Emergency Dental Care

A dental emergency rarely happens at a convenient time. Whether it's a toothache that kept you up all night, a chipped tooth from an accident, or a crown that came off over the weekend, our team will get you seen — and out of pain — as quickly as possible.

What counts as a dental emergency

• Severe or persistent toothache
• A knocked-out, loosened, or broken tooth
• A lost or broken crown, filling, or bridge
• Swelling of the gums, face, or jaw, or signs of an abscess
• Bleeding that doesn't stop after dental work or an injury
• A cracked tooth causing pain when chewing

Not sure whether it's an emergency? Call us — we'll help you decide over the phone and get you scheduled appropriately.

While you wait to be seen

• Knocked-out tooth: handle it by the crown, not the root; rinse gently (don't scrub), and place it back in the socket or keep it in milk. Come in immediately — minutes matter.
• Toothache: rinse with warm water, gently floss to remove any trapped food, and use an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label.
• Swelling: apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek in 15-minute intervals.
• Lost crown or filling: keep the crown if you have it and avoid chewing on that side until we can re-cement or replace it.

When to go to the emergency room instead

Go to the nearest ER or call 911 for injuries beyond a dental office's scope: difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrollable bleeding, or trauma to the head, neck, or jaw. Once you're stable, we'll handle the dental side of your recovery.

Content reviewed by Jamisen Kohlman, DMD — KoLa Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Austin, TX.