Dental Emergencies
Accidents do happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.
When an emergency does occur, call the office and provide as much detail as possible about your condition. Remember, pain is a signal that something is wrong—a problem that will not disappear even if the pain subsides. It is best to get it taken care of as soon as possible rather than wait. In the meantime here are some tips for dealing with dental emergenices:
Bitten Lip or Tongue
Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce any swelling. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.
Broken Tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. Call the dentist immediately.
Cracked Tooth
If you are positive it is a cracked tooth avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and call the dentist immediately. If you are unsure whether your tooth is cracked, click on the link below:
(This link is a pdf file. If you cannot view this file, see below.)
Jaw-Possibly Broken
Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Go to the dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.
Knocked Out Tooth
Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Remember to take the tooth with you!
Objects Caught Between Teeth
Try to gently remove the object with dental floss; avoid cutting the gums. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, contact the dentist.
Toothache
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gums. If the pain persists, contact the dentist.
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