Most people arrive knowing a symptom, not a procedure. Start from what you can actually observe, and this page points to the page that explains it. Only an examination can diagnose you. What this page can do is get you to the right appointment. The symptom pages are meant as a starting point, so a toothache, a swollen gum, a chipped tooth or a bad taste each links to what it might mean and how urgent it is, but they cannot replace an exam, which is the only way to find the actual cause.
Go to an emergency room or call 911 now
These are medical emergencies, not dental appointments. Do not use the appointment form for them.
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Swelling spreading toward the eye or the neck
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Serious facial injury or a suspected fracture
- Feeling seriously unwell alongside dental swelling
Pain
The pattern of the pain narrows the cause more than its severity does.
- Sharp with cold, stopping quickly, tooth pain evaluation
- Lingering ache after hot or cold, root canal pathway
- Pain on biting or releasing, tooth pain, possible crack
- Constant throbbing, worse lying down, dental infection
- Pain behind the last molar, wisdom teeth
- Jaw ache, worse on waking, teeth grinding or jaw pain
Damage and loss
What matters is how deep the damage goes, which is not always visible.
- Chipped or broken tooth, broken tooth care
- Tooth knocked out, knocked-out tooth, act immediately
- Tooth loosened or moved by a blow, dental trauma
- Crown or filling came out, lost crown or filling
- Missing tooth you want replaced, dental implants
Gums and soft tissue
Gum problems are usually painless until they are advanced, which is why the early signs matter.
- Bleeding when brushing, gum care
- Gums receding, teeth looking longer, gum care
- Swelling or a spot on the gum, dental infection
- An ulcer that has not healed in three weeks, oral cancer screening
- Persistent bad breath or taste, gum care
Appearance and function
These are not urgent, and they are still worth an appointment.
- Teeth darker than you would like, teeth whitening
- Chipped or uneven front teeth, cosmetic bonding
- Crowded or shifting teeth, adult orthodontics
- A denture that no longer fits, dentures
- Difficulty chewing, restorative dentistry
- Snoring or waking unrefreshed, sleep apnea appliances
Common questions
Find Care by Symptom: questions people ask
Can this page tell me what is wrong?
No, and be wary of anything that claims it can. Dental symptoms overlap heavily: the same pain can come from decay, a crack, an exposed root, infection or the jaw joint. This page points you to the right appointment; the examination establishes the cause.
My pain stopped. Do I still need to be seen?
Yes. Pain stopping does not reliably mean the problem stopped. When a nerve dies the pain often disappears while infection continues quietly.
I have several symptoms. Which do I choose?
Pick the one that concerns you most. Mention the others in follow-up. That way enough appointment time gets set aside in advance, instead of the scope surfacing on the day.
How urgent is swelling?
Swelling always warrants prompt attention. Swelling that is spreading, affecting your eye or neck, or accompanied by difficulty breathing or swallowing is an emergency room matter immediately.
What if my symptom is not listed?
Choose 'Not sure where to start' when you request an appointment and describe it in your own words. The categories exist to direct the conversation, not to limit it.
Which symptoms mean an emergency room, not a dental appointment?
Trouble breathing or swallowing. Swelling spreading toward the eye or the neck. Uncontrolled bleeding. A serious facial injury or suspected fracture. Feeling seriously unwell alongside dental swelling. These are medical emergencies. Do not use the appointment form for them.
How does the pattern of pain point to a page?
Sharp pain with cold that stops quickly points to tooth pain evaluation. A lingering ache after hot or cold points to the root canal pathway. Pain on biting or releasing suggests a possible crack. Constant throbbing, worse lying down, points to dental infection. Pain behind the last molar points to wisdom teeth. A jaw ache worse on waking points to grinding or jaw pain.
Which damage and loss pages fit which problem?
A chipped or broken tooth goes to broken tooth care. A tooth knocked out is urgent and goes to knocked-out tooth. A tooth loosened by a blow goes to dental trauma. A crown or filling that came out goes to lost crown or filling. A missing tooth you want replaced goes to dental implants. Only an examination can diagnose you.