Dental Emergency Center

A dental emergency is scary. Tell us what happened.

You are in the right place. Pick what is going on and get clear steps for the next hour, what the dentist will do, when to go to the ER, and what it may cost. This is education, not a diagnosis.

What happened?

Start the emergency check Find a dentist near me

Reviewed by J SongDental Billing Specialist

Reviewed June 24, 2026 Editorial standards

Why this matters

J Song is a dental billing specialist who works with insurance verification, PPO eligibility, and claims. A billing review checks that the coverage, costs, and network rules on this page match how dental offices and carriers actually handle them.

What a billing review checks

Coverage terms like annual maximum, deductible, and waiting period are described correctly
Cost figures are written as estimates, not quotes
PPO carrier and network names are used accurately
Nothing implies a carrier name alone confirms network participation

This page received a dental billing and coverage review. It is educational and is not a clinical review or medical advice. For a possible emergency, contact a licensed dentist or call emergency services. Coverage and costs should be confirmed with your dental office and carrier. CoverCapy is a patient first dental insurance concierge and PPO dentist network, not an insurance carrier.

Help right now

Answer a few questions, get a clear plan.

Quick answer

Most dental emergencies should be seen by a dentist within 24 to 48 hours. A knocked-out adult tooth is more urgent and is often savable if it is reimplanted within about 30 to 60 minutes. A few symptoms, such as trouble breathing or swallowing or fast-spreading facial swelling, are medical emergencies that need a hospital emergency room now.

Step 1

Go to the ER now if

Some symptoms point to a medical emergency, not just a dental one. Call emergency services or go to a hospital emergency room if you have any of these:

Trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling under the tongue or in the floor of the mouth
Facial swelling that is spreading fast, especially toward the eye or neck
A high fever along with mouth or face swelling
Bleeding that will not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm pressure
A jaw injury that may be broken, or trauma with loss of consciousness

Common emergencies

Open your situation for the full picture.

Each card opens to a short overview, what the dentist does, how much it tends to hurt, a typical cost range, recovery, and how coverage fits. Read it here, then open the full guide when you want every detail.

A throbbing, constant, or worsening toothache usually means the inner nerve is inflamed or infected, most often from deep decay or a cracked tooth. This kind of pain rarely settles on its own, and it is one of the most common reasons people seek urgent dental care. Until you are seen, warm salt water rinses and an over the counter anti-inflammatory paired with acetaminophen are the common first choice.

Pain

Typical cost$1,000 to $1,800

Recovery1 to 2 days

CoverageMajor or basic

What the dentist does

The dentist tests the tooth and takes an X-ray to find the cause. If the nerve is infected, the usual fix is a root canal to remove the infection, followed by a crown to protect the tooth. If the tooth cannot be saved, an extraction may be the answer, sometimes with a bone graft to keep the space for a future implant.

How coverage fits

The exam and X-ray are often covered at or near 100 percent. The root canal and crown are the larger costs and sit in the basic or major tier depending on the plan. A plan that pays toward major work from day one shares part of that cost right away.

Read the full toothache guide See root canal cost and coverage How dentists treat the pain

A fully knocked-out adult tooth is one of the few dental problems where minutes truly matter. The chance of saving it is best when it is placed back in the socket within about 30 to 60 minutes. A baby tooth is usually not put back, so for a child, see a dentist but do not reinsert it.

Do this now

Pick the tooth up by the crown, the white part, not the root.
If it is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline for a few seconds. Do not scrub it.
If you can, place it back in the socket and bite softly on a clean cloth.
If you cannot, keep it in milk or tucked in your cheek, and get to a dentist right away.

Pain

Save window30 to 60 min

RecoverySplint 1 to 2 wks

CoverageExam, then major

What the dentist does

The dentist places the tooth back and splints it to the neighbors so it can heal. A root canal is often needed later, since the nerve usually does not survive. If the tooth cannot be saved, the plan moves to a replacement such as an implant or bridge.

Read the full knocked-out tooth guide Find a dentist who can see you now

Swelling in the face or gums usually means a dental infection, often an abscess at the root of a tooth or in the gum. Infection does not clear on its own and should be seen quickly. A cold compress on the outside and warm salt water rinses can ease it while you arrange care.

Go to the ER now if

The swelling is spreading fast, you have trouble breathing or swallowing, the swelling reaches your eye or neck, or you have a high fever. These can be life-threatening and need a hospital, not a wait for an appointment.

Pain

Typical cost$1,000 to $1,500

RecoveryDays, once drained

CoverageExam, then major

What the dentist does

The dentist drains the infection and treats the source, usually a root canal or an extraction. Antibiotics are added only when the infection is spreading, and even then they do not replace fixing the tooth. Pain and swelling usually ease quickly once the pressure is released.

Read the full abscess and swelling guide See root canal cost and coverage

Broken teeth range from a small enamel chip to a deep crack that reaches the nerve. A minor chip with no pain is usually not an after-hours emergency, but a deep crack, a sharp edge, or pain when biting should be seen soon. Save any pieces, rinse with warm water, and use dental wax or sugar-free gum to cover a sharp edge for comfort.

Pain

Typical cost$150 to $1,500

RecoverySame day to weeks

CoverageBasic or major

What the dentist does

A small chip may be smoothed or bonded. A larger break or crack often needs a crown to hold the tooth together. If the crack reaches the nerve, a root canal comes first. A crack that splits the root usually means the tooth cannot be saved, and the plan moves to a replacement.

Read the full broken tooth guide See how a crown is covered

Some bleeding after an injury or an extraction is normal and slows with steady pressure. The key is firm, uninterrupted pressure rather than checking it every minute.

Do this now

Bite down on clean, folded gauze or a moist tea bag for 10 to 15 minutes without peeking.
Sit upright and stay calm, since lying flat can make bleeding feel worse.
Avoid rinsing hard, spitting, or using a straw, which can restart the bleeding.

Go to the ER now if

Heavy bleeding continues past 15 minutes of firm pressure, or the bleeding follows a serious injury. Treat that as an emergency and go to a hospital emergency room.

Read more on urgent symptoms Find a dentist near me

A lost filling or crown leaves the tooth exposed and often sensitive to hot, cold, and sweet. It is usually not an after-hours emergency, but it should be seen soon, because an open tooth can decay further or become painful.

Do this now

Keep the crown if you still have it, and bring it to the visit.
A drugstore temporary cement, or even sugar-free gum, can cover the tooth for a short time.
Avoid chewing on that side and keep the area clean.

Pain

Typical costRe-cement to new crown

RecoveryUsually same visit

CoverageBasic or major

What the dentist does

If the crown is intact and the tooth underneath is sound, the dentist can often re-cement it. If the crown is damaged or the tooth has decay, a new crown or filling may be needed. The sooner it is handled, the more likely the simpler fix works.

Read the full lost crown guide See how a crown is covered

The whole map

Most emergencies are an injury, an infection, or pain.

Three groups cover almost every dental emergency. Find the branch that matches, then open the guide for your exact situation.

Injury

Something broke or got knocked loose.

Knocked-out tooth Broken or cracked tooth Lost filling or crown

Infection

Swelling, pus, or fever points to infection.

Abscess and swelling When swelling is an ER visit Root canal for an infected tooth

Pain

It hurts, but nothing is obviously broken.

Severe toothache Dental pain relief The emergency exam

What happens next

From the first hour to a tooth that is fixed.

Most emergencies follow the same arc. You get seen and diagnosed, the dentist stabilizes the problem, and the full repair often comes at a later visit once things settle.

The visit usually starts with a limited, problem-focused exam rather than a full checkup. The dentist tests the tooth, takes an X-ray, and gives you a diagnosis and a plan. See exactly what the emergency exam involves.

Cost and coverage

The exam is small. The treatment is where the cost sits.

A limited emergency exam often runs about 50 to 100 dollars in cash, and many plans cover exams and X-rays at or near 100 percent. The bigger numbers come from the treatment, such as a root canal with a crown or an extraction with a bone graft, which can reach a few thousand dollars. A hospital emergency room can manage pain and infection, but it usually cannot fix the tooth, so an ER trip for a toothache often means paying for the ER and still needing a dentist.

If you can plan even a little ahead

Some plans pay a reduced share of major work from day one with no waiting period. As an illustrative example, Ameritas PrimeStar Complete covers exams and cleanings at 100 percent and pays about 20 percent of major services from day one, then steps up after the first year. It has no waiting period, no upper age limit for adults 18 and over, and can take effect as soon as the next business day. The 20 percent is partial, and a deductible and annual maximum still apply, so confirm the details and your effective date with the carrier.

So whether you are facing a root canal and crown or an extraction and bone graft, day one major coverage means part of the cost is shared from the start, and the exam to diagnose it is covered. See the Ameritas PrimeStar Complete breakdown.

Estimate my treatment cost Read the emergency coverage guide

Feel better

A diagnosis lowers both the pain and the worry.

A large part of dental distress comes from not knowing what is wrong or how serious it is. Getting seen replaces that uncertainty with a clear problem and a plan. Research on pain and anxiety links a sense of understanding and control to lower distress and lower perceived pain, while expecting the worst tends to make pain feel sharper. Slow breathing and a clear explanation from the dental team both help. If anxiety is the reason you have been putting off care, tell the office when you call, since many dentists offer ways to make the visit easier.

Dental anxietyWhy being seen helps, and ways to make a visit easier. Dental pain reliefHow dentists manage pain, in plain language.

Learn more

The complete dental emergency library.

Every part of a dental emergency, from the first hour to the bill, has its own guide. Start with your situation, then read the exam, pain, and coverage guides as you need them.

Knocked-out toothThe short window to save a tooth, and how to store it. Abscess and swellingDental infection, what helps, and ER warning signs. Severe toothacheWhat strong tooth pain means and how it is treated. Broken or cracked toothChips, cracks, and protecting the tooth. Lost filling or crownHow to protect the tooth until your visit. The emergency examWhat the visit involves and what it costs. Dental pain reliefHow dentists manage pain, in plain language. Dental anxietyWhy being seen helps, and ways to ease a visit. Emergency dental costCash versus covered, and how to lower the bill. Emergency dental insuranceDay one coverage and how fast a plan can start.

Questions

Dental emergency questions.

A dental emergency is a tooth or mouth problem that needs prompt care, such as severe or throbbing pain, facial or gum swelling, a knocked-out or broken tooth, bleeding that does not stop, or a lost filling or crown that leaves a tooth exposed. Most should be seen by a dentist within 24 to 48 hours. A knocked-out adult tooth is more urgent and is often savable if it is reimplanted within about 30 to 60 minutes.

Go to a hospital emergency room or call emergency services for trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that is spreading fast to the eye, neck, or floor of the mouth, a high fever with facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or a jaw injury that may be broken. These can be medical emergencies. An ER can manage pain, swelling, and infection, but most ERs cannot fix the tooth itself, so you will still need a dentist.

A limited, problem-focused emergency exam often runs about 50 to 100 dollars in cash, with X-rays adding roughly 25 to 250 dollars depending on the type. Many dental plans cover exams and X-rays at or near 100 percent, so the exam itself may cost little with coverage. The treatment that follows, such as a root canal, crown, or extraction, is where most of the cost sits. These are illustrative figures, not a quote.

The dentist takes a focused history, looks at the problem tooth, and usually tests it and takes an X-ray to find the cause. You leave with a diagnosis and a plan, often a prescription if there is infection, and sometimes immediate relief such as draining an abscess or starting a root canal. Many emergencies are stabilized first and fully restored at a later visit.

It depends on the plan. Exams and cleanings are often covered from day one, but many plans make major work such as crowns, root canals, and extractions wait six to twelve months. Some plans pay a reduced share of major services from day one with no waiting period. As an illustrative example, Ameritas PrimeStar Complete covers exams and cleanings at 100 percent and pays about 20 percent of major services from day one, and can take effect as soon as the next business day. Confirm the coverage and effective date with the carrier before you rely on it.

Often yes. A large part of dental distress comes from not knowing what is wrong or how bad it is. Getting a diagnosis replaces that uncertainty with a clear problem and a plan, which research on pain and anxiety links to lower distress and lower perceived pain. Putting off care tends to make both the problem and the worry worse.