Or start from the symptom
Start from the symptom rather than the treatment name. Each one says what it usually means, what to do now, and what it normally needs.
Tooth pain that keeps me awakeSee a dentist today
Tooth pain that wakes you at night or throbs for minutes after hot or cold usually means the nerve inside the tooth is inflamed or infected, and at that stage a filling is rarely enough — it generally needs root canal treatment to settle.
Swelling in my face or jawSee a dentist today
Facial swelling alongside dental pain means an infection has spread beyond the tooth, and it needs to be seen the same day — swelling that reaches your eye, or that makes swallowing or breathing difficult, is a hospital emergency rather than a dental appointment.
Bleeding gums when I brush
Gums that bleed when you brush are inflamed, almost always from plaque and hardened deposits at the gum line — healthy gums do not bleed, so it is a sign of early gum disease rather than of brushing too hard.
A missing tooth or a gap
A missing tooth can be replaced with an implant, a bridge or a denture, and the right choice depends on how much jawbone remains and on whether the teeth either side of the gap are healthy — which is why it starts with an X-ray.
Crooked or crowded teeth
Crooked and crowded teeth are straightened with braces or clear aligners, and adults can be treated at any age — what determines suitability is gum health rather than how old you are.
A broken or chipped toothSee a dentist today
A broken tooth should be looked at the same day even when it does not hurt, because how deep the fracture goes decides whether it needs a filling, a crown, or root canal treatment — and a tooth that cracks below the gum line can rarely be saved.