What should you do during a dental emergency?

First: Is It a Medical Emergency?

Most dental problems are best handled by a dentist. But call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:

• Uncontrolled bleeding that won’t stop
• Significant facial trauma or a possible broken jaw
• Swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing
• A high fever combined with facial swelling and severe pain

These situations need immediate medical attention. For everything else, a dentist is your best first call.

Knocked-Out Tooth

A completely knocked-out permanent tooth is one of the few true dental emergencies where minutes matter. Acting quickly can mean the difference between saving and losing the tooth.

1. Pick up the tooth by the crown (the chewing surface) — never touch the root.
2. If it’s dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline. Do not scrub it or use soap.
3. Try to place it back in the socket, facing the right way, and bite down gently on a clean cloth.
4. If you can’t reinsert it, keep it moist in milk (not water) or between your cheek and gum.
5. Call a dentist immediately — ideally within 30 to 60 minutes.

The tooth’s root cells begin to die once it’s outside the mouth, so speed and keeping it moist are everything.

Broken or Cracked Tooth

A broken or cracked tooth can range from a minor chip to a painful break exposing the nerve. Here’s what to do:

6. Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clean the area.
7. If there’s bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze.
8. Use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling.
9. Save any tooth fragments if you can, and keep them moist.
10. Avoid chewing on that side and call a dentist promptly.

Depending on the severity, treatment may range from a simple bonding to a dental crown, or in more serious cases, an extraction with a plan for replacement.

Lost or Broken Crown

If a crown comes off, the underlying tooth is often sensitive and vulnerable. Take these steps:

11. Keep the crown — it can often be re-cemented.
12. Gently clean the crown and the tooth underneath.
13. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth.
14. Do not use household glue to reattach it — this can damage both the crown and tooth.
15. Call your dentist to have it evaluated and properly re-cemented or replaced.

Lost or Broken Veneer

A dislodged veneer isn’t usually painful, but it should be addressed promptly to protect the underlying tooth and your smile. Keep the veneer if you still have it — in some cases it can be re-bonded — and avoid chewing on that side until you’re seen.

Severe Toothache

Sudden, severe tooth pain often signals an underlying problem like decay reaching the nerve, an abscess, or a cracked tooth. While you arrange to be seen:

16. Rinse gently with warm salt water to clean the area.
17. Use dental floss to remove any trapped food that may be causing pressure.
18. Take over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the label.
19. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek for swelling.
20. Avoid placing aspirin directly on the gum — it can burn the tissue.

Persistent or severe pain should always be evaluated. Pain that comes with swelling or fever may indicate an infection that needs prompt treatment.

Dental Abscess or Infection

A dental abscess — a pocket of infection, often with a pimple-like bump on the gum, swelling, and throbbing pain — should never be ignored. Dental infections can spread and become serious. Rinse with warm salt water for temporary relief, but call a dentist as soon as possible. If swelling spreads to your face or neck or affects breathing, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Loose or Broken Denture

A broken or ill-fitting denture can make eating and speaking difficult. Bring all the pieces with you — don’t try to glue the denture back together yourself, since household adhesives can prevent a proper repair and may be toxic. Many dentures can be repaired or relined.

Why Call a Prosthodontist for a Dental Emergency?

Many dental emergencies involve complex restorations — crowns, bridges, veneers, and implants — that benefit from specialist care. As a board-certified prosthodontist, Dr. Paul Connolly has advanced training in exactly these situations, plus in-house 3D imaging for accurate, same-visit diagnosis. For failing crowns, dislodged implants, cracked teeth, and other restorative emergencies, specialist care often means a faster, more durable solution.

Learn more on our dental emergencies page.