Dental Emergency or ER? How to Decide
Most dental emergencies are best handled by a dentist, not a hospital. Here’s how to tell the difference quickly.
Go to the ER or call 911 if…
- Swelling is spreading toward your eye, down your neck or under your tongue
- You have trouble breathing or swallowing
- You have a high fever with tooth pain
- Bleeding won’t stop after 15–20 minutes of firm pressure
- You may have broken your jaw
Call an emergency dentist today if…
- A toothache keeps you up at night or pain relievers aren’t helping
- A tooth broke, cracked or has a sharp edge
- There’s a pimple-like bump on your gum or a bad taste near a tooth
- An adult tooth was knocked out (call immediately)
- A crown or filling fell out and the tooth hurts
- Pain is getting worse a few days after an extraction
Why the dentist is usually the better first call
Most ERs don’t have dental chairs, dental X-rays or a dentist on staff, so they can’t fill, repair or remove the tooth causing the pain. That often means an ER bill plus a dental visit. An emergency dentist can find the cause and treat it in one trip.
First aid while you wait
- Pain: rinse with warm water and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed.
- Swelling: a cold pack on the cheek, 15 minutes on and 15 off.
- Broken tooth: save the pieces and cover sharp edges with sugar-free gum.
- Knocked-out tooth: keep it in milk or back in the socket and call right away.
Bay Colony Dental sees emergencies the same day whenever possible. Learn more about our emergency dentistry in Dickinson.