Short answer
Urgent dental problems include severe or worsening toothache, facial or gum swelling, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, uncontrolled bleeding, and injury to the mouth or jaw. Swelling with fever, or any difficulty breathing or swallowing, is a medical emergency and needs an emergency room, not a dental office.
3 min read
Call the dentist the same day
Severe toothache that is not settling, a tooth knocked out or pushed out of position, a large fracture with a sharp edge or exposed nerve, swelling in the gum or cheek, a lost crown or filling leaving a painful tooth, and bleeding that will not stop after pressure all warrant an urgent call.
Describe what happened and how long it has been going on, so the team can judge how quickly you need to be seen.
Go to an emergency room instead
Facial swelling together with fever, swelling spreading toward the eye or down the neck, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a suspected broken jaw are medical emergencies. These need hospital care immediately.
Usually can wait for a normal appointment
A chip with no pain, mild short-lived sensitivity, a lost filling that does not hurt, or a broken retainer are worth booking promptly but are not emergencies. Book them soon — small problems tend to become larger ones.
First aid while you wait
Rinse with warm salt water. Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek for swelling. For a knocked-out adult tooth, hold it by the crown, keep it moist in milk or saliva, and bring it with you. Take over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the packet, and never hold aspirin against the gum — it burns the tissue.
Common questions