Serving the Van Nuys community

If you have ever experienced a dental emergency, you know how it can turn your life upside down. It seems like everything can be fine one moment, and then you break a tooth or develop a severe toothache. Suddenly all you can think about is getting relief – fast!

At Saticoy Plaza Dentistry, we understand how upsetting an emergency can be, so we want to provide the relief you need as quickly as possible. We always leave time in our schedule to accommodate you, and we are open five days a week including Saturday, so we can usually see you the same day if you have an emergency.

We know how upsetting emergencies can be, and we don’t want you to have to wait a moment longer than necessary to be seen. If you need an emergency dentist in Van Nuys, please call our office at (818) 708-9889, and we will arrange an appointment to see you as soon as possible.

• What types of emergencies do you treat?
• How do I know if I have an emergency?
• Should I make an emergency appointment for a mild toothache?
• Is a lost filling a dental emergency?
• What should I do if I lose a dental crown?
• How do I know if I need an emergency root canal?
• My tooth got knocked out! What should I do?
• Do you see patients for emergency tooth extraction?
• How should I contact you in an emergency?

What types of emergencies do you treat?

Dental emergencies come in all shapes and sizes, and the team at Saticoy Plaza Dentistry is here to help you get the care you need. Typical emergencies we treat are:

• Toothache
• Broken or chipped tooth
• Lost crown or filling
• Dental abscesses
• Knocked-out teeth

One of the most common emergencies we treat is severe pain. Any level of pain needs professional attention as soon as possible, and severe pain that prevents you from functioning is a sign that you may be in danger of losing the tooth. This type of pain is typically the result of severe tooth decay or an infected root canal.

A critical emergency that we need to address right away is a knocked-out tooth. If this happens to you or your child, protect the tooth by keeping the root moist in a cup of water, milk, or saliva, and call us immediately. There’s a good chance we can save the tooth if we see you right away.

How do I know if I have an emergency?

Call Saticoy Plaza Dentistry first. Every situation is different, and our staff is trained to provide guidance and determine the appropriate steps to take.

• Certain emergencies like a knocked-out tooth are obvious; we need to see you immediately because there’s a two-hour window in which we can successfully replace the tooth in its socket.
• Severe pain that prevents you from functioning indicates a critical problem like an infected root canal that is threatening your oral health.
• If you lose a crown or filling, you should make an appointment as soon as possible. But you may be able to wait a day or two if you can’t to see us right away.

If you have a problem, please don’t hesitate to contact us for any reason. We are your emergency dentist in Van Nuys, and we are here to help you.

Should I make an emergency appointment for a mild toothache?

A mild toothache that’s manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers is not a critical emergency. But we do need to see you as quickly as possible because any pain in your tooth is a sign that’s something’s not right. The pain may be bearable now, but if we don’t address the cause, you not only risk severe discomfort, but you may lose the tooth.

There are a number of reasons why you experience a toothache:

• Dental decay
• Cracked tooth
• Gum disease
• Inflammation of tooth pulp
• Dental abscess or infection
• Impacted tooth

Dr. Bacquet will perform an exam and take x-rays to get to the underlying cause for your pain. Whatever the reason for your pain, our goal is to provide the immediate relief you need and do whatever’s necessary to restore the tooth back to full health.

Is a lost filling a dental emergency?

If you believe you have lost a filling, it’s always a good idea to have Dr. Bacquet examine the tooth as soon as possible. Pain or sensitivity indicates that the tooth may be severely damaged or exposed. Without prompt treatment, the tooth may undergo irreversible nerve damage.

But even if you don't have any discomfort, and you may feel a sharp or rough spot on one of your teeth with your tongue, and it is still a good idea to have the tooth evaluated by a dental professional. Minor tooth damage such as a lost filling or chipped tooth can become more serious damage, if not treated early. As the problem becomes increasingly severe, the dental procedures required to treat the tooth become more complex and costly.

What should I do if I lose a dental crown?

If you lose a crown, the first step is to call Saticoy Plaza Dentistry for an emergency appointment. The next step is to keep the crown in a safe place by wrapping it in a tissue. In some cases, the crown can be re-cemented back in place.

But we need to know what caused the crown to come loose in the first place. A crown protects the structure of your tooth, but bacteria can still work its way underneath if you don’t brush and floss adequately. Also, habits such as chewing on ice and grinding your teeth can damage your crown just as they would damage your natural tooth.

Dental cement is made to be extremely strong and durable, so if these habits dislodge a crown, it’s likely that decay already compromised the seal. If we need to restore the tooth, it may be necessary to create a new crown.

How do I know if I need an emergency root canal?

The most obvious sign that you need immediate root canal treatment is severe pain that continues to worsen. This level of pain usually indicates that you are in imminent danger of losing the tooth if we don’t perform an emergency root canal.

We know that the thought of a root canal, even in an emergency, can be stressful. But postponing treatment only results in worse pain, and at some point, root canal treatment will no longer be a viable option, and we will need to remove the tooth.

At Saticoy Plaza Dentistry, we understand your concerns, and you can be confident that our team will provide all the support you need to help you relax and get the care you need.

My tooth got knocked out! What should I do?

While some emergencies can wait a day or two, we need to address a knocked-out tooth as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence because there’s a small window of a couple of hours in which we can replace the tooth successfully. Taking the following steps will increase the odds that we can save the tooth

Handle the tooth by the crown only and rinse it gently

• Be careful not to touch or disturb the root or any attached tissue
• If you’re comfortable with it, try to gently reinsert the tooth back in its socket
• If this isn’t possible, keep the root moist in a container of milk or saliva till you get to our office.
• You can also keep it moist by placing it in your cheek pocket until you get to our office.
• If you experience excessive bleeding or injury to your face or jaw, call 911 or go to the emergency room

Our priority is to preserve the structure of all your teeth for as long as possible. However, if we can’t save the tooth and continue to protect your overall health, we offer several options for replacing it including bridges, denture, or dental implants.

Do you see patients for emergency tooth extraction?

At Saticoy Plaza Dentistry, protecting your oral health is our most important goal. If you are in pain and need a tooth extraction, we can usually arrange to see you the same day.

Nobody likes the idea of having a tooth pulled, and we do everything possible to prevent this from happening. You may be so overwhelmed with pain that all you want is to be done with it, but if tooth extraction is our only option, Dr. Bacquet and our caring, compassionate dental team are here to help you.

The good news is that a conservative treatment like root canal may be more appropriate in your case. By performing a root canal instead of extraction, we can eliminate the source of pain and preserve your tooth.

How should I contact you in an emergency?

Call our office at (818) 708-9889 and speak to a knowledgeable member of our team. We are open four days a week until 6:30 PM and have hours from 9 to 4 on Saturdays, so we can usually see you the same day to provide the relief you need.