Emergency Dental Care

A dental emergency can happen at any time. Knowing how to respond in the first few minutes — and knowing where to go — can make the difference between saving and losing a tooth.

What Counts as a Dental Emergency

• Knocked-out tooth (avulsed tooth): Time-critical. A tooth reimplanted within 30 minutes has the best chance of survival.
• Severe, unrelenting toothache: May indicate infection that requires urgent treatment.
• Cracked or broken tooth with pain: Especially if the pulp is exposed.
• Lost crown or filling with sensitivity: Requires prompt attention to prevent worsening decay.
• Dental abscess: A pus-filled infection at the root tip or in the gum. Can become life-threatening if untreated.
• Soft tissue injury: Lacerations to the lips, cheeks, or tongue that do not stop bleeding.

What to Do If a Tooth Is Knocked Out

1. Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white part), not the root
2. If dirty, gently rinse with water — do not scrub
3. Try to replace it in the socket immediately and hold it in place
4. If you cannot replant it, store it in milk, saliva, or a tooth preservation kit
5. Get to a dentist within 30 minutes — this is the most critical window

What to Do for a Dental Abscess

A dental abscess is a serious infection. Signs include severe throbbing pain, swelling of the face or jaw, fever, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. Do not wait for a scheduled appointment — call a dentist immediately or go to an emergency room if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, as this can indicate the infection is spreading.

Finding an Emergency Dentist

Many dental practices reserve same-day slots for dental emergencies — call your regular dentist first, even outside of office hours, as many offices have an emergency line or after-hours message with instructions. Search DentistsDirectory.org to find dentists in your area to call.

When to Go to the Emergency Room

Go directly to an emergency room if you have facial swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, a high fever with dental pain, or uncontrolled bleeding. Emergency rooms cannot perform dental procedures but can treat infections with IV antibiotics and manage serious complications.