Our professionals are here for you when you need us—including for those unforeseen and unplanned dental emergencies that can happen at any time. If you’re experiencing severe dental pain, or tooth damage of any sort, contact our office immediately. We’ll walk you through how to deal with your emergency, and do our best to see you in person as soon as possible—often on the same day. You don’t need to be an existing patient.
NOTE: if you’re bleeding heavily, suspect you have a broken bone, are feeling faint, or have trouble breathing, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
Here are some of the most common dental emergencies, and how to handle them.
Toothaches
If you’re experiencing severe tooth or gum pain, rise your mouth with warm water, place a cold compress against the outside of your cheek, and take ibuprofen. Call us for more help and to arrange a time to be seen.
Cracked or broken teeth
A cracked tooth can easily break, so you should have it repaired as soon as possible. If a portion of your tooth broke off, rinse it with water and save it—there’s a chance we’ll be able to restore it. Call us for more help and to arrange a time to be seen.
Loss of a permanent tooth
If one of your permanent teeth got knocked out, rinse it with warm water and try to place it back in its socket. If this can’t be done, preserve the tooth by putting it in a cup of milk. Call us for more help and to arrange a time to be seen—we may be able to restore it.
Lost filling or crown
If your filling or crown has fallen out, be sure to save it and take it with you to your appointment—we will determine whether or not it can be reused. Call us for more help and to arrange a time to be seen.
Oral disease
Oral infections are severe and must be treated quickly to prevent more damage. If gum disease or periodontitis advances, it can lead to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Call us for help and to arrange a time to be seen.
