Dental emergencies can happen to anyone at any time, and can range from the relatively minor, such as a chipped tooth, to something much more serious, such as a broken or knocked-out tooth. It is very important that you know what to do when you have a dental emergency.

One first step you can take right now to help deal with any possible future dental emergency is to make sure that you have Dr. Ward’s contact information. Emergencies never happen when it is convenient, nor do they follow a strict 9-to-5, weekday schedule. Having this information now can save you enormous stress in the future.

With that out of the way, here are a few quick tips to help deal with the most common dental emergencies:

Tooth knocked out:

A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency that requires immediate attention.

• First, pick up the tooth by the crown (never touch the root if possible.)
• Carefully, gently rinse the tooth with cool water. Do not scrub or brush the tooth – the attached root is extremely delicate.
• If possible, place the tooth back in the socket and hold it in place while gently biting down. If you are unable to put it back in the socket, place it in a small container filled with milk.
• Call Dr. Ward immediately so that she can attempt to re-implant the tooth into the socket. This ideally should be done within 30 minutes of the tooth being knocked out. The likelihood of the tooth being successfully re-implanted decreases the longer the process is delayed.

Loose tooth or tooth knocked out of alignment:

A loose or forcefully misaligned tooth is a dental emergency that requires immediate attention

• If the tooth is loose, call Dr. Ward immediately for an urgent appointment.
• If the tooth is knocked out of alignment, try to gently re-align it with the neighboring teeth using very minimal force, then call Dr. Ward for an urgent appointment.

A chipped tooth: depending on severity, not necessarily in need of urgent dental care but may require an appointment to address.

• If the tooth is chipped and does not hurt, it should not require immediate dental care.
• If it is a large or noticeable chip, or causes discomfort, you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Ward. She may be able to smooth it out or add filler material to correct the edge or contour of the chipped tooth.

A cracked or broken tooth:

A cracked or broken tooth may have considerable internal damage and is a dental emergency that requires immediate attention.

• Rinse your mouth with warm water,.
• Apply a cold compress to the area to reduce swelling if the damage was caused by trauma to the face or head such as falling or being hit in the face.
• Take a non-aspirin pain reliever, such as acetaminophen, for pain relief.
• Call Dr. Ward immediately for an emergency appointment.

Ask Dr. Ward for more information on how to deal with any dental emergencies not covered here.