Emergency Dental Care Q&A

Any type of dental or oral health issue that requires immediate attention can be considered a dental emergency, including:

• tooth or jaw pain
• a tooth that’s knocked out
• broken, cracked or chipped teeth
• broken or lost dentures
• loose or missing fillings
• missing or damaged crowns
• swollen, painful gums

Some emergencies, like a tooth that’s knocked out due to trauma, require immediate emergency care in order to preserve the tooth, while other issues may require same-day or next-day treatment.

 If a tooth is knocked out, it may still be replaced into the socket as long as it’s healthy. Do not touch the tooth roots. Try to place the tooth back in the socket, and if you can’t place it between your gum and the side of your cheek, or as a last resort, in a glass of milk. Then seek immediate emergency care. 

Teeth that are weakened by decay or disease are most prone to dental emergencies, so making sure you have cavities and gum disease properly treated is important for avoiding emergencies. Seeing the dentist regularly is the best way to catch problems early, including small cavities and loose fillings or crowns. It’s also important not to use your teeth as tools to pry off bottle caps or for other purposes, to avoid very sticky foods that could dislodge a weak or loose filling or crown, and to avoid chewing ice or hard candies that can cause teeth, fillings, crowns or veneers to break. Wearing a mouth guard when playing sports is very important for preventing emergencies as well. 

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