Triage
It hurts right now. Here’s exactly what to do.
Choose your situation below. We’ll walk you through each step — what to do at home, what to avoid, and whether you need care tonight.
Common emergencies
Choose your condition. Follow the steps.
Knocked-Out Tooth: Time is critical. A tooth reimplanted within 30 minutes has the best chance of survival.
Find the tooth immediately
Pick it up by the crown — the white part you chew with. Never touch the root. The root surface contains cells your dentist needs to reattach it.
Rinse gently if dirty
Hold it under cool running water for no more than 10 seconds. Do not scrub, soap, or wrap it in tissue. Any cleaning beyond a brief rinse damages the root cells.
Reinsert it if possible
For adults: gently push the tooth back into the socket in the correct orientation, then bite down on a clean cloth to hold it. For children under 12: do not reinsert — swallowing risk is too high.
Store it correctly if reinsertion fails
Place the tooth in a small container of whole milk, or tuck it inside the patient's cheek between gum and lip. Saliva is the best second option. Never store in tap water — it kills root cells within minutes.
Get to an emergency dentist now
Call ahead so they're ready. Every additional minute outside the socket reduces reimplantation success. A 30-minute window is the clinical target. After 60 minutes, odds drop sharply.
Do not do any of the following
- Scrub or dry the tooth
- Store in tap water or ice water
- Touch or handle the root surface
- Wait until morning if it happened tonight
When to seek professional care
Emergency dentist within 30 minutes. If none available, go to the ER.
Your condition (Knocked-Out Tooth) will be pre-selected in the booking flow.
How urgent is your situation?
Use this scale to match your symptoms to the right level of care — so you’re not under-reacting or over-reacting.
Monitor at Home
1–7 days
- Mild sensitivity to hot/cold
- Minor chip with no pain
- Lost filling, no pain
Schedule routine appointment within a week.
Same-Day Dental
24–48 hours
- Broken crown or filling
- Moderate toothache
- Lost temporary crown
Call first thing in the morning. Most practices can fit you in.
Emergency Dentist Tonight
Within hours
- Knocked-out tooth
- Severe uncontrolled pain
- Abscess with localized swelling
Find an emergency dental clinic open now. Do not wait until morning.
Go to the ER Now
Immediately
- Swelling spreading to neck or floor of mouth
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Uncontrolled bleeding after 30 min
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. This is a medical emergency.
This scale is a general guide only. When in doubt, always err on the side of seeking professional care sooner. Dental infections can progress rapidly.
47,000+
Emergency cases documented
312
Dentists in our review network
5 conditions
Clinically reviewed protocols
< 2 min
Average time to find your protocol
Written by clinicians.
Tested on real emergencies.
- Protocols reviewed by board-certified oral surgeons
- Updated to align with ADA emergency guidelines
- No ads, no upsells — only clinical information
- Used by 12,000+ patients monthly
Dr. Marcus Webb, DDS
Board-Certified Oral Surgeon
Reviewed: February 2026
“These protocols reflect what I tell patients on the phone at 2 a.m. — the same sequence, the same warnings. Getting the first 20 minutes right makes the clinical outcome dramatically better.”
You know what to do right now.Now find someone to finish the job.
Enter your zip code and select your condition. We’ll show you emergency dentists open right now, sorted by distance and availability — no account required.