Reviewed by Dr. Olga Karnakova, DDS
Common dental emergencies include a knocked-out adult tooth, a badly broken tooth, severe tooth pain, swelling and significant injuries to the mouth. The next step depends on the symptoms and injury. Contact a dentist promptly for guidance rather than waiting for a problem to resolve on its own.
Call 911 or go to an emergency department now for trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that affects the eye or neck, uncontrolled bleeding, or a serious facial or jaw injury. Do not wait for a dental appointment. NHS guidance on dental abscesses identifies breathing, swallowing and eye-related symptoms as emergency warning signs; Cleveland Clinic’s dental-emergency guidance also distinguishes serious facial injuries and uncontrolled bleeding from problems managed in a dental office.
Knocked-Out Tooth
A knocked-out permanent tooth needs immediate dental attention. Handle it by the crown, the part normally visible in the mouth, and avoid touching or scrubbing the root. Keep the tooth moist. If it can be gently put back in the socket safely, do so without forcing it; otherwise place it in milk or a tooth-preservation product and seek urgent dental care. Do not delay to see whether it improves.
Never put a knocked-out baby tooth back in its socket. If you are unsure which type of tooth was lost, ask a dentist immediately. See the ADA’s dental emergency first-aid advice and Mayo Clinic’s guidance on tooth loss.
Cracked or Chipped Tooth
Rinse gently with warm water and use a cold compress on the outside of the face for swelling. Save any tooth fragments and call the dentist. A small painless chip and a deep painful fracture may require different levels of urgency; describe any bleeding, sensitivity, looseness or change in your bite when you call.
Toothache
For a toothache, gently rinse with warm water and use floss if food is trapped between teeth. Do not put aspirin on the tooth or gum, and do not try to puncture or drain a swelling. Pain relief does not remove the need to treat the cause. If using an over-the-counter medicine, follow its label and check with a pharmacist or clinician if you are unsure it is safe for you.
Lost Crown or Filling
Contact the office for advice and keep any dislodged restoration to bring with you. Avoid chewing on the affected area. Do not use household glue or force a crown back onto a tooth. The dentist will assess whether the restoration can be repaired or replaced and whether the tooth underneath needs treatment.
Post-Extraction Bleeding or Pain
Follow the aftercare instructions provided by your treating dentist. A small amount of bleeding can occur after an extraction, but persistent active bleeding, worsening pain or increasing swelling needs advice from the dental team. Seek emergency medical care for uncontrolled bleeding. Follow your clinician’s specific instructions about food, drink and medicines.
The ADA advises protecting the healing clot, avoiding smoking and vigorous rinsing, and following the recommended diet. If pain becomes severe or increases after initial improvement, contact the dentist; dry socket and other complications need assessment.
Broken Jaw or Serious Mouth Injury
Gently clean a minor lip or tongue injury and apply a cold compress. Use clean gauze and steady pressure for bleeding. If bleeding will not stop, or there has been major trauma or a possible jaw fracture, seek emergency medical care. Dental care may still be needed after the medical team addresses the injury.
Swelling or Suspected Infection
Severe or worsening pain, facial swelling, fever or a bad taste with swelling warrants prompt dental assessment. These symptoms can have different causes; an examination is needed to identify and treat the problem. Seek emergency medical care for the warning signs above, especially difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Do not try to drain a swelling or rely on leftover antibiotics. The source of the problem needs dental assessment and treatment. Fever with swelling or feeling unwell should be reported promptly; breathing or swallowing difficulty requires emergency medical care.
Broken Orthodontics
Call your orthodontic provider if a bracket, wire or aligner breaks. A loose or irritating appliance needs advice, even when it is not a medical emergency. You may cover an irritating area with orthodontic wax while waiting for instructions. Severe bleeding, significant injury or trouble breathing requires urgent medical care.
How to Get the Right Next Step
When contacting Cal Dental Group, explain what happened, when it started, whether an adult tooth was lost, and whether you have swelling, fever, bleeding or trouble swallowing. Visit our Los Angeles emergency dental service page for contact information. Contact the office to confirm appointment availability.
Learn about Dr. Olga Karnakova and the practice. This general first-aid information cannot diagnose your symptoms or replace an examination. For a medical emergency, call 911.
