Emergency Dentistry

A knocked-out tooth can actually survive if it is replaced in the socket in less than an hour. Don’t touch the root of the tooth; only touch the white crown of the tooth. If you can, insert the tooth back in its socket facing the right direction and call our office immediately.

If you can’t replace the tooth in its socket, put it in a cup of milk or saliva. If the person losing the tooth is old enough to do so safely, they can place the tooth inside their cheek. Keeping the tooth moist improves the chances of one of our dentists stably replacing it in its socket. The tooth must still be restored to its socket within an hour of being dislodged so be sure to call us immediately.

If the knocked-out tooth is a child’s baby tooth, keep it moist and call our office immediately. We will be able to determine whether the whole tooth came out or just part of it, and if it can be placed back in the jaw. 

A tooth that has been knocked out usually requires root canal therapy after the area has healed.

When decay occurs under a filling, it can cause the tooth to deteriorate and loosen the filling. Eventually the filling falls out. Applying clove oil to the area can reduce any pain. If you can’t get to our office right away and the tooth is aching, get dental cement at a pharmacy and spread a layer across the painful area. This will protect the area until you can see one of our dentists. Avoid hot, cold or sweet foods until you get the filling replaced.

If the crown is not broken, try fitting it back on the tooth. If it fits pretty well and it’s going to be a short while until you can arrive at our office, purchase dental cement at a pharmacy. Follow the directions to secure the crown in its place. Never use any other kind of glue or cement. 

If the crown is broken or won’t stay on the tooth, use clove oil to reduce your discomfort. You can also spread dental cement over the bare tooth to protect it until you can come to our office. Call for an appointment.

If possible, bring the broken-off piece of tooth with you to our office. In the meantime, here are some steps you can take to relieve the pain:

• Stop any bleeding by pressing gauze or a clean cloth directly on the area that’s bleeding.
• Hold a cold compress to the cheek for pain relief. 
• Get a commercially-prepared dental pain relief gel or drops at a pharmacy.
• Spread dental cement purchased from a pharmacy over the broken tooth to protect it. Use dental cement only.

If you have chipped a tooth but you are not in pain, save the chipped piece and call us during office hours to ask for our next available appointment. 

Rinse the mouth with warm water. Put cold compresses on the cheek to keep the swelling down. Call us for further guidance

First, try cleaning the mouth out by rinsing it with warm water. Then gently use dental floss around the aching tooth to clean out any food that might be caught between the gum and the tooth. Never place an aspirin tablet on the tooth because it can burn tissues in the mouth. Call right away for an appointment.

Don’t probe at your teeth or gums with something pointy, like a toothpick. Use floss to gently clean the area, then rinse with water. If the problem persists, contact us immediately so the object that’s stuck does not cause an infection.