Dental Emergency

What is a Dental Emergency?

If you’re suffering from a toothache, broken tooth, or other oral health concern, you might be asking yourself “what is a true dental emergency?” You’re probably wondering whether or not to call your dentist or try to get urgent care for your dental concern.

  • Severe swelling
  • High fever
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Deep cuts on lips
  • Reaction to medication resulting in hives, swelling of mouth lips or throat
  • Broken tooth /teeth
  • Toothache preventing sleep
  • Minor to moderate swelling
  • Moderate to severe pain
  • Tooth knocked out
  • Tooth misplaced or knocked out of position
  • Deep cuts on gums
  • Jaw locked open
  • Severe TMJ pain
  • Missing filling
  • Cracked or broken crown
  • Lost, loose or broken temporary crown
  • Debris trapped between teeth or gums
  • Broken denture/partial denture
  • Loose orthodontic band, bracket, expander, lip bumper or uncomfortable wire

Below are some tips for helping to manage dental emergencies:

  • Broken Jaw – If you believe you may have broken your jaw, use a cold compress to help with the swelling. Call us as soon as you can or head to the hospital. Most often a broken jaw is the result of having a blow to the head, and severe blows to the head can be dangerous.
  • Sensitivity – If you have had recent dental work and are now experiencing a toothache or severe tooth discomfort, we are here to help with our emergency dental services. Please give us a call, and we will work with you to determine what the issue is so that it can be treated.
  • Chipped, Fractured or Broken Teeth – If your tooth has been chipped, fractured, or even broken be sure to take the broken piece and rinse it with warm, clean water. To help reduce swelling, you may want to use a cold compress. If you can locate the tooth fragment that broke off, be sure to save it and then get in touch with us.
  • Knocked Out Tooth – If your tooth was accidentally knocked out, be sure to locate the tooth and clean it with water (do not use soap). While cleaning the tooth be sure to only touch the crown of your tooth (which is the part you can see in your mouth normally, not the root). If you are able, try putting the tooth back into its socket and hold it there with either a clean cloth or towel. If this is not an option, place it in a clean container filled with milk. Whether you can put it in the socket again or not, please be sure to give us a call immediately, and/or head to the hospital. By doing this it may be possible to save the tooth.
  • Bitten Tongue and/or Lip – If you bit your tongue or your lip badly enough that it started to bleed, be sure to clean the bite gently with fresh water. You might also want to use a cold compress (a cold compress is a cold/wet washcloth or towel that you will press firmly against the affected area) to help keep swelling down.
  • Something Caught in Teeth – If you get something caught in between your teeth the first step is to try to gently floss the item out. Be sure not to use other tools to attempt to remove the stuck item; you don’t want to wind up doing more damage! If flossing the item out does not work, please give us a call.
  • Tooth Pain – One solution for tooth discomfort is attempting to rinse your mouth with warm water, or try using a cold compress. If neither of those work, please give us a call.
  • Loose Teeth – If it is a child’s tooth, you can attempt to remove it. If it is an adult tooth, please get in touch with us.
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