Emergency Dentistry
Dental emergencies can happen at any time: severe tooth pain, a broken or knocked-out tooth. They’re distressing. Call BU Dental in Pleasant Hill and we will tell you what to do next.
Same-day evaluations guaranteed. After hours, the emergency option reaches a dentist.
Call (925) 687-0343When to go to an emergency room instead
A dental office is the right place for most tooth problems. A few situations are medical emergencies rather than dental ones, and they need a hospital now, not a call to us.
Go straight to an emergency room, or call 911, if you have any of these:
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Swelling that is spreading toward your eye or down your neck
- Bleeding that will not stop
- A fever with facial swelling
- A jaw or facial injury from a serious accident, or any injury with a possible head injury
If any of these apply, go now. Do not call us first and do not wait for a call back. We will pick up the dental side once you are safe.
How our emergency care works
Call BU Dental for a guaranteed same-day emergency evaluation. The dentist will evaluate your urgent concern and determine the next steps. After hours, the emergency option on our phone line reaches Dr. Uddaraju or Dr. Bautista directly.
What counts as a dental emergency?
When in doubt, call. We’ll tell you honestly whether it can wait. If any of the emergency-room signs above apply, go there instead of calling.
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Severe tooth pain
Persistent or intense pain is your body’s signal that something needs attention now.
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Broken or knocked-out teeth
Fast action can often save the tooth, so call immediately. If a tooth has been knocked out, handle it by the crown rather than the root and do not scrub it. Keep it moist and come straight in. A container of milk is ideal; if there is no milk to hand, the patient’s own saliva works: spit into a clean container and keep the tooth in that. Kept moist and reimplanted quickly, a knocked-out tooth can often be saved.
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Dental abscess
Swelling or infection should never wait; it can spread and become serious.
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Cracked tooth or lost filling
A loose or broken filling or a cracked tooth may also need urgent care to prevent worse damage.
What to expect from your same-day evaluation
We evaluate the area of concern, take any necessary radiographs and clinical photographs, and complete a thorough clinical exam. Then we determine next steps together. Often that is treatment we can provide right away; when a specialist is the right answer, we refer you and coordinate the hand-off.
Common questions about getting seenCommon questions
How quickly can I be seen?
We guarantee a same-day emergency evaluation. Call (925) 687-0343 and we will get you in.
What happens if I call at night or on a weekend?
Call the same number: (925) 687-0343. Choose the emergency option and the call transfers automatically to Dr. Uddaraju or Dr. Bautista, ringing the doctor’s own phone rather than an answering service. We triage over the phone: a true emergency comes in for evaluation, and otherwise we guide you through staying comfortable until we can see you in the office.
I’m not an existing patient. Can I still come in?
Yes. We accept new emergency patients of all ages. Call (925) 687-0343 for urgent care rather than scheduling online.
A tooth got knocked out. What do I do right now?
Keep the tooth moist and come straight in. Call (925) 687-0343 on your way. Handle it by the crown rather than the root, and do not scrub it. A container of milk is ideal. If there is no milk to hand, the person’s own saliva works: spit into a clean container and keep the tooth in that. Reimplanted quickly, a knocked-out tooth can often be saved.
What if I don’t have insurance?
BU Dental accepts all PPO plans. We are in network with Delta and insurances under the Zelis umbrella. Acceptance and network status do not guarantee coverage. Current Club BU discounts apply to emergency treatment when you enroll, and Cherry is available. See Membership and financing options for current terms.
Emergency dental care at our Pleasant Hill office
401 Gregory Lane, Suite 218, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523The medical-dental building has ample parking, an elevator, and a wheelchair ramp.
Coming in after hours? Call ahead and we will tell you exactly where to go. Call (925) 687-0343
We see emergency patients from Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Concord, Martinez, Lafayette, and nearby communities.
Get directions to our Pleasant Hill officeCall for an emergency evaluation
Dr. Uddaraju and Dr. Bautista are here when you need them, with a guaranteed same-day evaluation. After hours, the emergency option puts you straight through to one of them.