Signs You Need an Emergency Dentist Right Away

What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency involves severe pain, bleeding, trauma, or infection that threatens your oral health. These situations require immediate professional care to prevent permanent damage.

Emergency situations include knocked-out teeth, severe infections, uncontrolled bleeding, and facial swelling that affects breathing or swallowing. These problems can worsen quickly without treatment.

Non-emergency situations include minor chips, lost fillings, or mild sensitivity. While uncomfortable, these issues can typically wait for a regular appointment.

Severe Tooth Pain That Won’t Stop

Intense, throbbing tooth pain signals a serious problem. This pain often worsens with hot or cold foods and may keep you awake at night.

Severe tooth pain usually indicates:

• Deep tooth decay reaching the nerve
• Infected tooth pulp
• Cracked tooth extending to the root
• Advanced gum disease

The pain may come and go initially but becomes constant as the condition worsens. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide little relief for severe dental pain.

What to do: Take ibuprofen as directed on the package. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek for 15 minutes. Avoid placing aspirin directly on the tooth, as this can burn your gums.

Facial Swelling and Signs of Infection

Facial swelling indicates a serious dental infection that can spread to other parts of your body. The swelling may appear around your jaw, cheek, or neck area.

Additional infection signs include:

• Fever over 101°F
• Difficulty swallowing
• Bad taste in your mouth
• Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
• General feeling of illness

Dental infections can become life-threatening if they spread to your bloodstream or airways. Swelling that affects your ability to breathe or swallow requires immediate emergency room care.

What to do: Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Take ibuprofen to reduce swelling. Seek immediate care if you have trouble breathing or swallowing.

Knocked-Out or Loosened Teeth

A completely knocked-out tooth requires immediate attention. The chances of saving the tooth decrease significantly after the first hour.

Handle a knocked-out tooth carefully:

• Pick it up by the crown, not the root
• Rinse gently with water if dirty
• Try to place it back in the socket
• If that’s not possible, store it in milk or saliva
• Get to a dentist within 30 minutes if possible

Loose teeth from trauma also need emergency care. Even if the tooth feels stable, the root or surrounding bone may be damaged.

What to do: For loose teeth, bite down gently on a clean cloth to keep the tooth in position. Avoid eating or drinking until you see a dentist.

Severe Bleeding That Won’t Stop

Uncontrolled bleeding in your mouth can result from trauma, gum disease, or complications after dental procedures. Normal bleeding should stop within a few minutes of applying pressure.

Seek emergency care if bleeding:

• Continues for more than 10 minutes despite pressure
• Is heavy or spurting
• Follows a head injury
• Occurs with other trauma symptoms

What to do: Apply firm pressure with clean gauze or cloth for 10-15 minutes. If bleeding continues, apply pressure for another 10 minutes. Avoid rinsing your mouth, which can dislodge clots.

Broken or Cracked Teeth

Not all broken teeth require emergency care. Small chips can usually wait for a regular appointment. However, larger breaks or cracks need immediate attention.

Seek emergency care for:

• Cracks extending below the gum line
• Pieces of tooth that have broken off
• Breaks exposing the tooth’s nerve
• Sharp edges cutting your tongue or cheek

Vertical cracks that extend into the root often require tooth extraction. Early treatment gives you the best chance of saving the tooth.

What to do: Rinse your mouth with warm water. Save any broken pieces. Cover sharp edges with dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your mouth.

Lost Dental Work Creating Problems

Lost fillings, crowns, or bridges don’t always constitute emergencies. However, they need prompt attention if they cause pain or expose sensitive tooth areas.

Seek emergency care if lost dental work causes:

• Severe pain or sensitivity
• Sharp edges cutting your mouth
• Difficulty eating or speaking
• Food getting stuck in the area

Temporary dental cement from pharmacies can provide short-term relief. However, see a dentist as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

What to do: Keep the area clean by rinsing with warm salt water. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. If you have the crown or filling, bring it to your appointment.

Jaw Injuries and Trauma

Jaw injuries can affect your ability to eat, speak, and breathe properly. These injuries often occur during sports, accidents, or falls.

Signs of serious jaw injury include:

• Inability to open or close your mouth normally
• Jaw clicking, popping, or locking
• Visible deformity or asymmetry
• Numbness in your face or lips
• Problems with your bite alignment

Broken jaws require immediate medical attention. Even minor jaw injuries can have lasting effects if not treated properly.

What to do: Apply ice to reduce swelling. Support your jaw with a bandage tied around your head. Seek immediate emergency room care for suspected fractures.

Objects Stuck Between Teeth

Foreign objects lodged between teeth can damage your gums and tooth enamel. Common culprits include popcorn husks, seeds, and small pieces of food.

Don’t ignore stuck objects that cause:

• Persistent pain or discomfort
• Bleeding gums
• Swelling around the area
• Bad breath or taste

Forcing objects deeper with toothpicks or other tools can cause more damage. Professional removal prevents injury to your gums and teeth.

What to do: Try gentle flossing to remove the object. Use a water flosser if available. Don’t use sharp objects that could push the item deeper or damage your gums.

When to Call vs. When to Wait

Understanding the difference between urgent and non-urgent dental problems helps you make the right decision. True emergencies involve severe pain, bleeding, infection, or trauma.

Call immediately for:

• Severe, constant tooth pain
• Facial swelling affecting breathing or swallowing
• Knocked-out teeth
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Signs of serious infection
• Jaw injuries
• Large broken teeth with exposed nerves

Can usually wait for regular hours:

• Minor chips without pain
• Lost fillings without discomfort
• Mild sensitivity
• Gum irritation
• Small food particles between teeth

When in doubt, call your dentist’s office. Most dental practices have emergency contact information for urgent situations.

First Aid for Dental Emergencies

Taking the right first aid steps can reduce pain and prevent further damage while you wait for professional care. However, these measures are temporary solutions only.

For severe pain:

• Take ibuprofen as directed
• Apply cold compress to cheek
• Rinse with warm salt water
• Avoid extreme temperatures

For bleeding:

• Apply direct pressure with clean gauze
• Hold pressure for 10-15 minutes
• Don’t rinse or spit excessively
• Seek care if bleeding continues

For swelling:

• Apply ice pack for 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off
• Take anti-inflammatory medication
• Sleep with your head elevated
• Monitor for breathing difficulties

For knocked-out teeth:

• Handle by crown only
• Rinse gently if dirty
• Try to reinsert or store in milk
• Get to dentist within 30 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my tooth pain is an emergency?

Severe, constant pain that interferes with sleep or daily activities typically requires emergency care. Pain accompanied by swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing always needs immediate attention.

What should I do if my tooth gets knocked out?

Handle the tooth by the crown only, rinse it gently, and try to place it back in the socket. If that’s not possible, store it in milk and get to a dentist within 30 minutes for the best chance of saving the tooth.

Can I wait until morning for a dental emergency?

It depends on the severity. Severe pain, facial swelling affecting breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or knocked-out teeth need immediate care. Minor issues can often wait for regular office hours.

How much does emergency dental care cost?

Emergency dental costs vary based on the treatment needed. We work with most insurance plans and offer flexible payment options to make emergency care accessible when you need it.

Should I go to the ER for dental emergencies?

Visit the emergency room for life-threatening situations like difficulty breathing or swallowing due to facial swelling. For most dental emergencies, an emergency dentist provides more appropriate specialized care.

What can I take for severe tooth pain?

Ibuprofen is often most effective for dental pain because it reduces inflammation. Take as directed on the package and apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek.

Don’t Wait When Your Oral Health Is at Risk

Dental emergencies require prompt professional attention to prevent permanent damage and relieve pain. Recognizing the warning signs helps you make the right decision about when to seek immediate care.

Remember that temporary first aid measures only provide short-term relief. Professional treatment addresses the underlying problem and prevents complications that could affect your long-term oral health.

If you’re experiencing any of the emergency situations described in this guide, don’t hesitate to contact a qualified emergency dentist. Quick action can save your tooth, prevent serious infections, and restore your comfort.

Stay prepared by keeping your dentist’s emergency contact information readily available. Know the signs that require immediate attention versus those that can wait for regular office hours.