Is a Toothache a Dental Emergency?

Treat it as one if it is not settling down. Call us first at (225) 775-0160 instead of waiting to see whether it passes, because we hold time each day for same-day emergencies.

How Long Do I Have to Save a Knocked-Out Tooth?

Try to reach us within the hour, which is the window where putting the tooth back has the best chance. Keep it moist in milk or saliva until you arrive.

Can I Reach Someone After Hours?

Yes. Our phones are monitored 24/7, so call (225) 775-0160 any time something goes wrong. For heavy bleeding or facial swelling that affects your breathing or vision, go to the emergency room.

What Counts as a Dental Emergency in Baton Rouge (and What to Do Before You Arrive)

November 3, 2026

A dental emergency is any tooth problem that should not wait for a routine visit: a knocked-out tooth, a cracked tooth, an abscess, a lost crown, or pain that is not settling down. If you are in Baton Rouge, call Rabel Family Dentistry first at (225) 775-0160. We hold time each day for same-day emergencies, and the steps below will help you protect your tooth until you arrive.

What Counts as a Dental Emergency

Not every dental problem is urgent, but these are the ones we ask you to call about right away:

A knocked-out tooth. Time matters most here.
A broken or cracked tooth. A crack should be seen as soon as possible.
An abscess.
A lost crown.
Pain that keeps going. Do not wait to see whether it settles down.

Orthodontic emergencies count too. Whatever the problem, call first.

When to Go to the Emergency Room Instead

Go to the emergency room, not the dental office, if you have heavy bleeding or facial swelling that affects your breathing or your vision. Get medical care first and call us about the tooth afterward.

What to Do Before You Arrive

1. Call Us First

Call (225) 775-0160 before you head over. Our phones are monitored 24/7, so you can reach someone after hours too.

2. Save a Knocked-Out Tooth

Keep the tooth moist in milk or saliva and try to reach us within the hour. That is the window where putting it back has the best chance.

3. Gather the Pieces of a Broken Tooth

Collect any pieces carefully and bring them with you. If you cannot find the missing piece, a dentist can still repair the tooth.

4. Rinse for a Crack, Abscess or Lost Crown

Rinse with warm salt water, then call us.

5. Bring What We Need

Bring a photo ID, your insurance card or Medicaid or LaCHIP information, a list of your current medications, and any recent dental records or X-rays you have. Same-day visits may be shorter than a routine appointment, depending on availability.

What Can Wait a Little

If you cannot find the missing piece of a broken tooth, that is not an emergency in itself but call for an appointment as soon as possible. The same goes for a child’s loose tooth: bring your child in so we can see whether it tightens on its own. A chipped tooth is worth a call too: if the chip is deep enough, it can cause pain and discomfort. For more on kids’ injuries, read about sports-related tooth injuries or visit our children’s dentist in Baton Rouge page.

Emergency Dental Care in Baker and Baton Rouge

Our office is at 3114 Groom Road in Baker, about 12 miles north of downtown Baton Rouge, and we see patients from Zachary, Central and north Baton Rouge. We are open Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Learn more about our same-day and emergency appointments. Dr. Brett Rabel and Dr. Mike Rabel are brothers who grew up here and lead our general dentist in Baton Rouge practice. Both hold conscious sedation permits through the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry, which matters if dental fear is part of the problem.

Cost should not keep you from calling. You get the same written cost estimate before treatment that an insured patient gets, we accept CareCredit and offer interest-free payment plans on larger treatment, and we participate in Medicaid, LaCHIP and Head Start. See our financial and insurance page for details.

If you were hurt at work, we provide the documentation, treatment and follow-up care a dental workers’ compensation case requires. Learn more about workers’ compensation and injury cases.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Emergencies in Baton Rouge

Is a Toothache a Dental Emergency?
Treat it as one if it is not settling down. Call us first at (225) 775-0160 instead of waiting to see whether it passes, because we hold time each day for same-day emergencies.
How Long Do I Have to Save a Knocked-Out Tooth?
Try to reach us within the hour, which is the window where putting the tooth back has the best chance. Keep it moist in milk or saliva until you arrive.
Does Rabel Family Dentistry See Emergency Patients Without Insurance?
Yes. You get the same written cost estimate before treatment that an insured patient gets. We accept CareCredit and offer interest-free payment plans on larger treatment.
Can I Reach Someone After Hours?
Yes. Our phones are monitored 24/7, so call (225) 775-0160 any time something goes wrong. For heavy bleeding or facial swelling that affects your breathing or vision, go to the emergency room.