Treating Dental Emergencies

Many dental injuries need immediate attention. The following guidelines can help you effectively deal with a dental emergency:

Broken tooth or filling. Rinse the mouth with warm water to keep the area clean. If swelling occurs, cold compresses on the face may help. Many pharmacies offer material to temporarily fill the space created by the broken tooth or filling; however, this material may be harmful if left in place too long, so it's important to contact a dentist immediately.

Knocked out tooth. Hold the tooth by the crown making sure to rinse the root of the tooth in water if it is dirty. Do not scrub the tooth or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently replant the tooth back into the socket or place it in the space between your teeth and gums. If those options are not possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk, water, or wrap the tooth in a saline-soaked gauze. It's important not to let the tooth dry out. Get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Reimplantation within 30 minutes has the best rate of success.

Bitten tongue or lip. Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to keep the swelling down. If bleeding is excessive or does not stop in a short period of time, go to the dentist or a hospital emergency department. There are some over the counter remedies available at pharmacies to ease discomfort.

Toothache. Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the tooth. Use dental floss to remove any food that may be trapped between the teeth. See a dentist as soon as possible. Taking aspirin, Ibuprofen, or other over the counter pain medications may help ease pain.

Object caught between the teeth. Gently try and remove the object with dental floss. If that does not work, contact a dentist. Do not try to remove the object with a sharp or pointed instrument.

Possible broken jaw. Apply a cold compress to control the swelling. Immediately go to the hospital emergency room.

To avoid dental injuries, routine precautions recommended by the Massachusetts Dental Society include: not chewing ice, popcorn kernels, or hard candy—all of which are known to crack teeth. To prevent getting anything caught between your teeth, do not cut or rip things, such as tape or sealed packages, with your teeth. And to avoid risk of injury to your teeth, lips, and tongue, always wear a mouthguard when participating in contact sports.

Read In the Event of a Dental Emergency—An MDS Word of Mouth article.