Dental Emergencies: What to Do Before You Reach the Clinic

How to Respond to a Dental Emergency

Just like any other medical emergency, a dental emergency is a reason to see a doctor right away. But sometimes, your dentist isn’t available immediately. With this in mind, knowing exactly what steps to take at home can be the difference between saving a tooth and losing it. While nothing replaces a dentist’s expertise, your immediate actions play a big role in the outcome of the situation. So, let’s learn more about what’s considered a dental emergency and what to do if you encounter one.

What Counts as a Dental Emergency?

Before we dive into some emergency dental care tips, let’s learn what exactly counts as a dental emergency. After all, it can be tricky to distinguish between “urgent” and “emergency.” Here are some guidelines to remember:

When to Call Right Away

Call your dentist immediately or head to the emergency room if you have:

• A knocked-out tooth
• Severe pain that doesn’t go away with over-the-counter medication
• Bleeding that won’t stop after applying pressure
• Facial swelling or abscesses
• Loose permanent teeth

Schedule an Appointment Soon

An urgent dental issue means you should see a dentist as soon as possible, but you don’t necessarily need care right away. A lost filling, broken crown, chipped tooth, and mild sensitivity all call for urgent dental care.

What to Do Before You Reach the Dentist

Next, it’s time to discuss what to do in a dental emergency. The first step is always to call your dentist, but after that, there’s still plenty you can do to get the best outcome. Follow these dental emergency steps based on your circumstances:

Knocked-Out Tooth

Don’t panic, but remember time is of the essence. Handle the tooth only by the crown (the chewing surface), never by the root. Carefully rinse the tooth with water, being sure not to scrub it. If possible, place the tooth back into its socket and hold it in place by biting down. If you can’t reinsert it, keep the tooth moist. Place it in a container of milk or hold it inside your cheek. Do not store it in plain water, as this can damage the root cells.

Severe Toothache

A toothache often means you have an infection or decay reaching the nerve. Start by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water to clean the area. Then, gently floss the area to remove any trapped food. While you wait for your dentist appointment, you might choose to take an over-the-counter pain reliever or use a cold compress to reduce swelling.

Cracked or Broken Tooth

If your tooth is cracked or broken, use warm water to clean the area, then apply a cold compress to bring down the swelling. If you feel a jagged edge cutting your tongue or cheek, try covering it with a piece of sugar-free gum or dental wax.

Lost Crown or Filling

Losing a crown or filling isn’t as serious an emergency as other situations, but it can still be painful. If the exposed tooth is sensitive, use a little clove oil on a cotton swab to numb the area. In some cases, you may be able to slip the crown back on using toothpaste as a temporary adhesive while you wait for your appointment. Never use glue to fasten the crown down.

Abscess

An abscess is a serious infection that looks like a pimple on the gum. If you notice one, use a mild saltwater solution several times a day to draw out the infection and reduce pain. You should see a dentist or doctor immediately, as abscesses can spread to the jaw and neck if left untreated for too long.

What Not to Do in a Dental Emergency

You’ve read a bit about dental trauma first aid, but what kinds of things should you avoid in an emergency? In the heat of the moment, well-intentioned home remedies can sometimes cause more harm than good. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Don’t use sharp objects like forks to dig out stuck food or pop an abscess.
• Don’t ignore the pain, even if it stops after a while. An infection could still be spreading.
• Don’t use heat on the swollen area, as it could make swelling even worse.

How Dentists Treat Common Dental Emergencies

Your urgent dental help guide isn’t complete without a section on treatment. Once you arrive at your dentist’s office, their priority will be to stabilize your condition and relieve as much pain as possible. Generally, treatment looks like this:

• For a knocked-out tooth—Your dentist will attempt to splint the tooth to the adjacent teeth to hold it stable while the bone heals. A root canal may be needed later.
• For a severe infection—You’ll likely receive antibiotics to clear the infection. Once the swelling goes down, the dentist will begin a root canal or extraction.
• For a broken tooth—Depending on the severity, the solution may range from a simple filling to a root canal if the nerve is exposed.

When to Go to the Emergency Room Instead of a Dentist

Most hospital emergency rooms are not equipped to restore teeth. They typically don’t have dentists on staff to perform root canals or fillings. However, there are specific situations where the ER is the right choice:

• Trauma to the face or jaw
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• High fever with swelling

Be Prepared for a Dental Emergency

You can’t always avoid a broken tooth, but our emergency dental care tips can help you stop the problem before it gets worse. While calling your dentist right away is always best practice, you can take a few steps at home to promote the best possible outcome. At The Dentistry, we’re here to help in the event of a dental emergency. Just give our Pittsburgh, PA team a call to schedule an appointment, or contact us to learn more about what we can do.