Emergency dentistry

Act quickly. Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), not the root. If it’s dirty, rinse it gently in milk or cool water for a few seconds. Don’t scrub it or wrap it in tissue. If you can, push it gently back into its socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it there. If you can’t, keep it in a small container of milk, not water. Call us and try to be seen within an hour. Don’t put a baby tooth back in, since that can harm the adult tooth underneath. Call us instead.

Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any pieces in a little milk. If your lip or face is swelling, hold a cold pack on the outside. Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or dental wax. Call us to be seen. A small chip can often wait a day or two, but a large break, or a tooth that hurts, should be seen sooner.

It’s usually not urgent, but call us soon. Keep the crown safe and bring it with you. Until then, chew on the other side and avoid sticky or hard foods. Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can cover the spot or hold a crown in place for a short time. Never use household glue.

Swelling can mean an infection, such as an abscess. Call us the same day. Rinse with warm salt water, hold a cold pack on your face, and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed if it’s safe for you. Don’t use heat, and don’t put aspirin on your gum, since it can burn. If swelling spreads toward your eye or neck, or makes it hard to breathe or swallow, go to the hospital emergency department or call 911.

Rinse with warm water and floss gently to remove trapped food. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed if it’s safe for you, and hold a cold pack on your cheek. Pain that goes away doesn’t always mean the problem is gone, so call us either way.