If you have a dental emergency, give us a call immediately. If you need urgent treatment after hours, there is always a way to reach us by calling our office at any hour. We are always here to assist. Below are tips on dealing with urgent dental situations:

Sensitivity

If you have recently had dental work such as veneers, crown, root canal, or even whitening and are experiencing tooth sensitivity, give us a call. It is not unusual to have some lingering sensitivity after treatment that a mild pain reliever will treat. If you have any questions, please call us and be prepared to let us know if your teeth are more sensitive to hot or cold or sweets.

Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth

If you have chipped or broken a piece off of a tooth, rinse with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that has broken off. Call us immediately.

Knocked Out Tooth

If your tooth has been knocked out, find the tooth and rinse it with water (no soap), taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it's in place). If you can, place the tooth back in its socket and hold it in place with a clean towel or cloth. If you can't return the tooth to its socket, place it in a clean container with milk. In either case, call us immediately and/or head to the hospital. If you act quickly it's possible to save the tooth.

Bitten Lip or Tongue

If you have bitten your lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress (a cold, wet towel or washcloth pressed firmly against the area) to reduce or avoid swelling. Give us a call to help determine how serious the bite is.

Object Caught In Teeth

If you have something caught between your teeth, use dental floss to gently remove it. Never use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to remove a stuck object. If you are unable to remove the item with dental floss, give us a call.

Loose Tooth

If your child has a very loose tooth, it should be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled.

Toothache

If your child complains of a toothache, rinse his mouth with warm water and inspect his teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, as this can cause damage to the gums. Children's pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately.

Broken Jaw

If you know or suspect you have sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call us immediately and/or head to the hospital immediately. In many cases a broken jaw is the result of a blow to the head. Severe blows to the head can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

Avoiding Injury

You can help avoid dental emergencies by being very careful with foods that can damage your teeth. For example, never chew on ice and be very careful with popcorn and hard foods. If any member of the family plays contact sports, we always recommend wearing a mouth guard. Ask us about a custom-fitted mouth guard and the additional protection it can provide. Finally, the best defense against dental problems is regular brushing, flossing, and staying on track with your regular visits to our office.