Dental Emergency? Steps to Take in the Aftermath

A dental emergency is any oral health problem that requires immediate care. While it would be great if dental issues only came up when you had a scheduled appointment, this isn’t always the case.

At Dental Solutions of Encinitas, Dr. Sherry Vakilian provides emergency dental appointments for patients dealing with pain, knocked-out teeth, infections, and more. She will ensure you get the care you need or provide recommendations on what to do next if our office can’t assist you.

Many patients also have questions about dental emergencies and what to do while they are waiting for their appointment. Here are some helpful suggestions.

What Is a Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies can be many things, so it’s difficult to list every situation that could require urgent dental care. However, there are some common dental emergencies, these include:

• Tooth Pain or Toothache
• Knocked Out Teeth
• Cracked Teeth
• Chipped Teeth
• Dental Abscess
• Lost or Broken Dental Restorations

If you have severe bleeding or a broken bone, you should seek emergency medical help instead of calling our office. For other dental emergencies, give us a call, and we will do all we can to treat you right away. 

What to Do After a Dental Emergency

When facing a dental emergency, taking quick action is crucial. Otherwise, you could be at risk of infection, further pain, and other dental issues down the road. 

Each situation is unique, so, here is what you should do depending on the type of dental emergency you are dealing with. 

Tooth Pain

If you have tooth pain, you should:

• Rinse your mouth with warm water
• Remove any debris gently using floss 
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers
• Apply a cold compress to your face

If the pain is severe or doesn’t go away, it’s time to seek urgent dental care. 

Knocked Out Tooth

When you have a knocked-out tooth, it’s a serious issue. You’ll want to act quickly to preserve your tooth by following these steps:

• Grab the tooth by the crown and avoid holding the root.
• Rinse your mouth gently.
• Put the tooth back in the socket if possible. If not, store the tooth in milk or saline solution.

Cracked or Chipped Tooth

The steps to address a cracked or chipped tooth are the same. You should rinse your mouth and apply a compress to reduce the swelling. If the crack or chip is large or painful, reach out to use it for assistance immediately. Otherwise, you should still come in soon so we can prevent the issue from getting worse.

Dental Abscess

A dental abscess is a potentially serious infection that requires urgent treatment. If you have a dental abscess make sure to:

• Rinse with warm salt water
• Take OTC pain relievers
• Avoid placing heat on the affected area

It’s vital to come into our office as the infection can spread if left untreated. 

Lost/Broken Dental Restoration

If you have a loss of broken filling, crown, bridge, etc, it can be a dental emergency. For a filling, use dental cement to cover the cavity. For a crown, try to place it back onto your tooth using dental cement or adhesive. You can find these at most pharmacies.