Understanding Dental Emergencies

A dental emergency is any problem that needs prompt care to relieve severe pain, stop bleeding, or save a tooth. Knowing the difference between an urgent problem and one that can wait until regular hours saves time, money, and sometimes the tooth itself.

Common dental emergencies

• Knocked-out tooth — handle it by the crown, rinse gently, and try to reseat it. If you can’t, keep it in milk and call us immediately.
• Severe toothache — often a sign of infection; don’t wait it out.
• Cracked or broken tooth — rinse with warm water and apply a cold compress.
• Lost filling or crown — usually not painful, but get it restored soon.

What to do first

1. Call our office and describe what happened.
2. Manage pain with over-the-counter medication as directed.
3. Control bleeding with clean gauze and gentle pressure.

This article is general information, not medical advice. When in doubt, call us.