Dental Emergencies - what should I do?

Dental problems, such as pain or injury to the teeth or soft tissues of the mouth should not be ignored. While some issues, like debilitating pain or bleeding are hard to tolerate, more subtle issues almost always end up as acute problems that demand immediate attention.

Here, we can go down a list of common issues, how they present, and briefly what you can do until you are able to see your dentist.

Toothache
Dull, pounding ache made worse with hot food/liquid and/or pain with closing teeth: good chance nerve inside tooth is necrotic. See dentist ASAP

Eat something cold or sweet and 5-10 seconds later pain wells up: good chance of cavity or leakage under existing filling/cap: See dentist as soon as practical

NEVER put aspirin on the gums near the painful tooth. Aspirin is salicylic acid and will just cause a chemical burn to the gum tissues. It won’t help the tooth pain!

A crown or bridge comes off
Clean over sink filled with water, rinse mouth with slightly warm water – try to reposition cap/bridge back in place. You can put some denture adhesive cream inside crown as temporary cement. Be careful eating. Before sleeping, if you can remove with finger pressure, do so and put it aside so you don’t ingest/inhale while sleeping. See dentist as soon as practical.

A tooth is knocked out
Locate the lost tooth, hold it by the crown (part you see in the mouth), not the root. Rinse clean gently with running water. DO NOT SCRUB THE ROOT and try not to touch the root. If you can, replace it into the socket facing the proper way without forcing it in. If you cannot replace the tooth in the socket, place it in a cup of milk, water with salt, a “Save a Tooth” container, or just inside the mouth between the teeth and cheek. If you cannot find the tooth, check to be sure it is not forced up into the tissues. In all cases, get to a dentist ASAP.

Fractured tooth
If the tooth piece is cleanly broken, and there is no bleeding from the tooth, save the piece and see a dentist as soon as practical. If there are rough edges bothering your tongue, you can cover them with either orthodontic wax (from drugstore) or some wet cotton. If there is bleeding from the tooth itself, see a dentist ASAP.

Broken orthodontic appliances
If wires/brackets loose – cover end with orthodontic wax for comfort and see your dentist as soon as practical.

Bitten tongue, lip, cheek
With clean gauze or cloth, apply pressure to wound site. Place small ice chips for pain control after bleeding stops; if bleeding will not subside after 10 minutes, get to dentist or emergency room ASAP.

Broken Jaw

If, after a trauma to the jaws, the teeth do not meet properly when closed, and there is pain, suspect a fracture and go to the emergency room.