Emergency Dental Care
Emergency Dentist in Boise
Accidents happen. Biting into something hard, a bump to the face, or a dental infection that flares up overnight can leave you in severe pain and unsure of what to do next.
At Harrison Dental, we understand how important it is to receive prompt care when a dental emergency occurs. Our team evaluates urgent dental concerns, helps relieve discomfort, and works to protect your oral health.
Whether you’re dealing with a severe toothache, broken tooth, dental injury, or lost restoration, we’re here to help you determine the next step. Same-day emergency appointments may be available, depending on your condition and our schedule.
Not sure which office to call? Call our main line at 208-342-3695
Visit Harrison Dental in Boise
Emergency Dental Care at Our Boise Office
When you’re experiencing a dental emergency, having a trusted local dentist can make an already stressful situation easier to manage. Harrison Dental provides emergency dental care at our office on West Hill Road in Boise, Idaho. Whether your emergency involves a painful toothache, damage from an accident, or a broken restoration, contact our team so we can discuss your symptoms and help arrange appropriate care.
Emergency Dentist Hours
Emergency Dental Appointments in Boise
Dental emergencies can happen without warning. If you’re experiencing significant tooth pain, unexpected swelling, or a dental injury, don’t wait for the problem to worsen before seeking advice.
Harrison Dental works to evaluate urgent dental concerns as promptly as possible, with same-day appointments when scheduling permits.
Our Boise office opens as early as 7:00 AM on Mondays, providing an opportunity to address dental concerns at the start of the week.
Harrison Dental Hours
Monday: 7:00 AM–4:00 PM
Tuesday–Thursday: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Friday–Sunday: Closed
Please call ahead to discuss your symptoms and availability. For less urgent problems, our team can help arrange a follow-up appointment as scheduling allows.
If a serious dental emergency occurs while our office is closed, do not delay necessary emergency care until our next business day.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency can happen during a meal, a sporting activity, a fall, or even while you’re sleeping.
At Harrison Dental, common reasons patients seek emergency dental care include severe or lingering toothaches, swelling in the gums or jaw, knocked-out or loosened teeth, cracked or broken teeth, damaged fillings or crowns, and persistent oral bleeding.
Some dental problems require immediate treatment, while others may be able to wait for a scheduled appointment.
If you’re unsure whether your symptoms qualify as an emergency, contact our Boise dental team for guidance.
Call Us Right Away For:
- A knocked-out adult tooth. Get to a dentist within an hour for the best chance of saving it.
- A tooth pushed out of place or loosened by a fall, a sport, or an accident.
- A cracked or broken tooth that hurts, bleeds, or has a sharp edge cutting your cheek or tongue.
- A toothache that over-the-counter pain relief does not control.
- Swelling in the gum, jaw, or face, or a pimple-like bump on the gum
- Bleeding from the mouth that keeps going after 15 to 20 minutes of firm pressure.
- A lost crown or filling that leaves the tooth painful.
Usually Safe To Wait For A Regular Appointment:
- A small chip with no pain and no sharp edge.
- A lost filling or crown with no pain. Keep the crown and bring it with you.
- Mild sensitivity to hot or cold.
- A dull ache that over-the-counter pain relief controls.
- Food stuck between teeth. Try flossing first.
- A broken night guard, retainer, or aligner.
Book these as soon as you can. If the pain or swelling gets worse, treat it as an emergency and call.
Go to the ER or Call 911 Instead If:
Swelling is spreading toward your eye or down your neck. You have trouble breathing or swallowing. You have a fever along with facial swelling. You may have a broken jaw or a head injury. Bleeding is heavy and does not slow with pressure. These can become life-threatening. A hospital is the right place for them.
Before You Arrive
What to Do Before Your Emergency Dental Appointment
The steps you take immediately after a dental injury can help protect your teeth and improve the chances of successful treatment.
For example, a knocked-out permanent tooth has the best chance of being saved when treated as quickly as possible, ideally within the first hour.
If you’re dealing with a broken tooth, swelling, bleeding, or a lost restoration, follow the appropriate first-aid guidance below and contact a dentist promptly.
Knocked-Out Tooth
- Pick it up by the crown, the white chewing part. Do not touch the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it for a few seconds with milk or water. Do not scrub it or wrap it in tissue.
- Try to set it back in the socket and bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it.
- If it will not go back in, keep it in a small cup of milk.
- An adult can also hold it inside the cheek.
- Do not put a baby tooth back in. Call us for next steps.
Loose or Shifted Tooth
- Leave it in place.
- Do not wiggle it or push it with your tongue.
- Bite down gently on a clean cloth to keep it steady.
Broken or Chipped Tooth
- Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any pieces.
- Hold a cold compress on your cheek to limit swelling.
- Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or dental wax.
Toothache or Swelling
- Rinse with warm salt water.
- Floss gently around the tooth in case food is trapped.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as the label directs.
- Never put aspirin or any tablet directly on the gum.
- Use a cold compress on the outside of your face. Do not use heat.
Bleeding
- Bite firmly on folded gauze or a damp black tea bag for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Do not rinse hard or keep spitting.
- Still bleeding steadily after that? Call us.
- Heavy bleeding that will not slow means the ER.
Lost Crown or Filling
- Keep the crown in a clean container and bring it.
- Do not reattach it with household glue.
Nervous about the visit? Ask about sedation dentistry when you call.
Emergency Dentist FAQ
Emergency Dentist FAQ
What counts as a dental emergency?
Call right away for a knocked-out or loosened adult tooth, or a broken tooth with pain or bleeding. Swelling in the gum or face, severe pain, and bleeding that will not stop also count. A small painless chip or a lost filling without pain can usually wait for a regular appointment.
Is Harrison Dental open for emergency appointments on Friday or Saturday?
Harrison Dental’s regular office hours are Monday through Thursday, and our office is closed Friday through Sunday.
We work to accommodate urgent dental needs during regular business hours, including same-day appointments when available.
If you experience a serious dental emergency while our office is closed, seek care from an available emergency dental provider rather than waiting for the next business day. For difficulty breathing or swallowing, severe uncontrolled bleeding, or rapidly spreading facial swelling, seek emergency medical care immediately.
What should I do if a tooth gets knocked out?
Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root. Rinse it briefly if it is dirty, then try to set it back in the socket and bite on a clean cloth. If it will not go in, keep it in milk. Call us and get to a dentist within an hour.
Should I go to the ER or an emergency dentist?
Call 911 or go to the ER for trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling spreading to your eye or neck. The same goes for a possible broken jaw or heavy bleeding that will not slow down. For tooth pain, broken teeth, and knocked-out teeth, call an emergency dentist. Most ERs can manage pain and infection but cannot repair teeth.
What should I expect during an emergency dental visit?
When you visit Harrison Dental for an emergency, our team will first evaluate your symptoms and identify the source of the problem.
Your dentist may recommend an examination, dental X-rays, or additional diagnostic steps to determine the extent of the damage or infection.
Depending on your condition, treatment may include relieving discomfort, repairing a broken tooth, addressing an infection, or placing a temporary or permanent restoration.
Some dental emergencies can be treated during a single visit, while others require follow-up care.
We’ll explain the findings, discuss your treatment options, and help you make an informed decision about your oral health.
Why is it important to seek emergency dental care quickly?
When it comes to a dental emergency, timing can make a significant difference.
A knocked-out permanent tooth has a better chance of being saved when treated immediately, ideally within the first hour. Similarly, early evaluation of dental infections can help prevent complications and reduce the risk of further damage.
Delaying treatment for a cracked tooth, damaged restoration, or persistent toothache may allow the problem to worsen and lead to more extensive dental procedures.
Prompt care may help preserve your natural teeth, relieve discomfort, and reduce the likelihood of complications.
At Harrison Dental, our goal is to help you address dental problems early while protecting your long-term oral health.
Does Harrison Dental offer same-day emergency appointments in Boise?
Harrison Dental works to accommodate urgent dental concerns as quickly as possible.
Same-day emergency appointments may be available during regular business hours, depending on the condition and appointment availability.
Call (208) 342-3695 to explain your symptoms and find out when our team can see you.