What Counts as a Dental Emergency in Winslow, AZ?

A dental emergency is anything that can't comfortably wait for a regular appointment — pain that keeps you up at night, swelling, a tooth that's been knocked out or loosened, a broken tooth, or a crown or filling that's come off. If that sounds like what you're dealing with, call Winslow Dental in downtown Winslow at 928-289-4441, and Dr. Brent Gardner and the team will usually see you the same day or the next.

When something goes wrong with a tooth, the hardest part is often not knowing whether it's serious enough to call about, especially late in the day or when you're an hour's drive from the office. We'd always rather hear from you and tell you it can wait than have you sit up all night in pain, so this guide walks through what counts as an emergency, what to do in the first hour, and what happens once you reach us.

Knowing when a tooth can't wait

If you're in real pain, can't sleep, can't chew, or can see swelling in your face or gums, treat it as an emergency and call us — waiting it out usually means the problem grows while you lose more sleep over it. These are the situations we want to hear about the same day:

• A toothache that keeps you up at night , or one that over-the-counter pain relief doesn't touch
• Swelling in your gum, cheek or jaw , which usually means an infection is building
• A tooth that's been knocked out or loosened , where every minute makes a difference
• A broken or cracked tooth , especially one that's sharp against your tongue or sensitive to air
• A crown or filling that's come off , leaving part of the tooth exposed

A small chip that doesn't hurt can usually wait a few days for a regular visit, and if you're somewhere in between and not sure, call and describe what you're feeling — we'll tell you straight whether you need to come in today.

Swelling or injury that needs a hospital first

Some situations are bigger than a tooth, and you deserve to be seen somewhere that can treat all of you: if swelling is spreading toward your eye or down your neck, if you're having trouble breathing or swallowing, if you have a fever along with swelling in your face, or if you've taken a hard hit to the face or jaw, go to the emergency room or call 911. Once you're stable, call us and we'll take care of the tooth itself.

Looking after a tooth in the first hour

Saving a tooth that's been knocked out

A knocked-out tooth has the best chance of staying yours when it's handled gently and gets back in place fast, so pick it up by the crown — the part you chew with — and keep your fingers off the root. If it's dirty, rinse it gently with water without scrubbing, and if you can, set it back in the socket and bite softly on a clean cloth to hold it there. If that isn't possible, keep it moist in a cup of milk or tucked between your cheek and gum, then call us right away. This is the same first aid the American Dental Association recommends.

Protecting a broken tooth or a lost crown

Rinse your mouth with warm water, save any pieces you find and bring them with you, and if a crown came off, keep it in a small bag or container so we can look at whether it can go back on. Until you're seen, chewing on the other side and skipping very hot, cold or sweet foods will keep the tooth from flaring up, and a cold compress on the outside of your cheek helps if there's any swelling.

Easing a toothache until you're seen

Warm salt water and a cold compress on the outside of your cheek can take the edge off, along with over-the-counter pain relief taken the way the label directs. Please don't hold an aspirin against the gum — it can burn the tissue and leave you sorer than before — and if there's any swelling at all, call us today, since swelling usually means infection and it rarely settles down on its own.

Reaching Dr. Gardner, even after hours

During office hours — Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm, and Friday from 8 am to noon — call 928-289-4441 and Chelsea at the front desk will find you the soonest time we have. After hours, leave a message: for dental emergencies, Dr. Gardner returns the call himself, so you're talking to the dentist who'll actually treat you, not an answering service.

You don't need to be a current patient to call, either. Our emergency care is open to anyone in Winslow and the surrounding towns, and a lot of our long-time patients first came to us on the worst day of a toothache.

Getting out of pain at your visit

We start with a quick exam and a digital X-ray so Dr. Gardner can see what's going on beneath the surface, and then he'll tell you straight whether the tooth can be saved or whether taking it out is the kinder long-term choice. You'll hear the plan and the price before any treatment starts, so nothing about the visit is a surprise.

Getting you comfortable comes first, and most emergencies can be treated at that same visit:

• An infected nerve is usually treated with a root canal, which Dr. Gardner does in our own office, often in the same week
• A broken tooth or a failed crown can often be rebuilt with a same-day crown made in the office, so you leave with the permanent crown instead of a temporary and a second drive
• A tooth that can't be saved is removed gently, and we'll talk through your options for replacing it before you head home

Sometimes the kindest thing is to wait a few days: if a tooth is too infected to get fully numb, we'll start you on antibiotics, let the infection calm down, and bring you back to finish the work safely, and you'll go home with a clear plan and the medication you need to feel better in the meantime.

If you're nervous, tell us — Dr. Gardner takes his time making sure you're completely numb before he starts, and oral sedation and nitrous oxide are there for longer procedures or for anyone who'd rather feel more relaxed through it.

Knowing the price before anything starts

What an emergency visit costs depends on what the tooth needs, which is why we don't guess over the phone — you'll get pricing before treatment begins, and we'll check what your insurance covers first. Most dental plans cover emergency exams and basic emergency treatment, and for patients without insurance we offer CareCredit, in-house payment plans and a $299-a-year membership that includes an emergency exam. You'll find the details on our finances and insurance page, and if a crown ends up being part of the fix, our post on what a dental crown costs in Winslow walks through what goes into that price.

Questions patients ask about dental emergencies

Can I see an emergency dentist in Winslow, AZ if I'm not a patient?

Yes — Winslow Dental sees dental emergencies for anyone, not only established patients. Call 928-289-4441 and describe what's happening, and we'll usually see you the same day or the next. You'll hear the plan and the price before any treatment begins, so you can decide with the full picture.

What should I do about a dental emergency after hours in Winslow?

Call Winslow Dental at 928-289-4441 and leave a message, and for dental emergencies Dr. Brent Gardner returns the call himself. If you have swelling spreading toward your eye or neck, trouble breathing or swallowing, or a serious injury to your face, go to the emergency room first, then call us.

How quickly do I need a dentist for a knocked-out tooth?

Right away, because a knocked-out tooth has its best chance when it's back in place fast. Keep it moist in the socket, in milk, or between your cheek and gum, and never scrub the root. Then call Winslow Dental in Winslow at 928-289-4441 and let us know it's a knocked-out tooth.

Does Winslow Dental do emergency root canals and extractions?

Yes — Dr. Gardner does root canals and most extractions in our Winslow office, including many wisdom teeth, so most patients never need a referral. Only the most complex impacted wisdom teeth go to an oral surgeon. If a tooth is too infected to numb, we start with antibiotics and finish the work once it settles.

How much does an emergency dental visit cost in Winslow, AZ?

It depends on what the tooth needs, so Winslow Dental gives you pricing before any treatment starts and checks your insurance first. Most dental plans cover emergency exams and basic treatment, and for patients without insurance we offer CareCredit, in-house payment plans and a $299 yearly membership that includes an emergency exam.

Calling us today, wherever you're driving from

A tooth that hurts rarely gets easier or less expensive by waiting, and you deserve to eat, drink, and talk without thinking about it. Call Winslow Dental at 928-289-4441 or send us a message — we're at 321 W 2nd St in downtown Winslow, with parking right at the office, and families drive in from Holbrook, Joseph City, Heber-Overgaard and Flagstaff, so we'll do everything we can to get you seen the same day.

Written by the Winslow Dental team from Dr. Brent Gardner's own guidance for emergency patients — September 23, 2026.