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Updated on July 8, 2026
From sudden tooth pain that wakes you up at night to sports injuries that leave your smile in rough shape, dental emergencies can happen to anyone. They can also be extremely overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure what to do. If you’re unsure whether you need emergency dentistry in Phoenix or Gilbert, our team is here to help!
This post explains how to tell whether you need to find an emergency dentist near you and what to expect from your visit. Most importantly, it explains how we can help relieve your pain and give your smile the best chance of a smooth recovery!
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is an oral health issue that requires immediate professional attention. The purpose of an emergency dental visit is to:
- Relieve severe pain that can’t be controlled with over-the-counter medication
- Stop severe bleeding or provide stitches to the lip, tongue, or inside the cheeks
- Save a tooth that’s been dislodged or knocked out
- Treat an infection, which can be important for preventing serious medical emergencies
When it comes to tooth pain and dental injuries, it can be hard to tell whether you need an urgent dental visit or if it can wait a few days for a scheduled appointment. If you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team! We’ll help you figure out the best course of action.
It’s important to understand that timely care is critical to prevent complications and give your oral health the best chance of a full recovery. Let’s take a look at three common dental emergencies.
1. Severe Toothache or Signs of Infected Tooth
Toothache is one of the most common dental emergencies. It can also be one of the most difficult situations to decide whether you should see a dentist immediately or schedule an appointment and wait a few days.
You should contact an emergency dentist near you if you have tooth pain that involves:
- Intense pain
- Throbbing
- Pain that makes it hard to sleep
- Pain that doesn’t improve with over the counter medication
- Swelling in the face or gums
- Fever
- Intense pain when biting or chewing
- Visible damage, such as a broken or badly decayed tooth
Severe pain is something you should never ignore. Even if pain relievers help temporarily, they don’t solve the underlying issue, which will get worse without professional attention.
If you’re looking for emergency toothache treatment in Arizona, don’t hesitate to call us! We’ll help you figure out the best course of action and help you get out of pain as quickly as possible.
What to do until you can see an emergency dentist about a toothache
- Rinse your mouth with warm water
- Use a cold compress outside the mouth to reduce any swelling
- Avoid hard, crunchy, very hot, or very cold foods
- Gently brush and floss the area to keep it clean
- If your dentist prescribes an antibiotic, be sure to take it as directed
It’s important to know that dental infections can spread to other areas of your body if left untreated. In rare cases, this can become a life-threatening emergency such as sepsis. If you think you or your child has a dental infection, it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible!
2. Knocked Out or Dislodged Tooth
A permanent tooth being knocked out or dislodged is one of the most urgent dental emergencies. Getting treatment within one hour gives your tooth the best chance of survival, so it’s critical to act quickly.
Depending on the situation, we may be able to place the tooth back in the socket or correct position and create a splint to hold it in place until the ligament and bone tissue heal. While this can save the natural tooth, it may need further treatments in the future, such as root canal therapy.
What to do if you knock out a tooth
- Only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can normally see in the mouth) and do not touch the root.
- Gently pour room temperature water over the tooth to remove any dirt or debris.
- Do not scrub or remove any tissue from the tooth root.
- If possible, gently place the tooth back in its socket and hold it in place by gently biting a piece of gauze. Avoid putting too much pressure on the tooth.
- If you cannot put the tooth back in place or the patient is a child, put the tooth in a clean container and cover it completely with cow milk (not soy or nut milk) or the person’s saliva to keep it moist. Sterile saline solution also works.
- Get in touch with an emergency dentist near you immediately.
Over-the-counter products like Save-a-Tooth are available at some pharmacies. These products help to stabilize a tooth until it can be put back in the socket.
3. A Broken or Fractured Tooth or Lost Restoration
Everyday accidents like biting down too hard on a piece of food or a sports injury can cause teeth to break or chip. In some cases, a hairline crack that’s been there for years may suddenly turn into a serious fracture.
This is not just a cosmetic issue. Without treatment, broken teeth can become infected, continue to crack or fall apart, and even become too damaged to save. The sooner you address a broken tooth, the better our chances of saving it.
Not all chips or fractures are true emergencies, but it’s always worth calling right away. We’ll help you decide the best way to proceed, whether that means scheduling an appointment or coming in right away.
What to do about a broken tooth until you can see a dentist
- Gently rinse your mouth with warm water
- Save any pieces of the tooth you can find
- If you’ve lost a crown or filling, bring it with you to your dental appointment
- Use gauze to stop any bleeding and a cold compress if there is swelling
- Call our office right away to discuss next steps
If the broken tooth happened as a result of a head injury, check for signs of concussion and broken bones in the face or jaw. In this case, you may need to head to the ER and let us worry about the tooth later.
What to Expect with Emergency Dentistry in Phoenix or Gilbert
Our team is always here to make your care as straightforward and stress-free as possible. Here’s what to expect when you see our emergency dentists in Arizona.
- We’ll carefully assess the issue, usually starting with a phone call to determine whether you need immediate care or a prescription for antibiotics.
- We use state-of-the-art imaging and diagnostic tools to evaluate the area of concern.
- If necessary, we’ll provide effective pain control to keep you comfortable throughout needed treatments.
- Depending on the problem, we’ll perform the necessary procedure to resolve the immediate emergency. This may include emergency root canal treatment, repairing a tooth, or connecting you with the right specialist to provide the care you need.
- We’ll work with you to create a long-term plan to restore your smile after the emergency has been resolved.
The goal of an emergency dental visit is to resolve the immediate issue. It won’t include a general evaluation of your oral health or a comprehensive plan to address multiple concerns.
Our team at Dental Specialty Associates of Arizona is proud to provide comprehensive dental care in one comfortable place. After your emergency dental visit in Phoenix or Gilbert, we can help you schedule a comprehensive examination to address other issues.
We’re Here When You Need Us
Whether you need an emergency dentist in Arizona or you’re hoping to prevent an emergency with routine visits, we’re here for you. Save our number in your phone so you can always get in touch when you need urgent care!
