What counts as a dental emergency?

Choose a concern for immediate guidance. If you are not sure, call anyway—we would rather help you decide.

Treatment details

Explore your care options

Use these first steps while you contact our office. Online information cannot replace an examination.

Call for guidance

Severe Tooth Pain

Severe, persistent, or throbbing pain may come from deep decay, a crack, inflammation, infection, or trauma. Avoid placing aspirin on the tooth or gum. Gentle rinsing and over-the-counter medication used according to its label may help while you arrange care.

Call promptly, especially if pain is paired with swelling, fever, drainage, or a bad taste.

Protect what remains

Broken or Chipped Tooth

Rinse gently, save any pieces you can find, and avoid chewing on the affected side. A minor chip may be repaired with bonding; a larger break may need a crown, root canal treatment, or another approach after evaluation.

Call sooner if the tooth is painful, sharp, bleeding, or broken near the gumline.

Keep the tooth safe

Lost Filling or Crown

A lost restoration can leave the tooth sensitive and vulnerable. Keep the area clean, avoid hard or sticky foods, and save a displaced crown if possible. Do not use household glue to put it back.

Call so we can assess the tooth and determine whether the restoration can be replaced or needs to be remade.

Infection needs attention

Abscess or Swelling

A dental abscess can cause localized swelling, pain, tenderness, fever, drainage, or a bad taste. It needs prompt dental evaluation because the source of the infection must be treated.

If swelling affects breathing or swallowing, spreads rapidly, or is accompanied by severe illness, seek emergency medical help immediately.

Time matters

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root. If it is dirty, rinse it gently without scrubbing or removing attached tissue. Keep it moist—in milk or saliva if available—and call immediately.

Do not try to reinsert a baby tooth. For a permanent tooth, immediate professional guidance offers the best chance of saving it.

Safety comes first

Mouth or Jaw Injury

Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze to control bleeding and use a cold compress for swelling. A suspected jaw fracture, loss of consciousness, uncontrolled bleeding, or other serious trauma requires emergency medical evaluation.

Dental follow-up can then address injured teeth, restorations, and soft tissues.

Call now for urgent dental guidance.

Request an appointment or call our Longmont office. We’ll help you find the right next step.