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Dental emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time. What you do in the first hour can decide whether a tooth can be saved.
Knocked-out tooth
Time matters most here. A tooth replanted within 60 minutes has the best chance of surviving.
- Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), never by the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water. Do not scrub it.
- If you can, put it back in the socket and bite gently on a clean cloth.
- If not, keep it in a cup of milk or inside your cheek.
- Call an emergency dentist right away.
Broken or chipped tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any pieces. A cold compress on the cheek reduces swelling. A small chip can usually be repaired with bonding the same day; a larger break may need a crown.
Severe toothache
Rinse with warm salt water and floss gently around the tooth in case food is stuck. An over-the-counter pain reliever helps for a few hours. Pain that wakes you up at night or throbs with your pulse often means the nerve is inflamed, which needs treatment soon.
Swelling
Swelling of the gum or face is a sign of infection. Call a dentist the same day. Do not apply heat.
When to go to the ER
Go to the emergency room if swelling affects your breathing or swallowing, if you have a high fever, or after a serious face injury. For everything else, an emergency dentist is faster and can treat the cause.
Our emergency line
We keep time free every day for urgent cases. Call (512) 555-0199: you’ll get first-aid advice on the phone and usually an appointment within a few hours.
