Emergency dentist near you: call now
Toothache, a broken or knocked-out tooth, a lost filling or swelling: call and we'll connect you with a dental office that serves your area and has same-day openings, when one is available.
- Same-day appointments where offices have openings
- Toothaches, broken teeth, abscesses, lost crowns
- Adults and children
No obligation to book. Calls may be recorded and connected to a participating dental office or its scheduling service.
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When should I go to the ER instead?
Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have:
- Swelling in your face or neck that is spreading, or that reaches your eye
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- A high fever with tooth or jaw pain
- Bleeding that won't stop after 15 minutes of firm pressure
- A broken or dislocated jaw, or a head injury
These can be signs of a spreading infection or a serious injury. Don't wait for a dental appointment.
What should I do until I see a dentist?
These steps come from American Dental Association first-aid guidance. They help you get through until an appointment; they don't replace one.
| Problem | What to do now | How soon to be seen |
|---|---|---|
| Knocked-out adult tooth | Pick it up by the top (crown), not the root. Rinse it gently, don't scrub. Try to put it back in the socket and bite on a clean cloth, or keep it in milk. | Within 30 minutes if you can |
| Broken or chipped tooth | Rinse with warm water. Save any pieces. Hold a cold pack on your cheek for swelling. | Same day or next day |
| Severe toothache | Rinse with warm water and floss gently to remove trapped food. Use a cold pack on the outside of your cheek. Don't put aspirin on your gums. | Same day if pain is strong |
| Swelling or a pimple on the gum | This can be an abscess, an infection that can spread. Rinse with mild salt water. Check the ER signs above. | Same day |
| Lost filling or crown | Keep the crown. A pharmacy dental cement can cover the spot for a day or two. Don't glue a crown with household glue. | Within a few days |
| Bleeding after an extraction | Bite firmly on gauze or a damp tea bag for 30 minutes. Don't rinse hard or use a straw. | Call the office that did it; ER if it won't stop |
Is my problem a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is anything that needs care within a day or so to stop pain, save a tooth or treat an infection. That includes a knocked-out or loose adult tooth, a cracked tooth with pain, a toothache that keeps you awake, swelling in the gum or face, and bleeding that won't stop.
Some problems can usually wait a few days for a regular appointment: a small chip with no pain, a lost filling that doesn't hurt, or a dull ache that comes and goes. If you're unsure, call and describe it; the office will tell you how soon to come in.
Can the emergency room pull a tooth?
Usually not. Hospital ERs treat dangerous swelling, infection that is spreading, injuries and severe pain, and they may give antibiotics or pain relief. Most don't have a dentist on staff to pull or fix a tooth, so you'll still need a dental visit afterward.
Are there 24-hour dentists?
A few offices offer late-evening or weekend hours, and some keep an after-hours line for their own patients. Hours differ by office and area. When you call, we connect you with an office that serves your area when one is available, and you can ask about its earliest opening.
What happens at an emergency dental visit?
The dentist looks at the problem, usually takes an X-ray, and tells you what's causing the pain. The first goal is to stop pain and treat infection. That might mean a temporary filling, smoothing a broken edge, draining an abscess, starting a root canal, or pulling a tooth that can't be saved.
You may need a second visit to finish the repair. Ask the office for a written estimate of each step before you agree to it.
For children, many general dentists treat emergencies; some areas also have children's dentists with same-day slots. See children's dentists.
Emergency dentist questions
Can I see a dentist today without insurance?
Many offices see emergency patients without insurance. Ask about the cost of the exam and X-rays and whether they offer a payment plan before you go. See paying for dental care for other options.
What helps a toothache at night?
Keep your head raised, rinse with warm salt water, use a cold pack on your cheek, and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as the label directs. Call in the morning for a same-day visit. Go to the ER for spreading swelling, fever or trouble breathing or swallowing.
Can I put a knocked-out baby tooth back in?
No. Don't put a baby tooth back in; it can harm the adult tooth underneath. Call a dentist for advice the same day.
Do I have to book an appointment?
No. The office tells you its openings, the insurance it takes and its prices, and you decide whether to book. If you book with a dental office, you pay that office directly for your care.
Who answers when I call?
We connect your call to a participating dental office or a dental scheduling line that serves your area, when one is available. We are not a dental office and we don't provide dental care.
Is my call recorded?
Calls may be recorded for quality and connected to a participating dental office or its scheduling service. You'll hear a notice at the start of the call. See our privacy policy.
Tooth pain? Call now.
Tell us what's wrong and your ZIP code. We'll connect you with a dental office that serves your area, when one is available.
No obligation to book. Calls may be recorded and connected to a participating dental office or its scheduling service.