What would you need emergency dental care for?

The most common dental emergencies occur when injuries to the mouth result in teeth that are knocked out, loosened, fractured or forced out of position. Painful cuts to gums, lips or cheeks during an injury should be treated by your dentist, too. Some non-emergency situations, such as toothache or objects caught between the teeth, are serious enough to warrant a call to the dentist as well.

How soon should I see a dentist after an injury?

Contact your emergency dentist immediately. Getting to an emergency dentist within 30 minutes can make the difference between saving and losing a tooth. An emergency tooth extraction may need to be performed right away, too.

Is there something I can do before I see the emergency dentist?

Depending on the type of emergency, there may be care you can apply right away before you come in. Information on this is outlined above.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Follow these tips to help your child avoid dental emergencies:

• Childproof your house to help prevent falls
• Don’t let your child chew on ice, popcorn kernels or other hard foods
• Always use car seats for young children and require seat belts for older children
• If your child plays contact sports, insist that he or she wear a mouth guard; ask us about creating a custom-fitted mouth guard for your child
• Prevent toothaches with regular brushing, flossing and visits to our office

Preparing for Dental Emergencies

It’s a good idea to prepare for dental emergencies ahead of time by creating a dental-care kit. Your kit should contain these items:

• Your dentist’s regular and emergency phone numbers
• Clean handkerchief or gauze
• Small container with lid (for storing a tooth that has been knocked out)
• Ibuprofen (not aspirin)