency implant cases
- Multiple languages spoken — English, Spanish, Russian
- Located at 2627 NE 203rd St #112, easy parking, ground-floor access
- Recognized as #1 Dentist in South Florida 2023 (industry award)
We treat patients across the entire South Florida coast — Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, North Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, Surfside, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, and surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Are you open on weekends for dental emergencies?
Our regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. For true dental emergencies, our 24/7 phone line at (305) 339-5701 is monitored every day, including weekends and holidays. We can typically arrange weekend access for urgent cases.
Q2. Do you accept walk-ins for emergencies?
We strongly recommend calling first at (305) 339-5701. Calling lets us prepare a chair and reduce your wait time. If you walk in without calling, we’ll do our best to see you, but established same-day patients are seen first.
Q3. Do you accept insurance for emergency visits?
Yes. We accept most major PPO plans including Cigna, Delta Dental, MetLife, Aetna, Guardian, Humana, and United Concordia. Emergency exams are typically covered at 100% under preventive benefits. We verify coverage before treatment so there are no surprises.
Q4. Can a knocked-out tooth always be saved?
Not always. Survival depends on three factors: how quickly the tooth is reimplanted (ideally within 30–60 minutes), how the tooth was stored (milk or saliva is best), and the condition of the root surface. Even with everything done correctly, some teeth do not reattach. But the odds are much higher with fast action.
Q5. How fast can you see me if I call right now?
For true emergencies, in most cases we can see you within 1–2 hours of your call. Call (305) 339-5701 to get a specific time. Our team will give you immediate first-aid instructions by phone while you make your way to the office.
Q6. What if I have a dental emergency at night or on a holiday?
Call (305) 339-5701 — the emergency line is monitored 24/7. For situations involving uncontrolled bleeding, large facial swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or major trauma, go directly to the nearest ER (Aventura Hospital at 20900 Biscayne Blvd). For other emergencies, we will arrange same-day or next-morning care.
About the author
Dr. Elaine Perez-Gutierrez, DMD is a general and surgical dentist at Dentist of Aventura, licensed in both the United States and Cuba. She holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree and brings a wealth of international training in evidence-based dentistry to her practice. Her clinical focus includes advanced oral surgery and implantology — same-day extractions and implant placement, full-arch All-On-X restorations, bone augmentation, sinus lift procedures, and complex restorative cases. She also performs cosmetic and restorative work including porcelain veneers, zirconia crowns, bridges, and root canal therapy. Read her full bio here.
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📍 2627 NE 203rd St #112, Aventura, FL 33180
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