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Emergency guides

Dental emergency symptoms: what to do first

Six situations that send people looking for an emergency dentist, each with the first-aid steps that actually help, the things that make it worse, and a straight answer on whether it is a dentist or a hospital problem.

Call 911 or go to an emergency room if

  • Swelling is spreading to your eye, neck or under your jaw
  • You have a fever with facial swelling
  • You are having trouble breathing or swallowing
  • Bleeding will not stop after two hours of firm pressure
  • You have a suspected broken jaw or a head injury

Pick your situation

What happened?

Act within 30 minutes Knocked-out tooth An adult tooth can often be saved, but the clock matters: reimplantation works best inside 30–60 minutes. See a dentist within 24–48 hours Severe toothache Most toothache has a cause a dentist can find: decay, a cracked tooth, an exposed root or an infection starting. Same day — emergency room if swelling spreads Abscess and swelling An abscess is a pocket of pus from an infected tooth. See a dentist within 24–48 hours Broken or cracked tooth A clean break with no pain can often wait a day or two. Call the clinic today Bleeding after extraction Oozing and pink saliva for 24 hours is normal. See a dentist within 2–3 days Lost filling or crown A lost filling leaves a hole that food packs into and the nerve may be exposed.

Near you

Find an emergency dentist by city

Every city page lists verified dentists with phone numbers and hours, and marks the clinics that list emergency care first. Call ahead — the front desk can tell you whether there is a chair free today.

Milwaukee, WI 228 dentists listed Madison, WI 115 dentists listed Green Bay, WI 82 dentists listed Brookfield, WI 53 dentists listed Kenosha, WI 48 dentists listed Appleton, WI 46 dentists listed Racine, WI 39 dentists listed Waukesha, WI 35 dentists listed
All 282 Wisconsin cities →

Emergency dental care — questions people ask

What counts as a dental emergency?

Severe or constant toothache, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, swelling in the face or jaw, uncontrolled bleeding, or an infection with fever. Anything that affects your breathing or swallowing is a medical emergency — call 911.

Should I go to the emergency room or a dentist?

A dentist treats the cause of tooth and gum problems. Go to an emergency room for swelling that spreads to the eye or neck, fever, trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding that will not stop, or a jaw or head injury.

How much does an emergency dental visit cost?

An emergency exam with an X-ray usually runs $100–$400 in Wisconsin before treatment. The repair — a filling, root canal or extraction — is quoted separately. Ask for the self-pay price when you call.

Can I be seen without insurance?

Yes. Most practices see self-pay patients and will quote a price before treatment starts. Ask whether X-rays and a follow-up visit are included in the quote.

What if no clinic can see me today?

Ask to be put on the cancellation list, try a dental school clinic, or call your county health department for a community clinic. If you have swelling, fever or trouble swallowing, go to an emergency room instead of waiting.

Is a chipped tooth an emergency?

Usually not, unless the nerve is exposed or it bleeds. A chip with no pain can wait a day or two; a break that shows a pink centre, or hurts when you bite, should be seen within 24 hours.

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Emergency dentists by city