Emergency Care
If you think it’s a dental emergency, we do too. Call our office and we will make every effort to see you the same day. In the meantime, there are some things you can do until you get to our office.
Toothache
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, call our office so we can make an appointment for Dr. Mead to evaluate the source of the pain.
Broken Tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. Call our office right away.
Cracked Tooth
You might have a cracked tooth if you experience sharp pain when chewing but not every time you chew. You may also experience cold sensitivity, suggesting a deeper crack. If left untreated, cracked teeth can split and break, often in ways that cannot be repaired and lead to complete loss of the tooth. If you think you are having symptoms of a cracked tooth, you should have it evaluated sooner rather than later.
Jaw-Possibly Broken
Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Contact Dr. Mead right away so he that he can properly refer you to an oral surgeon or a hospital emergency department.
Knocked Out Tooth
If the tooth is completely knocked out, pick the tooth up by the crown – not by the root, as handling the root may damage the cells necessary for bone reattachment and hinder the replant. If the root is dirty, gently rinse it off with water. Do not scrub or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If the tooth cannot be replaced in its socket, do not let the tooth dry out. Place it in a container with a lid and use cold low-fat milk, saline solution, or saliva. Get to the dentist as soon as possible – the longer the tooth is out of the mouth, the less likely the tooth will be able to be saved. Remember to take the tooth with you!
Knocked Loose or Displaced Tooth
If you experience trauma that knocks a tooth loose or displaced a tooth, push it back into its original position and bite down so the tooth does not move. Call our office right away. Dr. Mead will want to see you as soon as possible to make sure the tooth is repositioned and secured so that it can heal properly.
Bitten Lip or Tongue
Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce any swelling. Sometimes applying sterile gauze or a teabag with pressure can help to stop any bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.
Objects Caught Between Teeth
Try to gently remove the object with dental floss; avoid cutting the gums. Our favorite trick is to tie a single knot in the middle of the dental floss and gently slide the knot between the teeth. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, give us a call.