Some dental problems can wait for your next checkup, but others need emergency dental services within hours, and fast care can mean the difference between saving your tooth and needing an implant.
Our West Bloomfield office makes time for urgent visits. If anything below sounds familiar, call 248-539-3600 and we’ll work you into our schedule.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is a tooth, gum, or jaw problem that causes severe pain, swelling, or bleeding, or that will get worse without prompt treatment. Infections spread, cracks deepen, and a knocked-out tooth has a short window to be saved.
The American Dental Association estimates about 2 million emergency room visits each year for dental pain, at roughly three times the cost of a dental visit. In most cases, a dental office is the faster and less expensive place to fix the problem.
Signs You Need Same-Day Emergency Dental Services
A Knocked-Out Adult Tooth
This is the most time-sensitive dental emergency. The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) says the first 30 minutes are critical, but its 2026 survey found only 27% of adults knew that.
Follow Mayo Clinic’s first-aid steps:
- Hold it by the crown. Never touch the root.
- Rinse briefly in milk or saliva. Skip tap water and don’t scrub it.
- Put it back in the socket. Bite down on gauze to hold it in place.
- If it won’t go back, keep it moist. Store it in milk, in your cheek, or in an ADA-approved preservation kit.
- Call us right away. Have someone else drive if you can.
Baby teeth aren’t put back in, but your child should still be seen to check the gums and the adult tooth underneath.
Swelling, Fever, or a Possible Abscess
An abscess is a pocket of infection at a tooth root or in the gums. Mayo Clinic lists throbbing pain that can spread to the jaw, neck, or ear, facial swelling, fever, tender lymph nodes, and a foul taste as common signs. A sudden rush of salty fluid can mean the abscess has burst, and it still needs care.
Treatment may include extraction, draining the infection, antibiotics, or root canal therapy to save the tooth.
Severe Tooth Pain
Pain that keeps you up at night, throbs, or lingers after hot or cold food often means the nerve is inflamed or infected. Until you’re seen, rinse with warm salt water, floss gently, and hold a cold compress to your cheek. An over-the-counter pain reliever can help, but the ADA’s MouthHealthy guidance warns against putting aspirin on the gums.
A Cracked or Broken Tooth
A large break or a crack that hurts when you bite needs prompt care. The AAE notes that an untreated cracked tooth will keep getting worse. Small chips may only need Bioclear bonding, while larger breaks may need a porcelain crown. See how Bioclear fixes chipped teeth.
A Loose Adult Tooth or Bleeding That Won’t Stop
Adult teeth shouldn’t move. If one loosens after a fall or hit, call the same day so we can stabilize it. A tooth that loosens with no injury can signal advanced gum disease. For bleeding that won’t slow with firm gauze pressure, call us. If it’s heavy or follows a head injury, go to the ER.
Dentist or Emergency Room?
| Situation | Where to Go | How Soon |
|---|---|---|
| Knocked-out adult tooth | Call our office | Within 30 minutes |
| Severe toothache | Call our office | Same day |
| Gum or face swelling, no fever | Call our office | Same day |
| Painful crack or large break | Call our office | Same day |
| Lost filling or crown, no pain | Schedule a visit | Within a few days |
| Facial swelling with fever | Emergency room | Now |
| Trouble breathing or swallowing | Emergency room or 911 | Now |
| Possible broken jaw or head injury | Emergency room | Now |
Mayo Clinic advises going to the ER for trouble breathing or swallowing, since the infection may have spread into the jaw, throat, or neck. Once you’re stable, call us to treat the tooth.
What to Expect at Your Emergency Visit
When you call, we’ll ask what happened and whether you have swelling or fever so we can see you as quickly as needed. At your visit, Dr. Fienman examines the area and uses digital X-rays or a 3D scan to find the cause.
Pain relief comes first. From there, we’ll either treat the problem that day or stabilize the tooth and plan a follow-up. Dr. Fienman will work with you to better understand your options.
How to Prevent a Dental Emergency
- Wear a mouthguard for sports. See our sports and camp dental tips.
- Keep up with checkups. Routine exams and cleanings catch cavities and cracks early.
- Don’t use your teeth as tools. Skip chewing ice, pens, and packaging.
- Address grinding. Morning jaw soreness may point to clenching. Ask about TMJ treatment.
Call Our West Bloomfield Office for Same-Day Care
In pain, swollen, or dealing with a damaged tooth? Call 248-539-3600 and we’ll get you in quickly. Learn more about our same-day emergency services.
