Services
Emergency Dentistry
A dental emergency rarely picks a convenient time. What you need in the moment is to know whether this needs attention today and what to do until you're seen. Call the office and describe what's happening, and we can tell you both.
What to do for common emergencies
- Knocked-out tooth: handle it by the crown, not the root, rinse it gently without scrubbing, and try to place it back in the socket if possible. If not, keep it in milk or between your cheek and gum, and get to a dentist within the hour. The odds of saving the tooth drop quickly after that.
- Cracked or broken tooth: rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Save any broken piece if you can find it.
- Lost filling or crown: keep the piece if possible, avoid chewing on that side, and use a temporary dental cement from a pharmacy if you have one on hand. Don't use household glue.
- Severe toothache: rinse with warm salt water and use a cold compress. Don't place aspirin directly against the gum or tooth. Despite the old advice, it can burn the gum tissue.
- Object caught between teeth: try gently flossing it out. Avoid sharp objects like a pin, which can injure the gum.
Call before you assume it can wait
Some things that feel like emergencies can reasonably wait a day or two, a chipped tooth with no pain being the usual example. Others genuinely can't, like a knocked-out tooth or an infection causing facial swelling. If you're not sure which category you're in, call the office and describe what's happening. That's a faster and more reliable answer than guessing.
When to go to the ER instead
A dental office can't treat everything. Uncontrolled bleeding, facial swelling that's affecting your breathing or swallowing, or a jaw that may be broken are medical emergencies needing immediate attention at an emergency room, not a dental office, even one that can see you same-day.