How Should I Deal with a Dental Emergency?

When dealing with a dental emergency, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. As oral injuries can be very painful and potentially serious, it’s also helpful to prepare for your emergency dental visit as best as you can. A dental emergency can encompass a variety of different situations, including:

• Fractured, broken or knocked out teeth
• Lost crown or filling
• Broken braces or wires
• Cut lips or gums
• Tooth abscess
• Severe pain in teeth and/or gums

For teeth that have been knocked out, the American Dental Association advises to gently rinse the tooth in water if it’s dirty, but not to scrub the tooth. You should also hold the tooth by the crown and not its roots, as touching the roots can potentially harm the cells necessary for bone reattachment. If possible, place and hold the clean tooth in its socket to keep it moist. If that is not possible, you may put the tooth in a cup of milk and bring it to the dentist.

The Academy of General Dentistry also recommends having an emergency dental kit on-hand, which can be of great assistance. Listed below are several items that can be included in a home emergency dental kit:

• Dentist’s phone number
• Gauze
• Gloves
• Cotton balls
• Toothpicks
• Dental wax
• Dental floss
• Temporary filling
• Handkerchief
• Small container with lid
• Ibuprofen (aspirin is not recommended because it is an anticoagulant, which may cause excessive bleeding in a dental emergency)

At Pomerado Cosmetic Dentistry, our team of experienced dentists is well-trained and prepared for immediate treatment of dental emergencies. We can also refer you to a specialist, if needed. If, however, you experience a dental emergency during off-hours, our voicemail will provide you with instructions as to how to contact our on-call dentist.

For more information on emergency dental treatment and ways to prevent dental emergencies, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists, please contact us today.