An unexpected event that causes sudden pain, requires immediate care, and impacts the oral cavity. A dental emergency could very well happen on a normal day, and you are left with a frantic search for help until you finally get some relief from the pain. Whether it is an unexpected, throbbing toothache that shows up out of nowhere, a lost filling that leaves a gaping hole, or maybe a sudden knock-out of one of your teeth after a nasty fall, what you do in the moment can make a huge difference.

At first, you might panic, but staying calm and taking informed actions can help avoid losing a tooth. It will also help you prevent a minor issue from becoming serious. This guide will help you learn the practical steps to take in a dental emergency.

Common Dental Emergencies and Specific First-Aid Actions

Certain dental emergencies require specific first-aid steps to maximize the outcome. Let us look at each of them:

  1. Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth, or an avulsed tooth as it is known medically, is one of the most time-sensitive dental emergencies. The chances of a successful re-implantation diminish a lot with every passing minute. Do not rinse using regular tap water due to the damage to the root surface cells caused by osmotic pressure. Your actions can make the difference between saving and losing your natural tooth.

The very first rule when it comes to a knocked-out tooth is to only handle it by the crown or white chewing part of the tooth. You must never touch or scrub the root portion. The root surface has fine fibers and cells important for re-attachment to the jawbone. Any contact or scrubbing of these cells damages the entire fiber.

If the tooth has dirt on it, gently rinse it with milk or saline solution, like contact lens solution, for 10 seconds. Do not rinse with regular tap water. This can damage the root’s delicate cells. The cells on the root surface are sensitive to osmotic pressure changes and can be injured due to water. Moreover, do not wash, dry, or wrap the tooth in tissue.

After a light rinse, the ideal next step is to gently insert the tooth back into the socket. Make sure to put the tooth back into position properly. Once it is in place, you can bite down on gauze, a clean cloth, or even your finger to hold it there. If you cannot put the tooth back in or are too uncomfortable, as it hurts or upsets your child, the tooth needs to stay moist. Use an appropriate storage medium to keep the tooth moist. If readily available, the best option is a special tooth preservation kit like Hank's Balanced Salt Solution. If not, then milk is the best option for storage. Milk has a compatible pH and good nutritional properties for the root cells. Without milk, you can spit into a clean container and place your tooth in your saliva instead.

As a last resort, you can keep your tooth inside your cheek. However, there is a chance of accidentally swallowing.

Regardless of whether you can reposition the tooth, you must visit an emergency dentist immediately. The earlier you seek professional help, the more likely your tooth will be reattached and complications prevented.

  1. A Chipped, Cracked, or Fractured Tooth

A tooth that chips, cracks, or fractures can be anything from a minor cosmetic issue to a painful emergency that exposes the sensitive interior of a tooth. No matter how bad it is, ensure you protect the tooth from further damage and deal with any discomfort you may feel until you seek dental help.

Your first step should always be gently rinse your mouth with warm water. This will help to clean the area and could even dislodge small fragments of the tooth or pieces of food stuck in the crack or chip.

As soon as you notice any swelling around the tooth or jaw, apply a cold compress right away to the outside of your cheek or jaw in the area of the injury. The application helps numb the area and decrease inflammation, relieving pain. Apply orthodontic wax to any jagged edges or sharp spots from the broken tooth that could cut your tongue, cheek, or lip. If you do not have dental wax, press a piece of sugar-free chewing gum against the sharp edge to serve as a temporary fix. Make sure to gather the broken pieces of the tooth (if any) because your dentist can reattach the pieces, or it will help them understand the extent of the damage.

To avoid further damage or irritation to your compromised tooth, refrain from chewing on that side of your mouth. Stick to soft foods that require minimal chewing, and be extra mindful when eating.

You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve pain or sensitivity. The urgency of seeing a dentist will depend on the severity of the damage. If you have a small, painless chip, you can wait a day or two for a dental appointment. However, a large fracture, especially one that causes you significant pain, causes sensitivity or exposes the inner pulp of the tooth. This will need dental work so they don’t get an infection, ease pain, or stop further damaging the tooth's structural integrity.

  1. Severe Toothache or Dental Abscess

An intense, chronic, throbbing toothache is often a strong sign of a serious dental issue, usually caused by a deep infection or significant nerve inflammation. If you are experiencing this severe pain along with other symptoms like swelling in your face or jaw, fever, a bad taste with constant chewing, and a small pimple on the gums (fistula), you might have a dental abscess. A dental or tooth abscess is a serious infection that does not resolve independently. It can spread to other body parts, causing far worse health problems.

While waiting to see the dentist, you may enjoy temporary relief by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water. This solution can assist in washing the area, reducing bacteria, and decreasing some inflammation. Very gently, floss the area around the sore spot to dislodge any food particles that may be irritating. You might want to try a nonprescription pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate the discomfort, but here is an important warning: Never take aspirin on your gums or up against the aching tooth. Aspirin is acidic and can cause a chemical burn to the delicate gum tissue, adding to your pain and problems.

Whatever you do, do not try to pop it, drain it, or treat it yourself. You could spread more bacteria to other places in your body, including the jawbone, bloodstream, or brain, causing more serious and life-threatening complications. You have a critical warning sign that you have a dental abscess if you have symptoms like:

  • A constant
  • Throbbing pain
  • Swelling around your face or jaw
  • Fever or chills
  • Pus discharge or
  • A persistent foul taste in the mouth

If you suspect an abscess, you must see a dentist urgently. This sort of infection needs expert treatment. This could involve:

  • Drainage of the pus
  • Root canal therapy to remove the infected pulp
  • Extraction of the tooth, or
  • A combination of these methods

Antibiotics are frequently given to help with treatment, but drainage or dental work will be needed for resolution. If you postpone treatment for an abscess, it may cause severe and widespread problems.

  1. Lost Filling or Crown

Losing a dental filling or a crown can be alarming. It often exposes the sensitive inner part of your tooth. This can lead to immediate discomfort or pain. The steps you take after this will help prevent damage to the tooth and help with sensitivity till you can see a dentist. If a crown comes off, the first and most crucial action is to keep it safe and try not to step on or damage it further. Carefully clean the crown, avoiding scrubbing and harsh chemicals.

You could re-seat it temporarily if the crown is intact and looks clean. Temporary dental cement or adhesive is available to purchase from most pharmacies, and these products are made specifically for this purpose and include instructions.

In a genuine emergency, you can use a little toothpaste or denture glue just to have a temporary hold of your crown. It should not be permanent. However, remember that this is not an ideal solution, and it will only hold the crown until you visit the dentist. The cavity exposed by the lost filling is often sensitive to temperature changes and pressure. You can place a small piece of sugar-free chewing gum firmly in the cavity to temporarily cover the exposed area or use a temporary filling you can buy at the pharmacy.

If you lose a filling or crown, do not chew on that tooth to prevent further damage, fracture, or pain. Consume only soft food and chew on the other side of the mouth. Reach out to your dentist as soon as possible to explain the situation and schedule an appointment for a proper repair or re-cementing.

  1. Soft tissue injuries

Injuries to the soft tissues, like lips, tongue, cheeks, and gums, are common. These can bleed a lot due to the rich blood supply to these areas. When you sustain these injuries, your primary focus should be stopping the bleeding and reducing swelling.

Gently rinse your mouth with warm saltwater (a teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water). It helps to cleanse the wound and also provides some relief. You can also use an antiseptic mouthwash if you have one around. As long as it does not sting too much, it is fine. However, usually, warm salt water is sufficient and less irritating.

The best way to stop any bleeding in soft tissue injuries is to apply direct, firm pressure to the injury. Use a clean piece of gauze, a clean cloth, or a moistened tea bag. The tannic acid in tea helps with clotting. Apply constant pressure for 10 to 15 minutes without lifting your fingers off to determine if the bleeding has stopped. Repeated lifting will prevent the clot from forming. If you experience swelling, cover the affected area of your mouth or face with a cold compress. This helps to narrow blood vessels and reduce swelling and bruising.

If the bleeding does not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of consistent, firm pressure, or if the cut is deep, gaping, or looks like a bad cut (laceration), see a dentist or doctor immediately. Sometimes, stitches will be required to close the cut and allow it to heal or for further inspection for more serious injuries. If bleeding is stopped, a deep cut on the inside of the mouth should be seen by a professional to prevent infection.

  1. Orthodontic Emergencies (Broken Wires, Loose Brackets)

Even though orthodontic emergencies are not life-threatening, they can be pretty uncomfortable, irritating your mouth, and affecting your treatment. Common issues include poking wires, loose brackets, or broken bands.

If a wire is poking your cheek, gum, or tongue, avoid cutting it yourself. It can be dangerous and may cause injury or swallowing the wire piece. Instead, try to gently push the poking wire back into place away from the irritated tissue. You can do this with a pencil or cotton swab eraser end. If moving the wire is impossible, try to cover the sharp end with a piece of orthodontic wax (your orthodontist likely gave you some), a cotton ball, or a piece of sugar-free chewing gum.

If the loose bracket is still attached to the wire and not giving you discomfort or irritation, you can often leave it until your next appointment. However, if it bothers you, use orthodontic wax to stop it from rubbing against your mouth. If the bracket has completely come off the wire, please keep it safe and bring it to the next appointment.

Whether it is a wire that is poking you or a loose bracket, it is best to call your orthodontist’s office. Orthodontists can offer practical suggestions based on your unique circumstances. They can also schedule an emergency appointment to fix your braces and help make your ongoing treatment easier and more comfortable.

How to Secure Quick Emergency Dental Care

When a dental emergency happens, call your dentist’s office. Even if the office is closed, the voicemail system or office site usually will state what you should do in an emergency, giving you an emergency contact number or the name of a dental service or dentist to handle emergencies. Your dentist has your full dental history and can greatly help in an emergency.

If you cannot see your dentist immediately, you should quickly search online. To generate the best results, make sure you use accurate search terms like “emergency dentist [your city or area]” or “24-hour emergency dentist near me.

Hospital emergency rooms can provide medical stabilization and pain control in a case of severe damage to the teeth or bone, or in an emergency, dental office access for management of grave pain caused by an invasive dental infection that spreads quickly. Most of the time, these medical doctors can direct you to an oral surgeon or dentist afterward.

When you call an emergency dental office, explain your situation clearly and concisely. State your full name and contact information clearly. Please explain your emergency. Please indicate when this injury happened or when your symptoms began. Furthermore, accurately describe your current level of pain. For example, 1 is mild pain, and 10 is severe pain. Also, include what first aid you have done already. Before ending the call, ask if they have availability for an immediate appointment, roughly how much the emergency visit costs, and what insurance they accept.

What to Expect During an Emergency Dentist Visit

Once you reach an emergency dentist, your visit will focus on helping to ease your pain and stabilizing your condition. Emergency dentists are trained to deal with various acute conditions and help patients, prioritizing the comfort of patients and the condition of their oral health. The dental team will initially conduct a quick and thorough assessment and diagnosis. This often requires X-ray imaging to visualize the problem. For example, a fractured root, deep infection, or impacted tooth may lie beneath the gum.

The primary purpose of visiting a dentist in the case of an emergency is to relieve urgent pain and fix the crucial issue that brought you in. This means your dentist will stop any bleeding, minimize swelling, and remove the cause of your intense pain. During your visit, the dentists could carry out one or more of these procedures to help with your emergency, including:

  • Placing temporary fillings for lost fillings or restorations
  • Initiating a root canal for a severely infected tooth pulp
  • Removing a tooth if it cannot be saved, and it is hurting or infected terribly
  • Re-implanting knocked-out teeth if possible, and
  • Suturing soft tissue cuts

The dentist could give you antibiotics to fight infection or stronger pain medication for severe discomfort.

During an urgent dental visit, the focus is on short-term stabilization, not long-term treatments. Usually, the objective is not to relieve your pain but to prevent it from worsening. This will require a second trip to the dentist, where you can receive lasting and complete treatment like a permanent crown, complete root canal, or restorative work.

Find an Emergency Dentist Near Me

Dealing with a dental emergency is never an easy task. However, knowing the signs, taking the proper first aid steps, and knowing how to contact them quickly can give you a better fighting chance. When prepared, a challenging situation can become manageable, protecting your teeth and minimizing the pain.

We understand that dental emergencies can often happen without warning. If you have a dental emergency in Fullerton, contact the Tayani Dental Group at 949-741-0795 for emergency dental care.