Yes, you can come to urgent care for tooth pain. We can check for a spreading infection, help you manage the pain and tell you how soon you need a dentist. The tooth itself is fixed by a dentist, so plan to see one as soon as you can.
Most toothaches come from tooth decay, a cracked tooth or an infection at the root, and a dentist is the one who repairs them.
Urgent care can examine you, look for signs that an infection is spreading, and recommend pain relief and next steps.
A tooth abscess does not go away on its own, even if the pain suddenly stops.
Sinus infections and earaches can feel like tooth pain, and we can check for both.
Swelling that spreads to the face, eye or neck, or trouble swallowing or breathing, needs the emergency room.
Can I go to urgent care for tooth pain?
Yes. Urgent Care Center of Westmont, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, sees people with tooth and jaw pain seven days a week at our two Westmont, IL clinics. Our clinicians, led by board-certified physicians, can examine your mouth, jaw, ears, sinuses and neck, check your temperature, and look for signs that an infection is spreading.
What we do not do is dental work. We don't drill, fill, do root canals, pull teeth or take dental X-rays. Think of urgent care as a safe bridge: we make sure it is not something more serious, help you get through the pain, and point you to a dentist. Treatment may include prescription medicine when appropriate. Book a visit or walk in.
Urgent care can
Examine your mouth, face, ears and sinuses
Check for fever and spreading infection
Recommend pain relief and, when appropriate, prescribe medicine
Tell you whether you need the ER or a dentist first
MedlinePlus, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, lists tooth decay, an abscessed tooth, injuries, worn or cracked teeth, sinus infections and earaches among the common causes of toothache. Some pain felt in a tooth actually starts somewhere else, which doctors call referred pain.
Common causes of tooth pain and who treats them
Cause
Clues
Who treats it
Cavity (tooth decay)
Pain with sweets, hot or cold; a dark spot or hole
Dentist
Tooth abscess (infection at the root)
Constant throbbing pain, pain when biting, bad taste, gum bump, fever
Dentist; urgent care can check for spreading infection
Cracked or chipped tooth
Sharp pain when chewing or releasing a bite
Dentist
Gum infection or gum abscess
Swollen, tender gum next to a tooth
Dentist
Sinus infection
Ache in several upper back teeth, worse when bending over, with congestion
Urgent care or your doctor
Earache
Pain near the back of the jaw, ear fullness, recent cold
Urgent care or your doctor
Teeth grinding
Morning jaw soreness, worn teeth
Dentist
If your pain is in the upper back teeth and you also have a stuffy nose or facial pressure, see our guide to sinus pressure. Pain that seems to come from the ear is covered in our ear pain guide.
How to tell if a tooth is infected
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A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus caused by bacteria that reach the soft center of the tooth, usually through deep decay or a crack. MedlinePlus describes the main symptom as a severe, continuous toothache that can feel gnawing, sharp, shooting or throbbing.
Pain when you chew or bite down
Sensitivity to hot or cold
A bitter taste or bad breath
A swollen gum over the tooth that can look like a pimple
Swollen glands in the neck
Fever or a general sick feeling
Swelling of the upper or lower jaw, which MedlinePlus calls a very serious symptom
If the pain suddenly stops, the infection has not gone away. The nerve inside the tooth may have died, and the infection can keep spreading without pain.
These steps can ease pain while you arrange to see a dentist. They do not treat an infection.
Rinse with warm waterThe American Dental Association suggests rinsing to clean the area. Warm saltwater rinses may also ease the pain, according to MedlinePlus.
Floss gentlyFood stuck between teeth can cause pressure and pain. Floss carefully around the sore tooth.
Use over-the-counter pain medicineFollow the label dose. Ask a pharmacist if you take other medicines or have kidney, liver or stomach problems.
Never put aspirin on the gumPlacing aspirin directly on the tooth or gum can burn the tissue and cause mouth ulcers.
Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheekCold on the face can help with swelling after an injury or a cracked tooth.
Call your dentistThe ADA notes that most dentists keep time open for emergency patients, so call first thing and describe your symptoms.
What happens if you come to our clinic
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Check inWalk in at either Westmont, IL clinic or book online for our main clinic at 29 N Cass Ave.
Quick questionsWhen did the pain start, where is it, does it wake you at night, have you had a fever or an injury, and what have you taken for it?
ExamWe look at your mouth, gums, face, jaw, ears, throat and neck, and check your temperature and heart rate.
A planWe explain what we think is going on, recommend pain control, prescribe medicine when appropriate, and tell you how soon to see a dentist.
The right next stopIf anything suggests a serious spreading infection, we will tell you to go to the emergency room right away.
Self-pay visits start at $125, and we accept most major insurance plans. See cost and insurance for details.
Tooth injuries and knocked-out teeth
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For a knocked-out adult tooth, the ADA says to keep it moist at all times. If you can, gently place it back in the socket without touching the root. If not, hold it between your cheek and gum, or keep it in milk, and get to a dentist right away. Time matters for saving the tooth.
For a knocked-out baby tooth, find the tooth, keep it moist and see a dentist. Do not try to push a baby tooth back in. For a cracked tooth, rinse with warm water, use a cold compress on the face and see a dentist as soon as possible.
If the injury happened in a fall or a sports collision and you also hit your head or face hard, read our guides on cuts and bleeding and what our clinic treats, and check the emergency signs at the bottom of this page.
Preventing the next toothache
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Most toothaches start with tooth decay, which the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research explains is caused by bacteria that make acid from sugars.
Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily
Cut back on sugary drinks and snacks between meals
Keep regular dental cleanings and checkups
Ask your dentist about sealants and fluoride, especially for children
Tell your dentist if you grind your teeth or wake with a sore jaw
Have a chipped or broken tooth checked right away, before bacteria can get in
Feeling run down with a fever along with tooth pain? Our fever guide explains when a fever needs a same-day visit.
Yes. Urgent care can examine you, check for a spreading infection or another cause like a sinus or ear infection, recommend pain relief and prescribe medicine when appropriate. We don't do dental procedures, so you will still need a dentist to fix the tooth. If you have serious swelling or trouble swallowing or breathing, go to the emergency room.
Will the ER pull an infected tooth?
Emergency rooms usually don't pull teeth. Their job is to treat a serious infection or swelling and control pain, then send you to a dentist or oral surgeon for the tooth itself. Go to the ER for facial swelling that is spreading, fever with swelling, or trouble swallowing or breathing. For everything else, call a dentist or visit urgent care.
Can a tooth infection go away on its own?
No. A tooth abscess will not heal by itself, even with home care. The pain may stop if the nerve inside the tooth dies, but the infection stays and can spread to the jaw and other parts of the body. A dentist needs to treat it, often with a root canal, drainage or removing the tooth.
What can be mistaken for a tooth infection?
Sinus infections often cause aching in the upper back teeth. Earaches can cause pain near the back of the jaw. Teeth grinding can make several teeth sore. MedlinePlus also notes that a heart attack can cause jaw, neck or tooth pain, so jaw pain with chest pain, shortness of breath or sweating needs 911 right away.
How do I know if a tooth infection has spread to my blood?
Warning signs include fever, chills, a fast heartbeat, fast breathing, confusion and feeling very sick, along with tooth pain or facial swelling. These can be signs of sepsis, which is a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away instead of waiting for a dental appointment.
What stops tooth pain fast?
Rinsing with warm salt water, gently flossing out trapped food, over-the-counter pain medicine taken as directed, and a cold compress on the cheek can ease pain for a while. None of these fixes the cause. Call a dentist, and come see us if the pain is severe, you have a fever, or you can't reach a dentist.
“Great experience at Immediate Care Center. The doctors and staff were very kind, friendly, and professional. They took great care of me and made me feel comfortable. Highly recommend!”
Ahadkhon T. · July 2026 · Google★★★★★
“Very prompt, very knowledgeable and very kind and informative too. Excellent care by Mattie and Kelly!!!”
Tim G. · May 2026 · Google★★★★★
“I had a laceration that was stitched in ten minutes and was out of there in thirty minutes! No pain the next day. Meds are working! Professional staff all around.”
