Reviewed September 3, 2026. A dental emergency is not limited to a knocked-out tooth. Severe pain, facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, a displaced tooth, a deep fracture, and some injuries to the lips, tongue, jaw, or head can all need urgent assessment. The correct next step depends on whether the problem is primarily dental or whether it threatens breathing, swallowing, consciousness, or overall health.

This guide is for families in Salt Lake City, Holladay, Millcreek, Murray, Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, and nearby Utah communities. It explains what to do in the first few minutes, when to call 911 or go to an emergency department, when to seek same-day dental care, and how to protect a tooth while arranging an examination. It is general education, not a diagnosis or a substitute for emergency medical care.

Dental emergency versus medical emergency

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry lists pain, infection, facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, and oral-facial trauma among dental emergencies. ^[9] A dental office is usually the right place to diagnose and treat the tooth itself. However, a dental problem can become a medical emergency when swelling threatens the airway, bleeding cannot be controlled, or a fall or blow may have injured the brain, jaw, eye, or other facial structures.

Do not drive yourself or your child to a dental appointment if breathing or swallowing is becoming difficult, the child is unusually sleepy or confused, or there is a serious facial injury. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. The emergency department can stabilize a dangerous medical problem; a dentist can then address the dental source when it is safe to do so.

When 911 matters more than a dental appointment

Red flags include swelling that is spreading toward the eye or neck, swelling under the tongue or along the floor of the mouth, drooling because swallowing is difficult, noisy or labored breathing, or an inability to open the mouth normally. A tooth abscess can remain active even if the pain briefly improves, and untreated infection can spread into surrounding tissues. ^[5] If a head injury occurred, treat repeated vomiting, a worsening headache, seizure, increasing confusion, weakness, slurred speech, unequal pupils, or inability to wake the child as emergency warning signs. ^[6]

What to do in the first few minutes

1. Make the situation safe. Stop play or the activity that caused the injury. If there was a fall or blow to the head, observe the child for medical warning signs and do not return them to sports while they may be injured.
2. Look for the immediate threat. Check breathing, swallowing, alertness, and bleeding before focusing on the tooth. Call 911 for a life-threatening problem.
3. Call the dental office. Explain what happened, when it happened, which tooth or teeth are involved, whether the tooth is permanent or a baby tooth, and whether there is swelling, fever, bleeding, or head injury. The ADA recommends contacting a dentist as soon as possible for dental emergencies. ^[1]
4. Protect the area. Use clean gauze or cloth for gentle pressure on bleeding. For a facial injury, a cold compress wrapped in cloth may help reduce swelling. Do not put ice directly on skin, and do not place aspirin on a tooth or gum.
5. Save what came out. Keep a knocked-out tooth, broken fragment, crown, filling, or orthodontic piece in a clean container or appropriate moist medium as advised. Do not scrub a tooth root or use household glue.
6. Write down medicines and health conditions. Tell the office about allergies, blood thinners, medical conditions, recent medicines, and the child’s tetanus history after a dirty injury. This information can affect triage and treatment.

A knocked-out permanent tooth needs immediate action

A completely displaced permanent tooth, also called an avulsed tooth, is one of the most time-sensitive dental injuries. The American Association of Endodontists advises acting within 30 minutes when possible. The tooth may still be treatable even after more time, so continue to seek care rather than assuming it is lost. ^[2] Pediatric trauma guidance also calls for immediate dental treatment and keeping the tooth in an appropriate moist medium if it cannot be replanted at the scene. ^[4]

Permanent-tooth first aid

1. Find the tooth and pick it up by the white crown, not the root surface.
2. If dirt is present, gently rinse it with water. Do not scrub, scrape, dry, or use soap or chemicals.
3. If it is a permanent tooth and the person is alert and able to cooperate, try to place it back into the socket gently. Hold it by the crown and do not force it.
4. If you cannot replace it, keep it moist in milk, next to the cheek, or in an emergency tooth-preservation product. For a young child who could swallow the tooth, use a safe container with milk or a preservation solution rather than placing it in the mouth.
5. Go to a dentist or endodontist immediately, bringing the tooth and any fragments. Do not wait to see whether pain develops.

Regular tap water is not a good long-term storage medium for an avulsed tooth because root-surface cells do not tolerate it for an extended period. AAE guidance emphasizes that the tooth should remain moist while urgent care is arranged. ^[2]

A baby tooth is different

Do not try to replant an avulsed baby tooth. Replanting a primary tooth can injure the developing permanent tooth underneath it. Still, contact a dentist promptly: the dentist can check whether the tooth is completely out, whether a piece remains, and whether the injury affected the lips, gums, jaw, or developing permanent tooth. ^{[3] [9]}

What to do for a broken, chipped, or displaced tooth

A small enamel chip may be less urgent than a fracture that exposes the inner tooth. A tooth that is pushed sideways, partly out of its socket, or suddenly very loose needs prompt examination even if the child is not crying. Neighboring teeth can also be injured without an obvious visible crack. ^[3] For practical first aid after a chip, see Great Smiles Utah’s guide to what to do before the dentist.

Save the fragment

Find and save any broken piece. Rinse the mouth gently with warm water to remove visible dirt, and use a cold compress on the outside of the face if swelling is present. Do not glue the fragment or try to reshape the tooth at home. Depending on the fracture, a dentist may be able to reattach the piece, place a filling, protect exposed pulp, or recommend another restoration. ^{[1] [3]}

If the tooth is loose or pushed out of place

Do not repeatedly wiggle, straighten, or pull the tooth. Keep the child from biting on the injured area and arrange urgent dental care. A dentist may need to reposition and stabilize a displaced tooth, take images, and monitor the pulp and surrounding tissues. Treatment varies with the child’s age, the type of tooth, the direction of movement, and the extent of the injury. ^[3]

Toothache, abscess, and facial swelling

A toothache can be an emergency even when the face looks normal. Severe or persistent pain, pain that wakes a child, pain when chewing, prolonged hot or cold sensitivity, a gum “pimple,” bad taste, fever, or a swollen cheek deserves prompt dental evaluation. MedlinePlus describes an abscess as a pocket of pus caused by bacterial infection and notes that the infection can continue to spread even if pressure temporarily reduces the toothache. ^[5] Great Smiles Utah also explains what to do about tooth pain at night while arranging care.

If the swelling is localized and breathing and swallowing are normal, call a dentist for urgent instructions rather than waiting several days. Great Smiles Utah’s evidence guide on when a tooth abscess is an emergency explains why swelling and systemic symptoms change the level of concern. A dentist may need to remove the cause of the infection, drain it, perform pulp treatment, or extract the tooth depending on the diagnosis.

Signs that call for prompt dental care

• Throbbing or continuous tooth pain that does not settle.
• Pain when biting or chewing, or a tooth that feels suddenly high.
• A gum bump, pus, bad taste, or new unpleasant odor near one tooth.
• Increasing sensitivity, a darkening tooth after trauma, or pain after a recent dental procedure.
• Localized gum or cheek swelling without trouble breathing or swallowing.

When swelling becomes a medical emergency

Go to an emergency department or call 911 for difficulty breathing, speaking, or swallowing; swelling that is rapidly increasing or extending into the neck or around the eye; drooling because swallowing is difficult; severe difficulty opening the mouth; or a child who is becoming very ill, weak, confused, or unusually sleepy. AAPD guidance identifies progressive facial swelling and systemic signs such as fever or breathing and swallowing difficulty as requiring emergency treatment. ^[8]

Cuts, bleeding, and jaw injuries

Mouth tissue can bleed more than a small cut appears to warrant. Have the child sit upright if possible and apply steady, gentle pressure with clean gauze or cloth. A cold compress outside the mouth may reduce swelling. If bleeding is heavy, does not stop with pressure, or is accompanied by a deep facial wound, trouble breathing, fainting, or a suspected jaw fracture, seek emergency medical care. ADA guidance recommends a dentist or emergency room when oral bleeding is excessive or will not stop. ^[1]

A suspected broken jaw, a bite that suddenly does not fit, inability to open or close the mouth, numbness of the lower lip, or significant facial asymmetry should not be managed at home. Avoid moving the jaw unnecessarily and seek immediate evaluation. If the injury also involved the head, use the CDC concussion warning signs rather than relying on how the teeth look. ^[6]

Lost filling, crown, or object stuck between teeth

A lost filling or crown is not always a 911 emergency, but the exposed tooth can be sensitive or vulnerable to further damage. Save the restoration, rinse gently, avoid chewing on that side, and call the dental office for advice. Do not use superglue or another household adhesive, and do not force a crown back into place if the bite feels wrong.

If food or floss is stuck, try gentle dental floss. Do not use a needle, knife, tweezers, or another sharp instrument in the mouth. If the object will not come out, causes pain, cuts the gum, or may have been inhaled or swallowed, contact a dental or medical professional. ^[1]

Orthodontic wires or appliances that are only mildly irritating may be handled with temporary orthodontic wax while the office is contacted. A wire that is embedded, causing significant bleeding, or threatening the airway needs urgent care. Do not cut or pull on a device unless a dental professional instructs you to do so.

Safe pain relief while waiting for dental care

First aid does not cure the cause of dental pain, but it may make the wait safer and more manageable. Rinse gently with warm water, floss carefully if food is trapped, and use a cold compress for injury-related swelling. Never place aspirin directly on a tooth or gum; it can burn oral tissue. ^{[1] [5]}

For people age 12 and older, an ADA clinical guideline identifies non-opioid medicines such as an NSAID, alone or with acetaminophen, as first-line options for temporary toothache pain when definitive dental treatment is not immediately available. ^[7] This is not individualized dosing advice. For children younger than 12, use only a medicine and dose appropriate for the child’s age and weight, follow the product label or a clinician’s instructions, and ask a pharmacist or pediatric clinician when uncertain. Check for allergies, liver or kidney disease, stomach bleeding risk, pregnancy, blood thinners, and other medicines before using an OTC pain reliever.

Do not give leftover antibiotics, someone else’s prescription, or a child’s medicine without checking the label and a qualified professional. Antibiotics are not a universal treatment for toothache; a dentist must identify the source and determine whether dental treatment, medical management, or both are needed. AAPD guidance emphasizes prompt dental attention for a child with facial swelling and careful antibiotic decisions based on the infection and the child’s medical status. ^[8]

What happens at an urgent dental visit?

Urgent care begins with questions about the event, pain, swelling, fever, medicines, allergies, and what first aid was already attempted. The dentist examines the teeth, gums, bite, soft tissues, and facial symmetry. Depending on the injury, dental images may be needed to look for root, bone, or developing-tooth problems that are not visible in a mirror. ^[3]

Treatment might be as simple as smoothing a small sharp edge or repairing a chip. Other situations may require a temporary restoration, pulp therapy, a root canal, extraction, repositioning and splinting, drainage, or referral to an endodontist, pediatric dentist, oral surgeon, or medical team. The correct treatment cannot be selected reliably from a photograph or a symptom search.

How to prepare for a dental emergency in Salt Lake City

Families in Salt Lake City, Holladay, Millcreek, Murray, and surrounding areas can reduce delays by saving their dental office’s phone number, knowing which nearby emergency department to use, and keeping a small dental first-aid kit. Include clean gauze, a cold pack, dental floss, a small clean container, and—if appropriate for your family—an emergency tooth-preservation product. A mouthguard can reduce the risk of sports-related dental injury, and the ADA also advises avoiding chewing ice, popcorn kernels, and hard candy and never using teeth as tools. ^[1]

For a local urgent appointment, call Great Smiles Utah at (801) 277-1010 and describe the symptoms before traveling. You can also review the Utah verified dental contact list if you need help locating a dental provider. If the office is closed, follow its current after-hours instructions; use 911 or an emergency department for the medical red flags described above.

Frequently asked questions

Is every toothache a dental emergency?

No. Mild, short-lived sensitivity may be appropriate for a routine appointment, but severe, persistent, worsening, or sleep-disrupting pain should be assessed promptly. Pain with swelling, fever, a gum pimple, trauma, or difficulty swallowing raises the urgency.

Should I go to the emergency room for dental pain?

Go to an emergency department for breathing or swallowing difficulty, rapidly spreading swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, a major jaw or facial injury, or dangerous head-injury symptoms. For a tooth problem without those medical warning signs, a dentist is usually better equipped to diagnose and treat the source. Call the dental office and explain the symptoms.

What should I do if my child knocks out a baby tooth?

Do not put the baby tooth back into the socket. Save it if possible, keep the area clean, and contact a dentist promptly so the injury and the developing permanent tooth can be checked. A knocked-out permanent tooth follows a different, time-sensitive first-aid process.

Can I put a knocked-out tooth in water?

Use water only for a gentle rinse if the tooth is dirty. For transport, keep an avulsed permanent tooth moist in milk, an appropriate preservation solution, or another medium recommended by a dental professional. Do not scrub or dry the root, and do not delay the trip to the dentist. ^[2]

Do antibiotics fix a tooth infection?

Not by themselves. The dentist must treat the source of the infection and decide whether antibiotics are indicated. Fever, facial swelling, breathing or swallowing difficulty, or a child who appears systemically ill needs urgent professional evaluation rather than leftover medicine at home. ^[8]

What if a crown or filling falls out at night?

Save the restoration, rinse gently, avoid chewing on that side, and contact the dental office as soon as possible. Do not use household glue. If there is severe pain, swelling, bleeding, or a sharp edge cutting the mouth, tell the office so the urgency can be triaged.

Need help deciding what to do next? Great Smiles Utah provides family dental care for patients in Salt Lake City, Holladay, and surrounding Utah communities. Call (801) 277-1010 to describe the problem and ask about an urgent dental evaluation. For breathing difficulty, rapidly spreading swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or serious head or facial injury, call 911 or go to an emergency department first.