A dental emergency checklist can feel frightening, and it often cannot wait. Maybe a tooth broke, or your child fell, or the pain will not ease. You know you need dental care. The question is whether you need it right now. This page gives you a same-day yes or no, plus a clear next step. Valley View Dental wrote it so you can decide in about a minute. Start with the quickest answer: is this actually an emergency?
Is this a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is a tooth or mouth problem that needs care within hours, not days. Call a dentist now if you have severe pain, facial swelling, bleeding that will not stop, or a knocked-out tooth. These signs often mean you are trying to save the tooth or stop an infection from spreading (Cleveland Clinic).
A few other problems count as well, such as a dental abscess or a badly cracked tooth. Not every ache means your teeth are in danger. If you are not sure, the next part shows what actually counts.
Table of Contents
What counts as a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is any urgent sign that your teeth or mouth need same-day care. Watch for these:
- Uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth
- Severe or worsening tooth pain
- Facial swelling, or swelling in the jaw
- A knocked-out tooth, or a tooth pushed out of place (an extruded tooth)
- A badly cracked tooth
- A severe toothache that will not settle
- Signs of infection, such as a dental abscess
Two of these move fastest. A knocked-out tooth is most likely to be saved if it is put back within 30 to 60 minutes (Cleveland Clinic). A dental abscess is an infection, and left alone it can swell the face or jaw (Cleveland Clinic). The American Association of Endodontists and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons treat these as urgent too.
Not every tooth problem is this serious. Some things can wait, and the next part covers those.
What is not an emergency, and can it wait until morning?
Some tooth problems are uncomfortable but not urgent. They can usually wait a few hours for a same-day or next-morning visit. These often include:
- A mild toothache with no swelling or fever
- A small chip in a tooth
- A lost filling or crown that does not hurt
- Broken braces or a loose wire
- Food stuck between teeth
You can take simple steps while you wait. For a lost filling or crown, cover the spot with sugarless gum or a bit of over-the-counter dental cement. Do not use super glue (Cleveland Clinic). If the pain grows, swelling starts, or you notice signs of infection, treat it as an emergency and call.
While you wait for your visit, here is what to do in the meantime for the more urgent problems.
What should I do right now?
First, call a dentist. Then do the right first aid for your symptom. These steps protect your teeth and buy time until you are seen. Call Valley View Dental at (630) 509-7933 for same-day emergency care.
Knocked-out tooth
Pick up the tooth by the crown, the part you chew with. Rinse it gently. Do not scrub it or dry it. Try to put it back in the socket, root-first, and hold it there. If you cannot, keep it in milk, not water. A knocked-out tooth is most likely to be saved if you are treated within 30 to 60 minutes (Cleveland Clinic).
Cracked or broken tooth
Save any pieces. Bite on a piece of gauze for about 10 minutes, until the bleeding stops. Hold a cold compress against your cheek to ease swelling (Cleveland Clinic).
Severe toothache
Rinse with warm water. Floss gently to clear anything trapped. Use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek. An over-the-counter pain reliever can help, but never place aspirin against your gums (Cleveland Clinic). Follow the label, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure.
Dental abscess or swelling
Rinse with mild salt water and get seen soon. Do not ignore facial swelling, since an abscess is an infection (Cleveland Clinic).
Bleeding or a cut in the mouth
Rinse with salt water. Press clean gauze on the spot for 15 to 20 minutes. Use a cold compress for 5 to 10 minutes (Cleveland Clinic).
One important note: if swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, or bleeding will not stop, call 911 or go to the emergency room. Some cases need a hospital, not a dental chair.
When should I go to the ER instead of a dentist?
Go to the emergency room or call 911 for symptoms that a dental office cannot handle. These include swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, a possible broken jaw or facial bone, bleeding that will not stop, or a high fever with facial swelling (Cleveland Clinic).
An emergency room stays open all hours, and it can treat an infection, an injury, or uncontrolled bleeding. It usually cannot fix the tooth itself (Baptist Health). So even after ER care, you still need a dentist for the tooth. For the tooth itself, here is how fast you can be seen.
How fast can I actually be seen for same-day care?
Valley View Dental offers same-day emergency care at three offices in Chicago’s southwest suburbs. Call one number, (630) 509-7933, and the team helps you get seen. The offices sit in Romeoville, Naperville, and Montgomery, and they keep Saturday hours.
You see the full team under one roof, with no referrals needed. That includes an in-house, board-certified oral surgeon, Dr. Anthony Lotesto. If a tooth needs to come out, or a jaw needs a specialist, the dentist and surgeon work in the same practice. That same-day service saves you time during an emergency.
The next question most people ask is what it costs.
What will emergency dental care cost?
The cost of emergency care depends on what your tooth needs. You get a clear quote at a free consult, before any treatment starts. There is no set price for emergency dental care to list here, because every case is different
A few things can help with the cost of this service:
- New patients can use the New Patient Special: $250, a $560 value.
- Monthly payment plans are available from $X/mo through Cherry.
- Most major PPO plans are accepted.
The $X/mo figure through Cherry is an estimate, on approved credit, and subject to terms. Offers cannot be combined, allow one discount per visit, and end July 30.
Still not sure what to do? Here is your next step.
Emergency dental questions, answered
What is considered a dental emergency?
A: Severe pain, facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or a knocked-out tooth. Signs of infection, such as a dental abscess, count too. These need same-day care to protect your teeth (Cleveland Clinic).
Is a bad toothache a dental emergency?
A: A severe or worsening toothache, or one with swelling or fever, needs same-day care. A mild ache can usually wait a few hours (Cleveland Clinic).
What should I do if my tooth gets knocked out?
A: Hold the knocked-out tooth by the crown, keep it in milk, and get seen within 30 to 60 minutes (Cleveland Clinic).
Can the ER help with a dental emergency?
A: An emergency room can treat infection, injury, and bleeding, but it usually cannot fix the tooth. You still need a dentist (Baptist Health).
Can I get a same-day dental appointment?
A: Yes. Valley View Dental offers same-day emergency care at offices with Saturday hours. Call (630) 509-7933 to get seen.
How much does emergency dental care cost with no insurance?
A: There is no set price. You get a quote at a free consult, and most major PPO plans are accepted. Financing from $X/mo is available through Cherry (an estimate, on approved credit, subject to terms).
Every answer here was checked by a dentist. Here is who reviewed this guide.
Reviewed by
This guide was reviewed for accuracy by a licensed dentist at Valley View Dental. That review helps make sure the care advice here is correct.
The in-house specialist team at Valley View Dental includes a board-certified oral surgeon, Dr. Anthony Lotesto.
Sources
- American Dental Association (ADA), MouthHealthy
- American Association of Endodontists (AAE)
- American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS)
- Cleveland Clinic: Dental Emergencies: What to Do; and Avulsed Tooth (Knocked-Out Tooth)
If you are dealing with an emergency right now, here is your next step.
Get seen today
If you are facing a dental emergency, you do not have to handle it alone. Valley View Dental offers same-day checklist emergency care. Call the number below, or book a consult, and we will go over the details before any treatment.
