Emergency Services

Dental Emergency

We pride ourselves in providing the most personalized, professional dental care. Sometimes that means addressing your dental needs on same-day basis or an after hour emergency. Untreated injuries to your teeth, gums, and surrounding areas can result in infection or other complications.

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 Some emergency services offered:

  • Tooth extractions
  • Root canals 
  • Crowns or bridges evaluation
  • Fillings/restorations repair
  • Dentures repair
  • Partials repair
  • Implants evaluation
  • Wisdom teeth infections

After an Injury:

Stay calm

  • Focus on stopping the bleeding and protecting the injured tooth by following the appropriate instructions in this section.

Medication

  • Never take aspirin or ibuprofen for a dental emergency because they can cause excessive bleeding. To alleviate pain, take acetaminophen as directed on the packaging label.

Use of cold

  • Cold decreases swelling. Apply a cold compress to the area “10 minutes on” then “10 minutes off” on the outside of the face until we can see you. Do not freeze the skin.
  •  If the pain is inside the mouth, use ice chips in the same manner. Do not use heat, please.

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Common Emergencies:

Broken Jaw

  • Do not move your jaw. Secure your jaw in place with a bandanna, necktie, or towel tied around the jaw and over the top of the head.  Use cold compresses to reduce swelling as directed above.
  • Go directly to the emergency room.

Debris between the Teeth

  • Carefully insert a piece of dental floss (avoid using sharp or pointed objects) between your teeth.
  • Be gentle so you do not cut the gum tissue.  
  • If unable to dislodge the debris, contact us.

Painful Loose Tooth

  • Place something between your teeth to bite on so the sore tooth will not hit other teeth and avoid moving your mouth. 
  • Contact us.

 Chipped or Broken Tooth

    Injured face

  • Rinse the area with warm water to clean it.
  • Apply gauze or a clean cloth to the injury, and use firm pressure to stop the bleeding.
  • Apply a cold compress to the injured area to minimize swelling:  “10 minutes on” and “10 minutes off.”  If bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of firm pressure, you must contact us or go to the emergency room.

    Chipped or broken tooth

  • Save the pieces and rinse them with warm water. Sometimes these can be re-attached.
  • If the tooth pieces are dirty, place a towel or dishcloth in a sink (so the pieces cannot fall down the drain) and gently rinse them.
  • Place the pieces in a small container and cover them with milk, water with a pinch of salt, or saliva from the injured person.
  • Contact us.

Knocked Out Tooth

    Child’s Baby Tooth

  • Contact us immediately for a discussion. If the child’s baby tooth is completely knocked out, chances are it cannot be re-implanted. Hopefully, the missing tooth will be replaced naturally when the child’s permanent (adult) tooth grows in.  

    Permanent (Adult) Tooth

  • You have a 1-2 hour window in which your tooth has a chance for successful re-implantation.  Contact us immediately. 
  • Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it.  Apply gauze or a clean cloth and bite down firmly to stop the bleeding.  Try to find the missing tooth right away.
  • When the bleeding stops, apply a cold compress to the injured area to minimize swelling:  “10 minutes on” and “10 minutes off.”  If bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of firm pressure, immediately contact us again or go to the emergency room.
  • Hold the tooth only by its crown (the visible enamel portion). If the tooth or root is dirty, place a towel or dishcloth in a sink (so the tooth cannot fall into the drain), and gently rinse the tooth and root. DO NOT SCRUB it or remove any gum tissue that may still be attached to the root.
  • If possible, gently place the tooth back into its socket in the correct orientation (making sure that you do not force the tooth back into place). If this is not possible, place the tooth in a small container and cover the tooth in milk, water with a pinch of salt, or saliva from the injured person. 

Lost Dental Work

    Filling

  • If you find the filling, put it in a safe place and bring it with you to the appointment.
  • To make your tooth more comfortable, fill the hole with tooth paste or cement (available over-the-counter at your pharmacy). Do not use any household adhesive in your mouth.
  • Contact us.

   Crown or Bridge

  • Gently clean any debris from inside of your crown with a tooth brush and/or tooth pick.
  • Brush your teeth.
  • Apply denture adhesive, dental cement, or toothpaste to the inside of your crown before slipping the crown or bridge back in place. This will help protect your tooth. Please contact us prior to attempting this re-cementation.

Soft Tissues or Gums

    Bitten Lip or Tongue

  • A small cut (less than 1/4 inch) is likely to heal itself. Carefully wipe the area clean with gauze  or a cloth. Apply a cold compress, ice-pack, or small bag of frozen fruit or vegetables to the area to minimize swelling using the “10 minutes on” and “10 minutes off” technique. Do not freeze the tissue. Observe and contact us if needed.
  • If the cut is larger than 1/4 inch, or if bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of pressure and cold treatment, contact us or go to the emergency room.

    Burns

  • Eating very hot foods (like pizza) can burn the roof of your mouth. These painful sores can blister, but they typically heal on their own. If not healed after 10 days, contact us.
  • Use warm salt water rinses (1/8 of a teaspoon in 8 ounces of water) after meals to keep the area clean.  
  • If you need pain relief, use a topical oral anesthetic (found over-the-counter at your pharmacy).  You can also take acetaminophen as directed on the packaging label.

    Abscess

    Gums

  • Pain and swelling of the gums can be the symptoms of an abscess (infection) that forms in gum tissue or in a tooth’s root and surrounding area.  
  • There are many reasons why gums can swell, become painful, or abscess. If the abscess ruptures, you may experience a sudden rush of foul-smelling and foul-tasting fluid from the  area.  
  • Rinse your mouth with warm water and contact us.

   Jaw or Cheek Swelling

  • This type of swelling can be dangerous, especially if it causes any problems in breathing. In this instance, immediately call 911 or go to the emergency room.
  • If the swelling appears to be localized and coming from a tooth, contact us.
  • We may treat you. However, you may still need to go to the emergency room, or we may refer you to an Oral Surgeon.  
  • We will help you to determine if your swelling is  a dental or medical concern.

Orthodontic, Periodontal, Endodontic, and Other Issues

  • Attempt to contact your specialist
  • If this is not successful, please contact us.