Go to the ER, or call 911, for spreading facial swelling, fever with swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, a broken jaw or a head injury. For pain, a broken or knocked-out tooth, a lost crown or a swollen gum, a dental office can actually fix the problem; call one first.
Go to the emergency room
- Swelling of the face, eye or neck that is spreading, or swelling under the tongue
- Fever with dental swelling, or feeling very unwell
- Trouble breathing, swallowing or opening your mouth
- Bleeding that won't stop after 15 minutes of firm pressure
- A possible broken jaw, or any head injury, loss of consciousness, vomiting or confusion after a fall or blow
Call a dentist today
- A knocked-out permanent tooth (within the hour if possible)
- A broken tooth with pain or a pink spot in the middle
- Throbbing pain, pain that keeps you awake, or a swollen gum or pimple on the gum
- A loose or displaced tooth after an injury
- Bleeding or severe pain after an extraction
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Can usually wait for an appointment
- A small chip without pain
- A lost filling or crown without pain
- Mild sensitivity to hot or cold
- A broken denture (unless it cut your mouth)
Why the ER isn't the best place for most tooth problems
Hospital emergency departments are there for life-threatening problems. For a toothache they can give pain relief and antibiotics, but most don't have a dentist on staff, so the tooth itself usually still needs treatment afterwards. If your problem isn't on the ER list above, a same-day dental visit is quicker and treats the cause.
Questions
Should I go to the ER for tooth pain?
Only with danger signs: spreading facial swelling, fever, trouble breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding or a serious injury. Otherwise call a dentist.
Can urgent care treat a toothache?
Medical urgent care clinics can assess infection and prescribe medicine, but they can't treat the tooth. A dental office can.
What counts as a dental emergency?
Severe pain, swelling, bleeding, infection, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, or an injury to the mouth.
Sources
This guide is general information, not dental or medical advice. If you are unsure, call a dentist; for breathing or swallowing problems or spreading swelling, call 911.