Emergency Dentist in Beaverton, OR
Toothache, broken tooth or dental injury? Call us. We care for children and adults and will guide you on what to do next.
Dental emergencies rarely happen at a convenient moment. What helps most is a clear head and a quick decision about where to go. This page covers how to tell an urgent problem from one that can wait, what to do until you are seen and when the emergency room is the better choice.
Is it a dental emergency?
Call us right away
- A knocked-out permanent tooth
- Severe or throbbing toothache that keeps you awake
- Facial or gum swelling, or a pimple-like bump on the gum
- A broken or cracked tooth with pain or sharp edges
- Mouth or lip injury after a fall or sports collision
- A lost crown or filling with pain or exposed tooth
- Bleeding that continues after an extraction
Usually can wait a day or two
- A small chip without pain
- Mild sensitivity to cold
- Food stuck between teeth
- A lost filling that is not painful
- A loose baby tooth that is ready to fall out
When in doubt, call. Describing your symptoms takes a few minutes, and we can help you decide whether to come in.
Emergency room or dentist?
Most tooth problems are best treated by a dentist, since ERs generally cannot repair teeth and may just offer pain control or antibiotics. But some situations belong in the ER first:
Go to the ER or call 911 for trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, a fever with facial swelling, severe bleeding that will not stop with pressure, or a serious head injury, especially with confusion, vomiting or loss of consciousness.
These can be signs of a spreading infection or a more serious injury. Once you are stable, follow up with a dentist for the tooth itself. If you are unsure, call us first at (503) 822-0096 and we will help you sort it out.
What to do at home, problem by problem
Knocked-out permanent tooth
Find it and pick it up by the crown, not the root. If dirty, rinse it briefly with water; do not scrub. Try placing it back in the socket and hold it there. If you cannot, keep it moist in milk or in your cheek if the person is old enough not to swallow it. Call us immediately: minutes matter. Do not try to replant a knocked-out baby tooth.
Toothache
Rinse with warm water, gently floss to remove trapped food and use a cold compress on the cheek. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help if they are safe for you, taken as directed. Do not put aspirin against the gum. Toothaches that linger usually mean infection or decay, so call.
Chipped or broken tooth
Rinse and save any pieces. Apply a cold pack for swelling and cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or dental wax. Call to be seen, especially if there is pain, or if the tooth looks pink inside.
Lost filling or crown
Keep the crown if you can. Avoid chewing on that side, and in a pinch, temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can hold it briefly. Call us; do not use household glue.
Cut lip, cheek or tongue
Rinse gently and apply firm pressure with clean gauze. Apply a cold pack outside for swelling. If bleeding will not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of steady pressure, head to the ER.
Swelling or abscess
A gum bump or swollen cheek can mean infection. Warm salt-water rinses may ease discomfort but will not cure it. Call the same day, and go to the ER if swelling spreads or you cannot swallow or breathe well.
Children, teens and adults are all welcome
Bien Dental is a pediatric-focused practice that also cares for adults and families, so a family dentist Beaverton parents can call about everyone in the house. Dr. Hsu leads children’s urgent care, and Dr. Gvozden, who has hospital-based surgical training and more than 40 years of clinical experience, cares for adult emergencies, including extractions and infections.
Kids have their own considerations: baby versus permanent teeth, comfort and a frightened child. Read our companion page on children’s dental emergencies for kid-specific detail. Sports and playground injuries are common, and mouthguards help prevent them.
What happens when you call
- Tell us what happened. Share who is hurt, when it occurred and what symptoms there are.
- We triage. We will advise whether you should come in, what to do at home meanwhile or whether the ER is the right choice.
- Get seen when possible. We do our best to fit urgent problems in. Call to find out what is available; we do not offer 24-hour service, so if the problem is serious and you cannot reach us, go to the ER.
- Treat and follow up. The first goal is relief and stabilizing the problem. Longer-term repair may be scheduled for a separate visit.
Not a current patient? You are welcome to call. Emergency treatment is a good way to meet us, and our new patient page explains what to bring. For questions about costs, see insurance and financing.
Preventing the next emergency
- Keep regular checkups; small problems found early rarely become midnight problems
- Wear a mouthguard for contact sports, and a night guard if you grind
- Avoid chewing ice, hard candy and opening packages with teeth
- Keep our number saved in your phone: (503) 822-0096
We serve Beaverton, Aloha, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin and nearby communities. Our office is at 18355 SW Alexander St, Beaverton. See tooth extractions and root canal therapy for treatments that often follow an urgent visit.
Office hours and insurance for urgent visits
During our office hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, call (503) 822-0096 as soon as a problem starts and describe what is happening. We accept almost all dental insurance and the Oregon Health Plan for urgent visits, and we will sort out billing after you or your child are comfortable. Outside office hours, or for swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, go to the ER or call 911.
Questions parents (and adults) often ask
What counts as a dental emergency?
A knocked-out permanent tooth, severe pain, swelling, a broken tooth with pain, mouth injuries, and bleeding that will not stop are all reasons to call promptly.
Should I go to the ER or call a dentist?
Call a dentist for most tooth problems. Go to the ER or call 911 for trouble breathing or swallowing, rapidly spreading facial swelling, severe uncontrolled bleeding or a serious head injury.
What should I do if a tooth is knocked out?
Handle it by the crown, rinse gently, try to put it back in the socket or keep it in milk, and call us immediately. Do not replant a baby tooth.
Do you see children for dental emergencies?
Yes. Dr. Hsu cares for children, and Dr. Gvozden cares for adults. Our page on children’s dental emergencies has more kid-specific detail.
Are you open 24 hours for emergencies?
No. Call (503) 822-0096 to find out how we can help and when we can see you. If it is serious and we cannot be reached, go to the nearest emergency room.
Can I take pain medicine while waiting for my appointment?
Over-the-counter pain relievers taken as directed on the label can help if they are safe for you. Never place aspirin on the gum, and ask us or your physician if you have medical concerns.
Do I need to be an existing patient?
No. New patients are welcome to call about urgent problems. We may ask a few questions about your health history over the phone.
Ready to book your child’s visit?
Tell us a little about your family and we’ll reach out to find a time that works. New patients — kids, teens and adults — are welcome, and we accept almost all dental insurance and the Oregon Health Plan (OHP).