You may not know what qualifies as a dental emergency. Is it serious or will it pass after a little while? If the pain is minimal but consistent, you may be fine until the next day when you can see your dentist. But sometimes, the resulting pain in your gums, teeth or jaw are so intense that you have no choice but to seek immediate treatment.

Waiting too long to address your pain may complicate your dental emergency. And it’s unnecessary when you can get 24-hour emergency dental care.

So visit your dentist or seek emergency dental care if you’re dealing with symptoms such as:

A broken or knocked-out tooth. A broken tooth or a tooth that’s been dislodged is the most obvious reason to get emergency dental care. The resulting pain can limit your ability to function, and the injury can result in a lot of bleeding. If you don’t address the situation immediately, it may lead to permanent tooth loss.

Unexplained tooth pain. Any pain that doesn’t have a clear causality needs a professional diagnosis. Maybe you bit down hard enough on something to crack your tooth. Or perhaps it’s a sign of a more serious condition, like an infection. You can’t know what it is until you go to a dentist for a thorough examination.

Missing filling or crown. If a crown falls out, you usually feel it right away. Fillings fall out more frequently than you imagine. If you’re experiencing a metallic taste in your mouth, that’s an indicator that your filling is loose or nearly gone. Ignoring the pain can lead to urgent dental care in the form of a root canal.