Plenty of dental issues are uncomfortable but not urgent — a slightly chipped molar that doesn't hurt, a single sensitive tooth, a small cosmetic concern. Those can wait until Monday.
The five below cannot. They get worse fast, and waiting often turns a simple fix into a much bigger procedure.
1. Severe, throbbing toothache
Pain bad enough to wake you up almost always means the nerve is involved or there's an active infection. Both progress without treatment. The longer you wait, the more likely you'll need a root canal instead of a filling — or extraction instead of either.
2. Knocked-out tooth
The first 30–60 minutes are the difference between saving the tooth and losing it. After an hour out of the socket, success rates fall sharply. See our knocked-out tooth protocol.
3. Dental abscess with swelling or fever
An abscess is a bacterial infection in a confined space. It can spread through soft tissue into the neck or bloodstream. Facial swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing make it a same-day emergency — and possibly an ER visit.
4. Loose adult tooth after impact
If a permanent tooth is loose, displaced, or pushed up into the gum after a hit, the periodontal ligament has been damaged. Same-day stabilisation gives the best chance of keeping the tooth long-term.
5. Bleeding that won't stop after a procedure
Some bleeding after an extraction is normal. Continuous bleeding 30 minutes after applying firm pressure with gauze isn't. Call us — usually we can pack the socket or place a stitch and stop it quickly.
When to skip the dentist and go to the ER
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Suspected jaw fracture
- Head injury or loss of consciousness
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Facial swelling spreading to the eye or neck
If you're unsure, book an appointment online — we'll triage over the phone and tell you whether to walk in or head to the ER.