Emergencies · February 27, 2026 · 5 min read
Which tooth pain means “come in today”?
A plain-language triage guide, from sensitivity to swelling — so you're not guessing at 10pm.
Not all tooth pain is urgent, and waiting on the wrong kind is how a filling becomes a root canal. Here's how we triage it on the phone.
Come in today
- Swelling in your face, jaw, or under your eye
- Throbbing that keeps you awake or wakes you up
- A tooth broken at or below the gumline
- A knocked-out tooth — this is minutes, not hours
- Fever with dental pain
Come in this week
- A lost crown or filling with no pain
- Pain when you bite down on one specific tooth
- Sensitivity to cold that lingers a minute after
- A chipped tooth with a sharp edge
Mention it at your next visit
- Brief cold sensitivity that stops immediately
- Mild gum tenderness in one spot after flossing
- A dull ache that comes and goes with sinus congestion
Swelling is the one that changes everything. Swelling means infection has left the tooth, and it doesn't wait for Monday.
What to do while you wait
Ibuprofen if you can take it, cold compress on the outside for swelling, warm salt-water rinses, and chew on the other side. Skip aspirin directly on the gum — it burns the tissue and does nothing for the tooth.
Not sure which list you're on?
Call and describe it. We'll tell you honestly whether it can wait.
Request an Appointment