Emergency Dentist in Miami: What to Do and Where to Go Fast

A cracked tooth on a Saturday morning. A crown that pops off right before an important meeting in Brickell. A child's tooth knocked out at a Coconut Grove soccer game. Dental emergencies don't wait for convenient moments, and when one strikes, the decisions you make in the first hour can determine whether your tooth is saved or lost.

If you're searching for an emergency dentist in Miami, you need more than just an open appointment—you need a practice that can actually resolve the problem the same day, not simply manage your pain and schedule you weeks out. At Sharp Dentistry & Associates, we always accommodate and prioritize dental emergencies, and because we have specialists and a full in-house dental lab on-site, we can perform definitive treatments the same day you walk through our door.

This guide covers the most common dental emergencies, exactly what to do in each scenario before you reach us, and why having the right practice on speed dial makes all the difference.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Not every dental problem qualifies as a true emergency, but when pain is severe, a tooth is at risk, or bleeding won't stop, you need urgent dental care. Here are the situations we see most often at our Coconut Grove office.

Broken or Fractured Tooth

A hard bite on ice, a sports impact, or even a weakened tooth that finally gives way—fractures range from minor chips to deep cracks that expose the nerve. A tooth that breaks below the gumline or splits vertically is especially time-sensitive.

What to do immediately:

• Rinse your mouth gently with warm water
• Save any tooth fragments in a small container of milk or saliva
• Apply a cold compress to your cheek in 15-minute intervals to manage swelling
• Cover any sharp edges with dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your tongue and cheeks
• Contact us right away at 305-857-0990

Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Tooth

A completely knocked-out permanent tooth is the most time-critical dental emergency. If handled correctly and reimplanted within 30 to 60 minutes, there's a meaningful chance the tooth can survive.

What to do immediately:

• Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white part)—never touch the root
• If the root is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or saline; do not scrub it or use soap
• Try to place the tooth back in the socket gently and hold it in place by biting on a clean cloth
• If you can't reimplant it, store it in a container of cold milk, saliva, or a tooth preservation kit
• Get to our office or an emergency facility within 30 minutes if at all possible

Severe Toothache

A sudden, intense toothache—especially one that throbs, wakes you at night, or radiates to your ear or jaw—often signals an infection or inflammation deep inside the tooth. This won't resolve on its own and typically worsens without treatment.

What to do immediately:

• Rinse with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of water)
• Floss gently around the tooth to remove any trapped debris that may be contributing to pain
• Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen as directed on the package
• Do not place aspirin directly on the gum tissue—this causes chemical burns
• Call us to describe your symptoms so we can triage your case before you arrive

Lost Crown, Veneer, or Filling

A lost crown or veneer exposes prepared tooth structure that is vulnerable to sensitivity, fracture, and decay. While this may feel less dramatic than a knocked-out tooth, delaying treatment can turn a simple re-cementation into a much larger procedure.

What to do immediately:

• Keep the restoration if you still have it—bring it with you
• Apply a small amount of over-the-counter dental cement or denture adhesive as a temporary measure
• Avoid chewing on that side
• Do not use household glue of any kind

Dental Abscess

A dental abscess is a pocket of infection that can form at the root tip or along the gumline. Symptoms include a persistent throbbing ache, swelling in the face or jaw, fever, and sometimes a foul-tasting drainage in your mouth. Abscesses require professional treatment—left untreated, the infection can spread to the jaw, head, neck, or even become systemic.

What to do immediately:

• Rinse with mild salt water several times to help draw the infection toward the surface
• Do not attempt to pop or drain the abscess yourself
• Seek care promptly—this is one emergency that genuinely cannot wait

Why Same-Day Emergency Treatment Matters

Many dental offices can see emergency patients and manage pain with a prescription, but the actual repair—the crown, the root canal, the implant—gets scheduled weeks or even months later. During that gap, teeth shift, infections progress, and temporary fixes fail at the worst possible times.

Same-day dental emergency treatment changes that equation entirely. When the practice you visit has the clinical team, technology, and lab capacity to deliver definitive care on the spot, a single visit can take you from crisis to resolution.

This matters especially in scenarios like:

• A cracked tooth that needs a crown before the crack spreads further
• A lost veneer ahead of a professional event or travel
• An infected tooth requiring root canal therapy and immediate restoration
• A broken implant restoration that needs to be redesigned and fabricated

According to the latest trends in dental technology, AI-powered diagnostic tools and advanced 3D imaging like cone-beam CT scans are enabling faster and more accurate emergency assessments. At Sharp Dentistry, our cone-beam CT imaging gives us a complete three-dimensional view of the tooth, root, bone, and surrounding structures within seconds—so we can diagnose the problem definitively instead of guessing.

How Sharp Dentistry Handles Emergencies Differently

Not every dental practice is built the same way, and during an emergency, those differences become critical. Here's what sets our approach apart.

Every Specialist Under One Roof

A dental emergency can involve any part of the mouth. A fractured tooth might need an endodontist for root canal therapy, a periodontist if the gum and bone are affected, an oral surgeon if the tooth requires extraction, and a prosthodontist for the final restoration. At most practices, that means three or four referrals to different offices across South Florida, each with its own scheduling bottleneck.

At Sharp Dentistry, our team includes prosthodontists Dr. Bruno Sharp and Dr. Bernard Segall, board-certified periodontist Dr. Liliana Aranguren, plus an endodontist and oral surgeon—all practicing under one roof at our Coconut Grove location. When you come in with a complex emergency, the specialists consult in real time and can often complete multi-step treatment in a single extended visit.

In-House Dental Lab: Emergency Restorations in Hours, Not Weeks

Our on-site dental lab is one of the most significant advantages we offer emergency patients. When a crown breaks, a veneer is lost, or a tooth needs an immediate restoration after root canal therapy, our lab technicians fabricate the replacement right here—with direct input from the treating doctor.

Combined with our CEREC CAD/CAM system, we can design, mill, and place a permanent ceramic crown or veneer in a single appointment. For more complex restorations, our in-house lab can produce emergency work within 48 hours. There's no shipping to an off-site lab, no weeks of waiting with a fragile temporary, and no second-guessing the fit because the technician and doctor collaborate face to face.

Advanced Imaging for Accurate Emergency Diagnosis

Emergencies demand speed, but speed without accuracy leads to misdiagnosis. Our digital radiography and 3D cone-beam CT scanner allow us to see fracture lines, infections, bone loss, and nerve involvement that standard X-rays can miss. This means we treat the actual problem on your first visit rather than discovering it later.

What to Expect When You Call Us for an Emergency

We understand that a dental emergency is stressful. Here's what the process looks like when you reach out to us.

1. Phone triage: Call 305-857-0990 and describe your symptoms. Our team will assess urgency and provide immediate guidance while preparing for your arrival.
2. Rapid assessment: Once you're in our Coral Gables–area office, we'll perform a focused examination with digital imaging to identify the exact problem.
3. Treatment plan: Your doctor will explain the findings, walk you through your options, and—whenever possible—begin definitive treatment the same day.
4. Restoration and follow-up: If a crown, veneer, or other restoration is needed, our in-house lab and CEREC technology enable same-day fabrication in many cases. We'll schedule a brief follow-up to confirm healing.

For patients concerned about cost, our Sharp Smile Club membership provides affordable preventive care without insurance, and we offer no-interest financing options that can be arranged even during an emergency visit.

How to Prepare Before an Emergency Happens

The best emergency plan is one you create before you need it. A few simple steps can save time, pain, and money when the unexpected occurs.

• Keep your dentist's number in your phone. Searching online while in pain wastes precious minutes.
• Assemble a small dental emergency kit: saline solution, a tooth preservation container, dental wax, gauze, and over-the-counter pain relievers.
• Know your dental history. If you have crowns, implants, or veneers, understanding what materials are in your mouth helps your emergency dentist act faster.
• Don't skip routine care. Many emergencies—cracked teeth, abscesses, failing restorations—can be caught early during regular exams. Prevention remains the best protection.

Why Miami Patients Choose Sharp Dentistry for Urgent Care

After 25 years serving Miami—including a newly renovated office unveiled in 2025 with the latest dental technology—Sharp Dentistry & Associates has built a reputation for handling the full spectrum of dental emergencies without delays or referrals. Our specialist team, in-house lab, and advanced imaging mean you won't bounce between offices or wait weeks for a permanent solution.

Whether you're in Miami Beach dealing with a fractured tooth, in Downtown Miami with a sudden abscess, or in Coconut Grove with a veneer that just came off, we're ready to help. Call 305-857-0990 or visit sharpdentistry.com to reach us immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a dental emergency?

Any situation involving uncontrolled bleeding, severe pain, a knocked-out tooth, significant swelling, or a broken restoration that leaves tooth structure exposed is considered a dental emergency. If you're unsure whether your situation qualifies, call us at 305-857-0990—we'd rather hear from you early than have you wait until the problem escalates.

Can Sharp Dentistry really fix a broken tooth the same day?

In many cases, yes. Our CEREC CAD/CAM system can design and mill a permanent ceramic crown in a single visit, and our in-house dental lab can handle more complex restorations within 48 hours. The exact timeline depends on the severity of the fracture and whether additional treatment like root canal therapy is needed.

What should I do if my tooth is knocked out and I can't get to a dentist within 30 minutes?

Keep the tooth moist at all times—ideally stored in cold milk, saline, or a commercially available tooth preservation product. Do not let it dry out or store it in plain water. The sooner you reach a qualified emergency dentist, the better the chances of successful reimplantation. Outcomes vary, but prompt action significantly improves the prognosis.

Does Sharp Dentistry accept walk-in emergencies?

We always accommodate and prioritize emergency patients. We recommend calling ahead at 305-857-0990 so our team can prepare for your arrival and, when necessary, have the appropriate specialist standing by. This ensures the fastest possible path to treatment.

How much does emergency dental care cost without insurance?

Costs depend on the diagnosis and treatment required. Our Sharp Smile Club membership makes preventive care affordable for patients without insurance, and we offer no-interest financing options for restorative and emergency procedures. We'll discuss costs transparently before beginning any treatment so there are no surprises.