Emergency Dentistry

What is a dental emergency?

Dental emergencies can come in different types and situations. Some examples of dental emergencies include sudden and severe toothache, chipped or cracked tooth due to an accident, loose or damaged restoration, or lost or damaged tooth. To determine if your situation is an emergency, ask yourself the following questions: 

• Are you experiencing severe pain or swelling? 
• Do you have a painful toothache that does not go away? 
• Do you have a loose or knocked-out tooth? 
• Are you experiencing swelling in your face or cheeks along with a toothache? 
• Do you have extreme tooth sensitivity? 
• Are you bleeding from your mouth that won’t stop? 
• Is your jaw injured? 

Any dental problem requiring immediate treatment to stop bleeding, alleviate severe pain, or save a tooth is considered an emergency. This also applies to severe infections that can be life-threatening and require professional care as soon as possible.

What’s the best way to handle a dental emergency?

If you experience a dental emergency, the best action is to contact your dentist immediately. If the issue occurs outside of regular office hours or is very severe, it’s advisable to go to the nearest emergency room. However, depending on the type of dental emergency you are facing, there are some things that you can do to alleviate the pain and improve the situation. Some helpful tips include: 

• Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in warm water and use it as a mouthwash. 
• Trying to floss to relieve gum pressure. 
• Apply a cold compress on the painful or swollen area. 
• Rinsing with diluted Hydrogen Peroxide to kill bacteria. 
• Taking over-the-counter pain medication to reduce discomfort. 

Remember that these tips are not a substitute for professional dental care, so it’s essential to seek help from your dentist as soon as possible.

What should I do if I have a knocked out tooth?

Avoid touching the roots or top of the tooth and only pick it up by the sides and chewing surface. Clean the tooth gently with water or milk, but do not scrub, dry off, or use soaps or chemicals to clean it. 

If possible, try to put the tooth back in the socket, holding it only by the sides and bottom. Bite down softly to keep it in place, ensuring it’s appropriately oriented and not backward. Do not force it if it won’t fit correctly. 

If you can’t put the tooth back, keep it moist by soaking it in a glass of milk or holding it between your gums and cheek. However, please do not do this with young children who could swallow it. Avoid using tap water to soak the tooth, which could damage the roots. You can also soak the tooth in saliva if you don’t have cow’s milk. 

The most critical step is to call a dentist as soon as possible. The dentist may be able to reattach the tooth if it is done within an hour or so after it has been knocked out. The sooner you see a dentist, the better the chances of reattaching the tooth.