Preparing for an Urgent Dental Visit: What to Bring

Before an urgent dental visit, gather your medication list, insurance details and a short description of what happened. This checklist explains what to say on the phone and what to bring. Do not delay seeking help while gathering paperwork if your symptoms are serious.

Emergency Dentist of Tucson keeps emergency appointment slots open every day we are open (Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM). We do this intentionally because dental emergencies do not schedule themselves. Our goal is to see you the same day you call.

Here is exactly what to do: Call 520-317-6362. Tell the person who answers that you have a dental emergency and describe what happened. "I cracked a tooth." "I have a toothache that is getting worse." "My filling fell out." "I have swelling in my face." Be direct. This helps us triage your situation and prepare for your visit.

We will ask a few questions: How long have you been in pain? Is there swelling? Have you taken anything for the pain? Do you have dental insurance? Based on your answers, we will schedule you for the next available emergency slot.

What to bring to your appointment: your photo ID, dental insurance card (if you have one), a list of medications you are currently taking, and the broken tooth piece if applicable (bring it in a small container with milk or water). If you have recent dental X-rays from another office, those can be helpful but are not required since we take our own digital X-rays.

What happens at the appointment: Dr. Torres will examine the affected area, take digital X-rays, and explain what he sees. He will walk you through the diagnosis and treatment options, including costs, before doing any work. For most emergencies, treatment happens the same visit. You could walk in with a cracked tooth and walk out with a temporary crown or a repaired tooth within an hour.

A few tips for getting the fastest appointment: Call early. Morning slots fill up first, especially on Saturdays. If you call at 8 AM, you can often be seen by 9 or 10 AM. If you are flexible on timing, mention that. We can sometimes fit emergency patients between scheduled appointments.

If you are in pain right now, do not wait. Call 520-317-6362 and we will work you in as quickly as we can.