Dental Emergency Guide

Quick reference for handling dental emergencies and knowing when to seek immediate care

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Table of Contents

  • • What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
  • • Knocked-Out Tooth
  • • Broken or Cracked Tooth
  • • Severe Toothache
  • • Lost Filling or Crown
  • • Abscess or Infection
  • • Soft Tissue Injuries
  • • Emergency Dental Kit

Call 911 If:

  • • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • • Uncontrollable bleeding
  • • Jaw fracture or dislocation
  • • Severe facial swelling (especially around eyes or neck)
  • • Loss of consciousness

What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?

True Emergencies

Requires immediate care (same day):

  • • Knocked-out permanent tooth
  • • Severe pain not relieved by medication
  • • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • • Suspected jaw fracture
  • • Abscess or infection with swelling
  • • Trauma causing tooth damage

Urgent (Not Emergency)

Call dentist within 24 hours:

  • • Lost filling or crown
  • • Chipped tooth (no pain)
  • • Food stuck between teeth
  • • Minor toothache
  • • Broken retainer or night guard
  • • Loose dental work

Knocked-Out Tooth

TIME IS CRITICAL

If reimplanted within 30 minutes, tooth has 90% chance of survival. After 2 hours, success rate drops dramatically.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Find the Tooth Immediately

Pick it up by the crown (white part) ONLY. Never touch the root!

2

Rinse Gently (If Dirty)

Use milk or saline solution. If unavailable, use tap water for less than 10 seconds. Don't scrub, use soap, or remove tissue fragments!

3

Try to Reinsert

If possible, gently push tooth back into socket. Bite down on gauze or clean cloth to hold in place. This is the BEST option!

4

If Can't Reinsert, Keep Moist

Best to worst storage options:

  • 1. Place between cheek and gum (if alert adult)
  • 2. Store in milk (whole milk best)
  • 3. Store in saline solution
  • 4. Store in saliva (spit in container)
  • ❌ NEVER use water or let tooth dry out!
5

Get to Dentist IMMEDIATELY

Call ahead so they're ready. Bring the tooth in its storage container. Every minute counts!

Note About Baby Teeth

Do NOT reinsert knocked-out baby teeth. Could damage permanent tooth below. Still call dentist same day for evaluation.

Broken or Cracked Tooth

Immediate Steps

  • 1. Save any pieces: Rinse mouth and save broken fragments in milk or water
  • 2. Rinse mouth: Use warm water to clean area
  • 3. Control bleeding: Bite on gauze for 10 minutes
  • 4. Apply cold compress: Outside cheek to reduce swelling
  • 5. Cover sharp edges: Use dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect mouth

Call Dentist Same Day If:

  • • Severe pain
  • • Large piece missing
  • • Nerve exposed (visible pink/red)
  • • Jagged edges cutting mouth

Can Wait 1-2 Days If:

  • • Small chip with no pain
  • • No sharp edges
  • • Cosmetic issue only
  • • No sensitivity

Severe Toothache

Pain Relief Measures

✓ Do:

  • • Rinse with warm salt water (1 tsp salt in 8 oz water)
  • • Floss gently to remove trapped food
  • • Take over-the-counter pain medication (ibuprofen or acetaminophen)
  • • Apply cold compress to outside of cheek (20 min on/off)
  • • Elevate head when lying down

✗ Don't:

  • • Place aspirin directly on tooth or gum (causes burns)
  • • Apply heat to face
  • • Ignore pain that lasts more than 1-2 days
  • • Chew on affected side

Call Dentist Immediately If:

  • • Pain is severe and not relieved by medication
  • • You have fever (sign of infection)
  • • Swelling in face, jaw, or lymph nodes
  • • Difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • • Pain from known cavity (needs filling)

Lost Filling or Crown

Lost Filling

Temporary fix: Dental cement (drugstore) or sugar-free gum to seal cavity and prevent pain

Pain management: Over-the-counter pain medication. Avoid hot/cold on that side

Urgency: Call dentist within 24-48 hours. Not usually emergency unless severe pain.

Lost Crown

Save the crown! Rinse it and try to slip it back on (use denture adhesive or toothpaste as temporary glue)

If can't reinsert: Keep crown safe and bring to dentist. Put dental wax on exposed tooth to prevent sensitivity

Urgency: Call dentist same day or next day. Tooth is vulnerable without crown.

Abscess or Infection

SERIOUS EMERGENCY

Dental abscesses can be life-threatening if infection spreads. Seek immediate care!

Signs of Abscess

  • • Severe, throbbing toothache
  • • Swelling in face, cheek, or lymph nodes
  • • Fever
  • • Pimple-like bump on gums (may ooze pus)
  • • Foul taste in mouth
  • • Sensitivity to hot/cold
  • • Difficulty swallowing or breathing

What to Do

  • 1. Call dentist immediately - Same day treatment needed
  • 2. Rinse with salt water - Multiple times daily to draw out pus
  • 3. Take pain medication - Ibuprofen for pain and inflammation
  • 4. DO NOT pop - Can spread infection
  • 5. If breathing affected - Go to ER immediately

Soft Tissue Injuries

Injuries to lips, cheeks, tongue, or gums that cause bleeding

Treatment Steps

1

Rinse mouth with salt water

2

Apply pressure with clean gauze for 15-20 minutes

3

Apply cold compress to reduce swelling

4

If bleeding doesn't stop after 15-20 minutes, go to ER

Emergency Dental Kit

Keep these items accessible for dental emergencies:

Basic Supplies

  • ✓ Dentist's phone number
  • ✓ Small container with lid
  • ✓ Sterile gauze pads
  • ✓ Dental floss
  • ✓ Small flashlight
  • ✓ Latex gloves

Pain Relief

  • ✓ Ibuprofen
  • ✓ Acetaminophen
  • ✓ Clove oil (natural pain relief)
  • ✓ Oral anesthetic gel (Orajel)
  • ✓ Ice pack

Temporary Fixes

  • ✓ Temporary dental cement
  • ✓ Dental wax
  • ✓ Sugar-free gum
  • ✓ Cotton balls
  • ✓ Denture adhesive

Cleaning

  • ✓ Salt (for rinses)
  • ✓ Hydrogen peroxide 3%
  • ✓ Clean towels/washcloths
  • ✓ Tissues
  • ✓ Hand sanitizer

Finding Emergency Dental Care

When Your Dentist is Closed

1. Call your dentist's emergency line - Most have after-hours number on voicemail

2. Search for "emergency dentist near me" - Many dental practices offer same-day emergency appointments

3. Visit urgent care - Can provide pain relief and antibiotics (not permanent fix)

4. Hospital emergency room - For life-threatening situations only (breathing problems, uncontrolled bleeding, severe infection)

Be Prepared, Stay Calm

Dental emergencies are stressful, but knowing what to do can save your tooth and reduce pain. Keep this guide handy and your dentist's contact information accessible!