What should you do if you have a dental emergency? There are many different types of dental emergencies.  

Toothaches: If a tooth ache develops you should call our office.  We will ask you to describe your symptoms and see you as soon as possible.  There are some things that you can do to while waiting for your dental emergency appointment, these include taking an over-the-counter pain medicine that usually works for you and placing an ice pack on your cheek in the area of the sore tooth.

Lost fillings:  Regular visits can help to prevent lost fillings.  If you have lost a filling see your dentist as soon as possible. If you are having sensitivity you can place a chewed piece of sugarless gum in the area where the filling was lost.

Fractured or Broken Teeth: If you have broken a tooth please should call our office so that we can see you as soon as possible. Often a small fracture can be repaired with filling material and restore your tooth to its’ previous health.  In some cases the tooth fracture is too large to repair with filling material alone.  We may need a radiograph to determine if you need a root canal or a crown.  Rarely is an extraction of a tooth needed when a tooth is broken.

Avulsed (Knocked-Out) Teeth:  If you act quickly enough when an adult tooth is knocked it is often possible to save that tooth.  If too much time has passed (more than two hours) then it is less likely that we can save the tooth.  What you will need to do is immediately place your tooth in milk and go to our dental office or the nearest dentist if you are out of town.  Only if the tooth is clean and there is no risk that it may be swallowed can place the tooth back in its socket before going to the dentist.

Damage to lips, cheeks or tongue:  Apply pressure to the area of the mouth that is bleeding using a clean cloth.  Ice can aid in keeping the swelling down.  Go to the Emergency of your nearest hospital if the bleeding does not stop.