Emergency Dental Service in South Gate, CA
In pain right now? Call (323) 567-1821. Our South Gate office on California Ave keeps same-day emergency appointments open 7 days a week, including Saturday and Sunday. Dr. Dona Torbati and Dr. Shaila Torbati treat toothaches, broken teeth, swelling and knocked-out teeth for children and adults. We accept Medi-Cal Dental and all PPO plans, and our team speaks English and Spanish.
Is This a Dental Emergency?
A dental problem is an emergency when it involves severe pain, swelling, bleeding, infection, or a tooth you might lose. Call us the same day if you have:
- A severe toothache that keeps you up at night or doesn’t ease with over-the-counter medicine
- Swelling in your gum, cheek, jaw or face
- A knocked-out tooth or a tooth pushed out of place
- A cracked or broken tooth, especially with pain or a sharp edge
- A pimple-like bump on the gum, a bad taste, or throbbing pain (signs of an abscess)
- A lost crown or filling that hurts or leaves a sharp edge
- Bleeding that won’t stop after 10–15 minutes of firm pressure
- A broken braces wire cutting your cheek or gum
Not sure? Call and describe what’s happening. Our team will tell you how soon you should be seen.
When to Go to the Emergency Room Instead
Some situations need medical care before dental care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, such as St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, if you have:
- A suspected broken or dislocated jaw
- Facial swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow
- A dental abscess with heavy swelling in your neck or face, especially with a fever
- A serious head or neck injury after an accident
- Bleeding that will not stop with firm pressure
Once the medical emergency is under control, call us and we will take care of the dental side.
What to Do Until You Get Here
These steps can ease pain and protect the tooth on your way to our office. They don’t replace an exam.
Knocked-Out Adult Tooth
Time matters most. Try to be seen within 30 minutes, although a tooth can sometimes be saved even later (American Association of Endodontists).
- Pick the tooth up by the crown (the chewing part). Don’t touch the root.
- If it’s dirty, rinse it briefly. Don’t scrub it, dry it, or wrap it in tissue.
- If you can, gently push it back into the socket and bite on clean gauze to hold it.
- If you can’t, keep it moist in milk or tucked inside your cheek. Don’t store it in tap water.
- Call (323) 567-1821 and come straight in.
Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
Don’t put a baby tooth back in. Doing so can harm the adult tooth growing underneath. Press clean gauze on the spot to stop bleeding and call us so we can check your child’s mouth.
Severe Toothache or Swelling
Rinse with warm salt water and gently floss to remove trapped food. Put a cold compress on the outside of your cheek, 15 minutes on and 15 off. Don’t put heat on the area, and don’t place aspirin on the gum, because it can burn the tissue. An over-the-counter pain reliever taken as directed on the label may help; ask a pharmacist if you take other medicines. Pain medicine doesn’t treat infection, so swelling still needs a dentist.
Cracked, Chipped or Broken Tooth
Rinse with warm water, save any pieces in milk or water, and use a cold compress if your lip or cheek is swollen. Avoid chewing on that side. A crack can spread even when it doesn’t hurt, so call us the same day.
Lost Crown or Filling
Keep the crown and bring it with you. Pharmacy temporary dental cement can cover a sensitive tooth for a day or two. Never use household glue. Avoid sticky or hard food on that side until we can re-cement or replace it.
Bleeding After an Extraction or Injury
Bite firmly on clean gauze or a damp tea bag for 15–20 minutes without checking. If bleeding is still heavy after that, or a cut is deep, call us. If bleeding won’t stop, go to an ER.
Emergency Treatment at Our South Gate Office
When we can, we fix the problem at the same visit, so you leave out of pain with a plan for anything that’s left. Emergency care at our office includes:
- Emergency tooth extraction for teeth that can’t be saved (dental extractions)
- Root canal therapy to remove infection and keep the tooth (root canal)
- Abscess treatment, including drainage and antibiotics when needed
- Same-day crowns with CEREC technology for broken teeth (same-day crowns)
- Dental bonding and tooth-colored fillings for chips and lost fillings
- Re-cementing crowns and bridges that have come loose
- Splinting loose or shifted teeth after an injury
- Relief for wisdom tooth pain and gum swelling around a partly erupted tooth (wisdom teeth swelling)
If a tooth is lost, we’ll walk you through replacement options such as a bridge or a dental implant once you’re comfortable. Sedation options are available if you’re anxious.
What Happens at Your Emergency Visit
- Call first. Tell us what happened so we can hold a same-day opening and prepare.
- Exam and X-ray. The dentist finds the cause of the pain, not just where it hurts.
- Options and cost. We explain what we found, your choices, and the cost before any treatment begins.
- Relief. We treat the emergency the same day when possible, or stabilize it and book the follow-up.
- Aftercare. You leave with written instructions in English or Spanish and a number to call.
Insurance, Medi-Cal and the Cost of Emergency Care
We accept Medi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal), all PPO plans and most HMO plans. Our team verifies your benefits before treatment, so you know your costs up front. We don’t charge an extra fee for emergency visits. You pay for the treatment you receive, just as at a regular appointment.
Medi-Cal and emergency-only dental coverage: since July 1, 2026, some adults on Medi-Cal have dental coverage for emergencies only. Emergency care still includes treatment for severe pain, swelling, infection, bleeding that won’t stop, and a broken or knocked-out tooth (California DHCS). If you’re not sure what your Medi-Cal covers, call us and we’ll check before we start.
No insurance? Ask about CareCredit with 0% interest payment plans for qualified patients.
Why South Gate Patients Trust Us for Emergency Dental Care
- 8 stars from 700+ Google reviews. Many come from patients seen the same day for pain, including on Sundays.
- Open 7 days a week including weekends and evenings
- Same-day emergency appointments we fit you in the day you call
- Experienced dentists Dr. Dona Torbati and Dr. Shaila Torbati
- Sedation options available for nervous or anxious patients
- Full-service office we handle the emergency and the follow-up treatment in one place
- Emergency care and follow-up in one place, including root canals, crowns and implants.
- Se habla español. Our team explains treatment and costs in English or Spanish.
We serve patients from South Gate, Lynwood, Huntington Park, Cudahy, Bell, Walnut Park, and surrounding areas of Los Angeles County.
Emergency Dental Care Near South Gate
Summer Smile Dental is at 8116 California Ave, South Gate, CA 90280. Patients come to us for emergency care from Lynwood, Huntington Park, Cudahy, Bell Gardens, Bell, Walnut Park and other parts of Southeast Los Angeles County. Get directions or call (323) 567-1821.
Frequently Asked Questions
We prioritize emergency patients and aim to see you the same day you call. Call (323) 567-1821 as early as possible even on weekends.
Any situation involving severe pain, significant bleeding, a knocked-out or cracked tooth, a lost crown or filling, or signs of infection is a dental emergency. When in doubt, call us and describe your symptoms we’ll let you know how urgently you need to be seen.
It’s an informal rule shared online about taking an over-the-counter pain reliever on a set schedule for a few days. It isn’t a treatment. Pain medicine can dull a toothache, but it won’t clear an infection. Follow the label or ask a pharmacist about dosing, and see a dentist.
Often, yes. After an exam and X-ray, the dentist will tell you whether the tooth can be saved, for example with a root canal and crown, or whether an extraction is the better choice.
No. We don’t charge a premium for emergency visits. You’ll be billed for the treatment performed, just like any standard appointment. We’ll give you a clear breakdown before we start any work.
Unlike a permanent tooth, a knocked-out baby tooth should not be re-implanted — doing so can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. Call our office right away and we’ll advise you on next steps.
This is a time-sensitive emergency. Follow the steps above (rinse, store in milk, get in immediately) and call us at (323) 567-1821. The sooner you act, the better the chance of saving the tooth.
No. Abscesses are bacterial infections that require treatment. They will not resolve without professional care and can become life-threatening if the infection spreads. Call us immediately if you suspect an abscess.
Yes. Pain disappearing doesn’t mean the problem is resolved. It can mean the nerve has died, which often precedes a more serious infection. You should still be evaluated.
In Pain? Don't Wait.
Our South Gate dental office is open 7 days a week and ready to see you today. Whether it’s a broken tooth, severe toothache, or something you’re not sure about give us a call and we’ll help you figure out the next step.
Summer smile Dental
Location
8116 California ave. South Gate ca 90280
Mon-Fri 10:00AM – 7:00PM
Sat-Sun 09:00AM – 6:00PM