What should you do in a dental emergency? Follow these five steps immediately, before you reach the dentist’s chair. Nearly 2 million emergency room visits each year in the United States are for dental problems, according to the CDC. Most of those visits result in pain medication, not treatment. Knowing what to do in the first 30 to 60 minutes of a dental emergency can save a tooth, reduce pain, and avoid an unnecessary ER bill. Dentique Dental Care offers same-day emergency appointments.
This guide covers what to do right now, whether you are dealing with a knocked-out tooth, a broken tooth, or severe pain that will not stop.
Step 1: Assess the Situation. Is It a True Dental Emergency?
A true dental emergency requires same-day care: a knocked-out permanent tooth, uncontrolled bleeding, severe pain that does not respond to over-the-counter medication, facial swelling, or a broken tooth with an exposed nerve. A minor chip with no pain or a lost filling that is not causing discomfort can typically wait until morning.
Needs same-day care: knocked-out tooth, severe or worsening pain, uncontrolled bleeding, swelling in face or jaw, broken tooth with sharp pain or visible nerve, emergency toothache that wakes you up at night.
Can wait until morning: minor chip with no pain, lost filling with no discomfort, small crack with no sensitivity.
If you are unsure, call your dentist. They can help you assess over the phone.
Step 2: Manage Pain and Bleeding at Home
The American Dental Association recommends rinsing with warm salt water, applying a cold compress in 10 to 15 minute intervals, and taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen for dental emergency first aid. These steps control pain and swelling until you reach the dentist.
Do: Rinse gently with warm salt water. Apply a cold compress (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off). Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed. For bleeding, bite down on clean gauze for 15 to 20 minutes with steady pressure.
Do not: Use aspirin near the bleeding area (it thins blood and increases bleeding). Apply heat to your face. Eat on the affected side. Poke at the injury with your fingers or tongue.
Your goal is to make pain manageable, not eliminate it completely. If pain intensifies or bleeding does not stop after 20 minutes, move directly to Step 5.
Step 3: Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth (Time Is Critical)
A knocked-out permanent tooth has the highest chance of being saved if it is reimplanted within 30 to 60 minutes. The ADA recommends handling the tooth by the crown only, rinsing gently without scrubbing, and storing it in milk if reimplantation is not immediately possible.
Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white part you see when you smile). Never touch the root. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently under water for no more than 10 seconds. Do not scrub or remove any tissue fragments.
Try to place the tooth back into its socket. Bite down gently on a clean cloth to hold it in position. If you cannot reinsert it, store the tooth in a small container of milk, saliva, or an ADA-approved tooth preservation product. Do not use tap water.
Baby tooth: Do not attempt to reinsert. Bring the tooth to the dentist.
Get to the dentist within 60 minutes. The dentist will splint the tooth and stabilize it.
Step 4: Protect a Broken or Chipped Tooth
For a cracked or broken tooth, the ADA advises rinsing with warm water, saving any broken pieces, and applying a cold compress to reduce swelling. A broken tooth with no pain still requires a dental visit because the crack can extend below the gumline.
Rinse your mouth with warm water. Save any broken fragments in a clean container. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek near the break. If a sharp edge is cutting your cheek or tongue, cover it with dental wax or a small piece of sugar-free gum until you can see the dentist.
See your dentist as soon as possible, even if the pain is mild. Depending on the severity, the dentist may repair the tooth with bonding, protect it with a crown, or extract it if the damage is too extensive.
Step 5: Call Your Dentist, Not the ER
Emergency rooms treat dental visits with pain medication only and do not perform dental procedures. The average dental-related ER visit costs $400 to $1,200 or more, and the patient still needs to see a dentist afterward for actual treatment.
The ER cannot pull a tooth, splint a knocked-out tooth, or fix a fracture. If you go to the ER for a dental issue, you will likely receive a prescription for pain medication and a referral to a dentist. That is two bills instead of one.
Dentique’s emergency dental exam costs $169, which includes examination, diagnosis, and a treatment plan. Patients who needed someone NOW tell us they were seen the same day at our Downers Grove location. If you are in or near Downers Grove, Dentique offers same-day emergency dentist DG appointments. Sedation with nitrous oxide or oral sedation is available if the emergency procedure feels overwhelming.
| Dentique Emergency Exam | Average ER Visit (Dental) |
| $169 (exam + diagnosis + treatment plan) | $400 to $1,200+ (pain medication only, no treatment) |
When to go to the ER instead: uncontrolled bleeding that will not stop, a jaw fracture, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling that is closing your airway. These are medical emergencies, not dental emergencies.
Pro Tip from Dr. Shuaipaj: Build a Dental First Aid Kit
The best time to prepare for a dental emergency is before one happens. Dr. Shuaipaj a general and sedation dentist at Dentique, recommends keeping these items at home:
Dental wax (covers sharp edges). Temporary dental cement (reattaches loose crowns). Ibuprofen and acetaminophen (not aspirin). Clean gauze pads. A small container with a lid (to store a knocked-out tooth in milk). An instant cold pack. Your dentist’s phone number saved in your phone: (630) 963-6003.
Dental Emergency Questions Answered
What should I do in a dental emergency?
Stay calm and follow these five steps: assess whether it is a true emergency, manage pain and bleeding, protect any displaced or broken teeth, and call your dentist for a same-day appointment. The steps above cover each scenario in detail. Avoid the ER unless you have uncontrolled bleeding, a jaw fracture, or difficulty breathing.
Can I go to the ER for a dental emergency?
You can, but the ER cannot perform dental procedures. Emergency rooms prescribe pain medication and refer you to a dentist. The average dental ER visit costs $400 to $1,200 or more, and you will still need a separate dental appointment. A dentist is faster, less expensive, and can actually fix the problem. Dentique’s emergency exam is $169 with affordable payment plans available.
How much does emergency dental care cost?
At Dentique, the emergency dental exam costs $169. That covers the examination, X-rays if needed, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Additional procedures vary: extractions range from $450 to $750 depending on complexity. Compared to a dental ER visit ($400 to $1,200+), a dedicated emergency dentist visit costs significantly less and provides actual treatment.
Can a knocked-out tooth be saved?
Yes, if you act within 30 to 60 minutes. Pick up the tooth by the crown, rinse gently, and try to reinsert it into the socket. If that is not possible, store it in milk and get to the dentist immediately. The sooner you arrive, the higher the chance the tooth can be splinted and saved.
