First: is this a true emergency?
Go to an emergency room or call 911 right away if you have:
- Swelling in your face or neck that is spreading
- A fever along with tooth pain
- Trouble breathing, swallowing or opening your mouth
- Heavy bleeding that won't stop, or an injury to your jaw or face
These can be signs of a serious infection or injury. The ER has to see you whether or not you can pay, so don't let money stop you here.
What the ER can and can't do for a toothache
For a regular toothache, though, the ER is often not the answer. A study of emergency visits for dental problems, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that most ERs aren't equipped to give definitive dental care. Most visits ended with pain medicine or antibiotics, not a fix for the tooth itself. Many people ended up coming back.
The American Dental Association's guideline on dental pain and swelling says antibiotics aren't recommended for most toothaches. It points to dental treatment instead, plus over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen if you need them. Antibiotics are meant for infections that have spread, with signs like fever or feeling unwell.
So for pain without those warning signs, your goal is to get in front of a dentist fast. Here's where to look.
Option 1: Urgent care at a dental school
Many dental schools run urgent or emergency clinics that are separate from their slower student programs. Some publish the fee:
- UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry: $32 initial exam fee for an emergency visit, and the school says most emergency treatment is under $200.
- UMKC School of Dentistry (Kansas City): walk-in emergency care at 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., first come first served, with a $55 assessment fee plus treatment. It's closed Friday afternoons.
- NYU College of Dentistry: an $85 urgent care visit covering a limited exam and X-rays. Pain relief costs extra.
- Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (Newark): $110 emergency exam, consultation only, with treatment extra.
- Texas A&M School of Dentistry (Dallas): $131 for an urgent extraction, including the exam, X-ray and first extraction.
Other schools list urgent care lines without a posted fee, including CU Anschutz (Dental First Aid, appointment required), University of Minnesota, UNLV (sign in at 7:30 a.m. or 12 p.m. on weekdays) and University of Maryland. Call and ask what the visit costs.
Tip: call as soon as the clinic opens. Same-day slots tend to go early.
Find a school in your area in our dental school clinics directory, or go straight to Texas, New York, Missouri or New Jersey.
Option 2: A community health center
Federally funded health centers charge based on your income, and the NIH's dental institute (NIDCR) recommends them for low-cost care. HRSA, the agency that funds them, says it supports about 1,400 health centers running more than 16,600 sites in every state. Not all of them offer dental care, so check before you go.
How to find one:
- Go to HRSA's Find a Health Center and enter your address.
- Look for centers that list dental services.
- Call and say you have tooth pain and need an urgent visit. Ask what their sliding-scale fee would be for your income.
Option 3: Call 211
211 is a free, confidential helpline that connects you with local services, and NIDCR suggests it for finding free or reduced-cost dental care. Dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.org. Ask specifically about emergency or low-cost dental clinics, free dental days, and charity programs near you.
Option 4: Check Medicaid
If your income is low, you may qualify for Medicaid. NIDCR notes that states must cover dental care for children on Medicaid, while adult coverage varies by state and is often limited. Contact your state Medicaid program to ask what emergency dental care it covers for adults. Several school clinics accept Medicaid, such as Louisville (Kentucky Medicaid), Creighton (Nebraska and Iowa Medicaid) and Case Western Reserve (Ohio Medicaid).
While you wait for an appointment
- Follow the dosing on the label for any over-the-counter pain reliever, and ask a pharmacist if you're unsure what's safe for you.
- Keep the area clean and avoid chewing on that side.
- If swelling, fever or trouble swallowing starts, go to the ER. Don't wait for the dental appointment.
After the emergency
Urgent clinics usually fix the immediate problem. You may still need follow-up work, like a root canal or crown. Our guides on what to expect at a dental school clinic and getting a root canal without insurance can help you plan the next step.
Sources
- Emergency Department Visits for Nontraumatic Dental Problems: A Mixed-Methods Study, American Journal of Public Health (via NIH PubMed Central)
- American Dental Association, Antibiotics for Dental Pain and Swelling guideline
- NIDCR (NIH), Finding Dental Care
- HRSA, About the Health Center Program and Find a Health Center
- 211.org
- Clinic fees and hours come from each school's own website, linked on that clinic's page in our directory.
Common questions
Should I go to the ER for a toothache?
Go to the ER or call 911 for spreading facial swelling, fever with tooth pain, or trouble breathing or swallowing. For a regular toothache, most ERs can't provide definitive dental care, so try to see a dentist quickly.
Where can I get emergency dental care with no money?
Options include urgent care clinics at dental schools, HRSA-funded community health centers with sliding-scale fees, and 211, a free helpline for local services.
Does Medicaid cover emergency dental care?
States must cover dental care for children on Medicaid. Adult coverage varies by state, so contact your state Medicaid program to ask what it covers.
Not medical advice. This guide is general information, not a substitute for a dentist or doctor. If you have facial swelling, a fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing, go to an emergency room or call 911.