Emergency Dentistry

What is a dental emergency?

A dental emergency can include a variety of different dental issues. According to American Family Physicians, about 22% of people have experienced dental or oral pain in the last six months. If you aren’t sure if you are experiencing a dental emergency or not, consider the following statements. If they apply to you, you are likely having a dental emergency and should contact our office as soon as possible.

• You are in severe pain or have extreme swelling
• You have a painful toothache that will not go away
• You have a loose or knocked-out tooth
• Your cheeks/face has swelling along with a toothache
• Your teeth are extremely sensitive
• You are bleeding from the mouth
• Your jaw is injured

Any dental issue that requires immediate treatment to stop bleeding, save a tooth, or reduce severe pain is considered a dental emergency.

What is not a dental emergency?

It can be difficult to tell if you are experiencing a dental emergency or not. If any of the statements below apply to you, you can most likely wait a few days to see your dentist:

• You have a chipped tooth
• You have a cracked tooth
• You have lost a tooth
• You have lost a filling

It is still important to have these issues diagnosed by a dental professional, but they are not as extreme as other dental emergencies. If you have any questions about whether or not you are experiencing a dental emergency, please call our office.

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What’s the best way to handle a dental emergency?

The best thing to do in a dental emergency is to contact your dentist, unless it is extremely severe, then you should go to the emergency room.

Depending on the dental emergency you are experiencing, there may be some things you can do to help ease your pain and help the situation. Some efforts include:

• Dissolve a teaspoon of salt into a mug of warm water and use it as a mouthwash
• If your tooth is knocked out, place it in a glass of milk until you can see your dentist
• Try flossing to eliminate any gum pressure
• Use a cold compress on the swelling or painful area
• Rinse with diluted Hydrogen Peroxide to kill bacteria
• Take over-the-counter pain medication to alleviate pain