During office hours, immediate attention will be given to your situation, and you will be seen as soon as possible. After office hours, please give the office a call and follow the instructions provided. Your call will be returned as soon as possible. If you are experiencing a serious or life threatening emergency, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.
Tips for Handling Common Dental Emergencies
Knocked-out tooth:
Keep the tooth moist at ALL times. Hold the tooth by the crown and avoid touching the root under all circumstances. If the tooth is dirty, you may gently rinse the root in water, but avoid scrubbing the tooth or removing any tissue fragments. If possible, gently place and hold the tooth in the socket from which it fell. If it cannot be replaced in the socket, place the tooth in a container with milk and come to our office as quickly as possible – ideally, within 30 minutes.
Cracked or broken tooth:
Begin by rinsing the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Place cold compresses on the face to keep swelling to a minimum. If you are able to find the broken tooth fragment, wrap it in a moist cloth and bring any pieces with you to our office as quickly as possible.
Possible broken jaw:
Apply cold compresses to limit swelling and proceed immediately to a dentist or hospital emergency department.
Objects caught between teeth:
Gently try to remove the object with dental floss. Under no circumstances should you try to remove the object with a pointed or sharp instrument. If unsuccessful with the removal, please give us a call.
Toothache:
After rinsing your mouth with warm water, gently use dental floss to remove any debris that may be lodged between the teeth. Do NOT place aspirin on the aching tooth or tissue surrounding the tooth. Please give our office a call so that we can see you as soon as possible
Bitten tongue or lip:
Clean the wound gently and place a cold compress to keep the swelling to a minimum. If bleeding is heavy and does not stop after a few minutes, please give us a call or visit your hospital emergency department.