It’s Saturday afternoon. Your kids are playing in the backyard, and suddenly you hear that sound; the kind of cry that means something is really wrong. You rush outside to find your child holding their mouth, tears streaming down their face. Or maybe you’re enjoying a nice dinner out, and you bite down on something hard and feel that horrible sensation of a tooth fracturing.
Dental emergencies don’t wait for convenient office hours. They happen on weekends, holidays, and in the middle of the night. And when they do, knowing what to do in those first few minutes can make all the difference. At Premier Dental Care, we’re here for you when those unexpected moments happen. Let’s walk through some common dental emergencies and what you should do right away.
Knocked-Out Tooth: Every Second Counts
This is the dental emergency that scares parents the most, and for good reason. But if you act fast, there’s a chance we can save that tooth.
What to do:
- Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root
- If it’s dirty, gently rinse it with water. Don’t scrub or remove any tissue fragments
- Try to place it back in the socket, if possible. Bite down gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place
- If you can’t put it back, place it in a container of milk, saline solution, or your own saliva
- Get to our office within 30 minutes. The sooner, the better
What NOT to do:
- Don’t touch the root
- Don’t scrub it
- Don’t wrap it in tissue or let it dry out
Chipped Tooth: Don’t Panic
A chipped tooth doesn’t always mean you’ll lose it. Sometimes it’s a small chip that can be fixed easily. Other times, it might be deeper and require more attention.
What to do:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek to reduce swelling
- If you’re in pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever
- Save any fragments you can find and bring them with you
- Call us right away. We’ll get you in to assess the damage and save the tooth
Severe Toothache: It’s Not Always a Cavity
We get calls about toothaches all the time. And while it’s tempting to wait and see if it goes away, a persistent or severe ache usually means something is going on that needs attention.
What to do:
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to clean it
- Gently floss around the sore tooth; sometimes it’s just food stuck between teeth
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek
- Never put aspirin directly on your gums; it can burn the tissue
- Call us to schedule an exam as soon as possible
Lost Filling or Crown: Protect the Area
Losing a filling or crown is more common than you might think. While it’s not always an emergency in the middle of the night, you shouldn’t wait too long to have it fixed.
What to do:
- If a crown falls off, try to slip it back over the tooth temporarily
- You can use a small amount of denture adhesive or dental cement from the drugstore to hold it in place
- Avoid chewing on that side
- Call us to schedule a repair appointment as soon as you can
When in Doubt, Call Us
For any dental emergency: call us. We’ll listen to what happened, give you clear instructions, and get you in as quickly as possible. We’re your local dental home in the Antelope Valley, and we take that responsibility seriously.
Dental emergencies happen. But with a little know-how and a quick call to our team, you’ll be in good hands. We’ll get your smile, and your peace of mind, back on track.