Same-day care for facial swelling, dental infections, broken or knocked-out teeth and problems after surgery, with a 24/7 surgeon line for after-hours advice.
Some problems can't wait for the next available appointment. Swelling in the face or jaw, a severe toothache, a broken or knocked-out tooth, or a problem after surgery all deserve prompt attention. Every Molly office keeps time each day for urgent patients, and our surgeons see patients who are new to us as well as our own.
When to call 911 or go to the emergency room
Go to a hospital emergency department or call 911 if you have swelling that makes it hard to breathe, swallow or open your mouth, swelling spreading toward your eye or down your neck, a high fever with facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or a head injury with confusion, vomiting or loss of consciousness. These can be serious, and hospitals have the resources to manage them. Our surgeons often provide on-call care at local hospitals for facial injuries and infections.
What we see the same day
- Dental infections and abscesses. Swelling, a bad taste or throbbing pain around a tooth. Your surgeon may drain the infection, remove the tooth and prescribe antibiotics.
- Wisdom tooth flare-ups. Swollen, painful gum over a partly erupted tooth (pericoronitis).
- Broken teeth. Teeth that have split or broken below the gum and can't be saved.
- Knocked-out teeth. An adult tooth that comes out completely has the best chance of survival if it is put back within about an hour. Hold it by the crown, not the root, rinse it briefly if dirty, and if you can, put it back in its socket. If not, keep it in milk or inside your cheek and come straight in.
- Jaw and facial injuries. Assessed promptly, with a 3D cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan where needed. See facial trauma.
- Problems after surgery. Including dry socket, bleeding or increasing swelling, whether your surgery was at Molly or elsewhere.
How urgent visits work
Call your nearest office during the day. We'll ask a few questions, tell you whether to come in or go to a hospital, and give you a time, usually the same day. Your surgeon examines you, takes the imaging needed, explains what is happening and what it will cost before treating, and relieves the pain. Many problems are treated at that visit under local anesthetic, with IV sedation available if you have fasted and have a driver.
After hours, the 24/7 surgeon line connects you with a Molly oral surgeon any night of the week. They can talk you through what to do, call in a prescription when appropriate, and arrange to see you first thing in the morning.
