It happens when you least expect it. One minute you’re enjoying a game of pickup basketball or biting into a sandwich. The next minute, you’re holding a piece of your tooth in your hand. Or you wake up with a throbbing pain that won’t quit. A dental emergency can be scary. But knowing what to do in those first few minutes can make all the difference. At the Williamsburg Center for Dental Health, we’re here to help when the unexpected happens. And we want you to be prepared.
Let’s walk through some common dental emergencies and exactly what to do before you reach our office.
Knocked-Out Tooth
This is the dental emergency everyone fears. But if you act fast, there’s a small chance we can save it.
What to do:
- Pick up the tooth by the crown, not the root. The root has tiny fibers that need to stay intact.
- If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it with water. Don’t scrub it.
- Try to place the tooth back in its socket. If it fits, hold it there gently.
- If you can’t put it back, keep it moist. Place it in a container of milk, or tuck it inside your cheek next to your gums.
- Call us immediately. Time is critical. The sooner we see you, the better the chances of saving the tooth.
What not to do: Don’t touch the root. Don’t scrub the tooth. And don’t let it dry out.
Chipped Tooth
Maybe you bit down on something hard. Maybe you took a fall. Either way, your tooth is now damaged.
What to do:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area.
- If there’s bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a piece of gauze.
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek or lip near the damaged tooth to reduce swelling.
- Call us to schedule an appointment. A small chip can sometimes be smoothed out. A deeper fracture might need a crown or other restoration.
What not to do: Don’t try to file or smooth the tooth yourself. Don’t chew on that side until we’ve looked at it.
Severe Toothache
Pain is your body’s way of saying something is wrong. A persistent, throbbing toothache isn’t something to ignore.
What to do:
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to clean the area and reduce inflammation.
- Floss gently around the sore tooth to remove any trapped food that might be causing pressure.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed.
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek near the area.
- Call us to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
What not to do: Don’t put aspirin directly on your gum or tooth. It can burn your tissue and make things worse.
Lost Filling or Crown
Sometimes a crown or filling just gives out. You’ll notice it with your tongue, or you might feel a sharp edge.
What to do:
- Save the crown if you can find it.
- Dental cement or even sugar-free gum can be used as a temporary cover to protect the tooth, but this is a short-term fix.
- Call us to get your crown or filling replaced properly.
What not to do: Don’t use super glue or any household adhesive. We’ve seen it. It doesn’t end well.
When to Come In Right Away
Some emergencies can wait a day or two. Others can’t. Here are signs you should come in immediately:
- A knocked-out tooth
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Severe pain that won’t subside
- Swelling in your face or jaw
- Signs of infection, like fever or a bad taste in your mouth
When in doubt, call us. We’ll help you figure out the next step.
How We Handle Emergencies
At the Williamsburg Center for Dental Health, we leave time in our schedule for dental emergencies. We know that things don’t happen on a convenient schedule. When you call us with a problem, we’ll do our best to get you in quickly.
Dr. Stacey Hall will examine you, diagnose the problem, and recommend the right treatment, whether that’s repairing the tooth, extracting it, or starting a more involved procedure.
Be Prepared
Keep our number handy. Program it into your phone. When an emergency happens, you don’t want to be searching for a phone number.
Save our number now: New patients call 757-216-9873. Current patients call 757-565-6303.
And if you’re in the middle of a dental emergency right now? Stop reading and call us. We’re here to help.