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Same-day emergency care · St. Clair, MO

Pain? Broken
tooth?
Call us right now.

We hold time every day for dental emergencies. Call in the morning — we'll get you in that day whenever clinically possible. No hold music. No three-week waits. Just a dentist who picks up.

Call 636.629.1103
Mon – Fri · 8AM – 5PM
Call anytime during hours — we'll make room.
What counts as an emergency
  • ·
    Severe tooth pain that keeps you awake
    Often an abscess — needs same-day care
  • ·
    A knocked-out tooth
    Call immediately — the first hour matters most
  • ·
    Broken or cracked tooth
    Especially if there's sharp pain or bleeding
  • ·
    Lost crown, filling, or bridge
    We can usually stabilize same or next day
  • ·
    Swelling in the face, jaw, or gums
    Could indicate infection — call us
  • ·
    Jaw or facial trauma
    Assessment and imaging done on-site
Same-day
Slots held daily
Every business day
<1hr
Typical callback
During business hours
4.9★
Patient rating
915+ Google reviews
~3K
Implants placed
By Dr. Darrow

First steps,
while you wait to be seen.

After you call us, here's what to do for the most common emergencies. These aren't substitutes for care — they're first-aid measures to stabilize while you're on your way.

Severe Tooth Pain

If it's keeping you awake at night.

  1. 1.Rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water.
  2. 2.Floss carefully around the tooth to remove anything trapped.
  3. 3.Take ibuprofen (Advil) as directed for pain and swelling — it works better than acetaminophen for dental pain.
  4. 4.Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek, 20 minutes on / 20 off.
  5. 5.Do not apply aspirin directly to the gum — it can burn tissue.
Knocked-Out ToothTime-critical

First hour matters most.

  1. 1.Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white chewing part), not the root.
  2. 2.If dirty, rinse gently with milk or saline — not tap water, and never scrub.
  3. 3.If possible, place it back in the socket and bite gently on gauze to hold it.
  4. 4.If it won't go back, store it in cold milk (or saliva in a cup) until you arrive.
  5. 5.Get to our office within an hour for the best chance of saving the tooth.
Broken or Cracked Tooth

Protect what's left.

  1. 1.Save any pieces of the tooth — bring them with you if you can.
  2. 2.Rinse your mouth with warm water; apply gauze if there's bleeding.
  3. 3.Cold compress on the outside of the cheek to reduce swelling.
  4. 4.Eat only soft foods and avoid chewing on that side until we see you.
  5. 5.Ibuprofen for pain — avoid anything very hot or cold.
Lost Crown or Filling

Usually not urgent, but call anyway.

  1. 1.If you still have the crown, keep it clean and bring it with you — it can often be re-cemented.
  2. 2.Temporary dental cement (drugstore) can hold a crown in place short-term if needed.
  3. 3.Avoid chewing on that side and keep the area clean.
  4. 4.Call us — even if you feel fine, the exposed tooth underneath is vulnerable to decay and fracture.

Triage, in minutes.
Not days.

Unlike big corporate chains, we're a small independent practice. The person you talk to on the phone knows the schedule, knows the dentists, and can make a decision fast. That's the whole advantage.

A caring dentist reassuring and attending to a patient
1
You call. We answer.

Within 60 seconds, someone at the front desk will know what happened and how urgent it is. We don't route you through a menu.

2
We triage on the phone.

A few quick questions tell us if this is truly urgent, moderately urgent, or can wait until tomorrow. We'll tell you honestly.

3
We get you in today.

We hold time every day for emergencies. If it's urgent and you call during business hours, you'll be seen that day whenever clinically possible.

4
We stabilize, then plan.

The first visit is about pain relief and stabilizing the tooth. We'll take X-rays, assess the damage, and get you comfortable. Longer-term repairs (crown, implant, root canal) get scheduled once you're out of pain.

What to do if it's
Saturday night.

We're closed on weekends and holidays. For a true emergency — uncontrolled bleeding, significant facial swelling, or trauma — please go to the nearest ER. For pain or a broken tooth that can wait until morning, here's what to do.

If it's urgent right now
Go to the nearest ER for severe bleeding, swelling that's affecting breathing, or facial trauma.
If it can wait until morning
Follow the first-aid steps above. Call us 636.629.1103 at 8 AM the next business day — we'll prioritize you.
Leave a message
Even after hours, leave a voicemail. It's the first thing we check in the morning. Leaving one lets us prioritize your callback.

Honest numbers,
even in a crisis.

We know an emergency visit isn't a great time to discuss money. But we also know it's what you're thinking about. Here are typical ranges — your actual cost depends on what's needed and your insurance coverage.

Emergency Exam + X-rays
Typical first visit for pain or broken tooth
~$150–$250
before insurance
Simple Extraction
For a tooth that can't be saved
~$200–$400
before insurance
Crown (for a broken tooth)
Two visits — usually stabilized first, crown later
~$1,200–$1,800
before insurance
Root Canal + Crown
If the tooth can be saved
~$1,800–$2,800
before insurance
Single-Tooth Implant
If the tooth can't be saved and you want it replaced
~$4,000–$6,000
complete · over several months
Most PPO dental plans cover 50–80% of emergency exams, X-rays, extractions, and crowns. We'll run your insurance at check-in and tell you your out-of-pocket before any work starts.

Quick
answers.

Do I need to be an existing patient?
No. We take new patients for emergency visits. Paperwork can happen after we've addressed the pain — just call and tell us what's going on.
What if I don't have insurance?
We still see you. For emergency care, we accept cash, credit, and work with CareCredit for financing. We'll give you a clear cost estimate before any work starts so there are no surprises.
Should I go to the ER instead?
The ER can manage pain and treat infection, but they can't actually fix your tooth. For a dental-specific emergency during our business hours, calling us directly is usually both faster and cheaper. Go to the ER if there's uncontrolled bleeding, severe facial swelling, or significant trauma.
How long will the visit take?
Plan on about 60–90 minutes for a typical emergency visit. That's usually enough to exam, X-ray, diagnose, and either do the work or stabilize for a follow-up. Complex cases may need a second visit.
Can I wait until morning?
For mild pain, a lost filling or crown, or a chipped tooth without pain — yes, it can usually wait. Call us first thing in the morning and we'll get you in. If you're unsure, call anyway — we'd rather you call and be told it's fine than worry overnight.

Don't wait.
Just call.

Dental pain rarely gets better on its own. The sooner we see you, the more options we usually have.

Call 636.629.1103