It’s a Saturday afternoon. You’re enjoying a game of pick-up basketball or just biting into a crispy apple when you feel it: a sharp crack, a sudden jolt of pain, or the sickening realization that a tooth just came loose. Your heart starts racing. Your mind goes blank. What do you do? Dental emergencies are stressful. They’re painful. And they almost always happen at the most inconvenient times. But staying calm and knowing exactly what steps to take during a dental emergency can make the difference between saving a tooth and losing it.
Let’s break down the most common dental emergencies and what you should do in each situation.
Knocked-Out Tooth
This is the dental emergency that scares everyone the most. But if you act fast, there’s a chance your dentist can save it.
The first thirty minutes are critical. Find the tooth immediately and pick it up by the crown, that’s the white part you normally see. Never touch the root. If it’s dirty, gently rinse it with water or milk, but don’t scrub it or use soap. You don’t want to damage the delicate tissue still attached to the root.
If you can, try to gently place the tooth back into its socket. Hold it in place by biting down gently on a clean cloth. If that’s not possible, which is totally understandable, put the tooth in a container of milk, saliva, or saline solution.
Then call a dentist immediately. At Town Square Family Dentistry, Dr. Shon will make time for emergencies.
Chipped Tooth
A broken tooth doesn’t always mean you’ve lost it for good. But it does mean you need to act quickly.
First, rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. If there’s bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a piece of gauze. You can also apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek or lips to reduce swelling and ease the pain. Save any pieces of the tooth that broke off. Your dentist might be able to reattach them or use them to create a custom restoration.
Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and stick to soft foods until you can get to the dentist. Even if the break looks small, it’s important to get it checked out. What seems like a minor chip could expose the inner layers of the tooth to bacteria, which can lead to infection or the need for a root canal down the road.
Dr. Shon offers same-day crowns at Town Square Family Dentistry, so if your tooth needs to be repaired quickly, you won’t have to wait weeks for a permanent solution.
Severe Toothache
Toothaches are miserable. But not all toothaches require a trip to the emergency room. Most dental pain can wait a while, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer.
Start by gently flossing around the painful tooth to make sure nothing is trapped between your teeth. Food particles can cause surprising amounts of pain. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to help reduce inflammation and clean the area.
Take over-the-counter pain relievers as directed, but never place aspirin directly against the gum tissue; it can cause burns. A cold compress applied to the outside of your cheek can also help.
And if you notice swelling in your face or jaw, or if you have a fever, don’t wait. Those are signs of a spreading infection and you need to be seen immediately.
Lost Crown or Filling
This one usually isn’t an emergency in the sense that you’re in agony, but it does leave your tooth vulnerable. Without a crown or filling, your tooth is exposed to temperature changes, pressure, and bacteria.
Keep the crown if you have it. You might be able to temporarily reattach it using dental cement from a drugstore. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth until you can get to the dentist. The longer you wait, the more likely your tooth will shift or become damaged, so don’t put this off.
Don’t Wait
The number one thing you can do during a dental emergency is to stay calm and call a dentist as soon as possible. Don’t wait. Don’t hope it will get better on its own. Dental problems rarely resolve themselves, and waiting almost always makes things worse and more expensive.
You don’t have to be an existing patient to get emergency care. Town Square Family Dentistry welcomes new patients and can usually get you in quickly.
