Emergency Dental Care
Same-day appointments for pain, swelling, trauma, and dental emergencies.
If you're in pain right now, don't wait for a regular appointment. Call us at (909) 567-2024 — we hold same-day slots for dental emergencies, and when they fill, we can usually get you in within the same week. Monteluz Dental Specialty Group in San Bernardino is not a general practice that dabbles in emergencies. We have board-certified oral surgeons and endodontists on-site, which means we can go further than pain management — we can perform root canals, surgical drainage, and extractions the same day you call. If you're in San Bernardino, Fontana, Rialto, Colton, or Redlands, we're the closest specialist-level emergency option in the Inland Empire. Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal are accepted.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is anything that can't wait — pain that keeps you up at night, swelling that's getting worse, a tooth that was knocked out, or a crown that broke off and left a sharp edge cutting your tongue. Here's a simple rule: if it's affecting your ability to eat, sleep, or function, it's an emergency. Common situations we see same-day include severe toothaches that don't respond to ibuprofen, dental abscesses with visible swelling or a bad taste in your mouth, teeth that were knocked out or broken in a fall or accident, lost crowns or fillings exposing sensitive tissue, and complications after a recent extraction or oral surgery procedure. If you're second-guessing whether your situation qualifies, call us anyway. The team at (909) 567-2024 will tell you honestly whether you need to come in today.
What to Do Before You Call Us
The 30 minutes before you arrive can make a real difference. Knocked-out tooth: Pick it up by the crown — not the root. Rinse gently, don't scrub. Place it back in the socket if you can, or keep it in milk. Time matters: the sooner you get here, the better the chance of saving it. Dental abscess: Don't apply heat. Cold pack on your cheek for 10-minute intervals helps. Ibuprofen reduces inflammation but won't treat the infection. Broken tooth: Rinse with warm water, apply light pressure with gauze if there's bleeding. Over-the-counter dental cement can temporarily protect exposed tissue. Lost crown: Bring the crown with you. Dental wax or temporary cement from a drugstore protects the tooth. Severe toothache: Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can take the edge off — don't place aspirin directly on the gum, it causes burns.
Why a Specialist Practice Matters for Emergencies
Most urgent dental clinics are staffed by general dentists who can take an X-ray, prescribe antibiotics, and maybe do a simple extraction. When you need something more — a root canal, surgical drainage of an abscess, or a complex extraction — a general dentist typically can't do it that day. They refer you out, and you wait. At Monteluz, our oral surgeons and endodontists are in the building. A board-certified endodontist handles root canals and complex nerve treatments. A board-certified oral surgeon handles extractions, surgical drainage, and dental trauma. When you come in as an emergency patient, the person treating you can actually complete the treatment — not just manage your pain until someone else can see you.
Common Emergencies We Treat
Severe toothache: Usually signals infection, a cracked root, or pulp damage. We identify the cause and treat it — not just the symptom. Dental abscess: Will not resolve on its own. We drain the infection and address the underlying cause, often the same day. Knocked-out tooth: If you get here within an hour or two, there's a real chance the tooth can be replanted. Call immediately. Broken tooth: We assess the full picture — bond, cap, or root canal and crown depending on the break. Lost crown or filling: We re-cement or place a new restoration. Post-surgical complications: Dry socket, excessive bleeding, worsening swelling — call us directly. Dental trauma: Sports injuries, falls, car accidents — our oral surgeons handle the full scope.
Medi-Cal and Emergency Dental Care
We accept Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal for emergency services. Emergency exams, X-rays, extractions, and certain restorative procedures are covered under Denti-Cal, though coverage details vary by plan. We'll verify your benefits when you call. If you don't have coverage, ask about payment options — we'd rather work something out than have someone sit in pain because they're not sure they can afford it.
Call Us Now
Call (909) 567-2024. Same-day appointments go fast — the earlier you call, the better your chances of getting in today. After hours, go to an emergency room if there's swelling near your jaw, eye, or neck, or if you're having difficulty breathing or swallowing — those are signs of a spreading infection. For everything else, call us first thing in the morning. We serve patients from San Bernardino, Fontana, Rialto, Colton, and Redlands. Our bilingual team is here Monday through Friday.
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Ready to be seen by a specialist?
Same-week appointments available. Most insurances accepted.