Can You Go to the ER for Dental Emergencies?

It can be scary to have a severe toothache that presents itself at night or on the weekend. If that occurs, your thoughts may turn to the emergency room, as you wonder: “Can you go to the ER for a toothache?” The answer is yes, but only in certain situations.

What Is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is any problem with your teeth or gums that requires immediate attention to stop bleeding, relieve severe pain or save a tooth. It also includes any dental issue that’s accompanied by signs of an infection.

Not all dental problems are emergencies. You may have a “dental emergency” toothache if you experience:

• Bleeding that won’t stop.
• A tooth that has been knocked out.
• A loose or out-of-place tooth.
• Severe pain that doesn’t get better with medication.
• Swelling in your face, jaw or neck.
• A broken jaw.

When To Go to the Emergency Room for Tooth Pain

While your dentist is the best person to see for most dental problems, there are times when a trip to the emergency room for a dental emergency is necessary. You should go to the nearest emergency room if you have a toothache along with other symptoms that could point to a more serious medical issue.

Dental Abscess

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus in the tooth or gums caused by a bacterial infection. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body. You might wonder, “What will the ER do for an abscessed tooth?” or “Can a hospital drain a tooth abscess?” In some cases, yes, an emergency room provider may be able to drain an abscess, depending on its location.

Go to the ER right away if you have an abscess and any of these symptoms:

• Fever
• Swollen face swelling
• Swollen eye 
• Swelling below jawline
• Swollen neck
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing
• Weakened immune system

Luxated Tooth

A luxated tooth is one that remains in the socket but has been displaced out of its normal position. It may be pushed back, forward or to the side. It might also be pushed further into or partially out of the socket.

This is a serious injury that requires immediate care to save the tooth. An emergency room may be able to help, especially if the luxation is the result of a facial trauma.

Difficulty Swallowing or Breathing with a Toothache

If you’re having trouble swallowing or breathing and you have a toothache, this is a medical emergency. Visiting an emergency room for a dental infection is crucial, as it can become life-threatening.

Go to the ER immediately if you have a toothache and:

• Trouble swallowing
• Trouble breathing
• Neck swelling
• Under jaw swelling
• Elevated fever

Avulsed (Knocked-Out) Tooth

An avulsed tooth is one that has been completely knocked out of its socket. This is a dental emergency that requires immediate attention. To save the tooth, it needs to be put back in place within 60 minutes.

If your tooth is knocked out, pick it up by the crown (the chewing surface) and rinse it with water. Do not scrub it. If possible, replace the tooth back in its socket. If not, put it in a container of milk and get to a dentist or an emergency room as soon as possible.

Severe Tooth Pain

Sometimes, the pain from a toothache can be so severe that over-the-counter pain medication doesn't help. If you are experiencing extreme pain, you may be wondering, “What will the ER do for extreme tooth pain?” The ER may be able to provide stronger pain medication to get you through until you can see a dentist.

Go to the ER for severe tooth pain if you also have:

• A high fever.
• Swelling of the face or jaw.
• Uncontrollable bleeding.

Trauma to Face or Mouth

If you have had an injury to your face or mouth, you should go to the emergency room, especially if you think you may have a broken jaw. A broken jaw is a serious injury that needs immediate medical attention.

Go to the ER for trauma to the face or mouth if you have:

• Difficulty opening your mouth.
• Pain in your jaw.
• Uncontrollable bleeding from your mouth or nose.
• Changes in your vision.
• Deep cuts to your lips or face.

What Can the ER do for a Toothache?

If you’re going to the ER for a toothache, it’s essential to know what they can and cannot do for you. An emergency room is not a dental office, and the providers there are not dentists. However, they can help with some of the symptoms of a dental emergency.

What will the emergency room do for a toothache? The ER can:

• Give you pain medication.
• Give you antibiotics for an infection.
• Drain an abscess.
• Numb the area that is in pain.
• Treat injuries to your mouth or face.

Can the Emergency Room Remove Teeth?

A common question is: “Can emergency rooms remove teeth?” In most cases, the answer is no. Most emergency rooms are not equipped to perform dental procedures, such as tooth extractions. While some hospitals may have dentists on call who can pull teeth, this is rare. So, if you are wondering, “Can the hospital pull teeth?” the answer is probably no.

What the ER Can’t Do for a Toothache

While the ER can help with the immediate, life-threatening symptoms of a dental emergency, the medical professionals there cannot fix the underlying dental problem.

The ER cannot:

• Perform a root canal.
• Fill a cavity.
• Fix a broken or chipped tooth.
• Replace a filling or crown.
• Extract a tooth.

When Should You Go to the Dentist Instead of the ER?

For most dental issues, your dentist is the best person to see. You should make an appointment with your dentist if you have a toothache that’s not accompanied by any of the severe symptoms listed above.

Many dentists have emergency hours or an on-call service for patients who need immediate care. If you are curious about where to go for a toothache emergency, your first call should be to your dentist.

You should see a dentist for:

• A toothache with manageable pain.
• A chipped or cracked tooth.
• A lost filling or crown.
• An object stuck between your teeth.
• Bleeding gums.

When you have a severe toothache, urgent care may be a good option for managing pain if the condition develops at night or on a weekend when your dentist is unavailable. When you visit an urgent care center for teeth pain, they can prescribe pain medication and antibiotics if needed. While not a long-term solution, effective pain management can help you get through a difficult night or weekend.

So, can you go to an emergency room for dental pain? The short answer is yes, you can go to the emergency room for issues with your teeth. You just need to understand the limitations of the ER.

If you have questions about dental emergencies, your healthcare provider can answer them. Don’t have a Baptist Health provider? Please visit our online provider directory.

Next Steps and Helpful Resources

Find an ER or Urgent Care Near You
Emergency Room for Headaches: When Should You Go?
Hands-Only CPR and When to Use It
Choosing Urgent Care or the Emergency Room