Emergency Dental Care

True dental emergencies – the kind that definitely shouldn’t wait until tomorrow or next week – include knocked-out or dislodged teeth, severe toothaches, and abscesses or infections causing swelling or fever.

You should also seek immediate emergency care if you have soft tissue injuries including deep cuts to the tongue, gums, or cheeks, or bleeding that won’t stop. If bleeding is severe, or will not stop, skip the dentist and go straight to an emergency room.

In some cases, broken or chipped teeth, as well as loose or broken crowns and fillings, may also be emergencies. If you don’t have severe pain or sensitivity, broken teeth or dental restorations can often wait a couple of days until you can make an appointment. Waiting a day or two usually will not negatively impact the broken tooth. 

If you have a severe toothache that is throbbing, keeping you awake at night, or making it painful to chew, you should definitely call us (or send us a message) so we can see you as soon as possible. Usually, this is from pressure buildup or inflamed nerve tissue inside or around the tooth.  Either way, early intervention is key. Do not wait to see if the pain will go away on its own. There could be an underlying infection that requires immediate attention.

No, it is not safe to wait if you have swelling or signs of infection. Facial swelling, especially above and/or below the jawline, is often a sign of a serious dental infection or abscess. Dental infections can progress quickly if untreated and lead to life-threatening complications including sepsis if left untreated. If you notice facial swelling or fever with associated dental pain, contact a dentist immediately. If you are having difficulty breathing or difficulty swallowing, call 911 or seek immediate emergency care.

If you think you have a dental abscess, call us immediately. In the meantime, you can:

• Rinse with warm salt water several times a day.
• Take over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage pain. Consult your physician or dentist if you’re not sure if you can take over the counter pain medication. 
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek near the affected area to reduce swelling and discomfort.
• Avoid chewing on the affected side to prevent further irritation.

It’s important to remember that while these methods can offer temporary relief, they are not a substitute for professional dental care. A dental abscess requires prompt attention, and delaying treatment could lead to serious complications.

If your tooth gets knocked out, quick action is essential! Minutes matter. Call us immediately so we can arrange to meet you at our office as soon a possible.

Next, handle the tooth carefully. Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white part) and avoid touching the root which can cause damage. You can gently rinse the tooth very briefly with water (no soap) to remove any large pieces of dirt or debris. Do not scrub, wash, or remove any attached tissue fragments.

If possible, you should try to reinsert the tooth – gently place the tooth back into its socket, making sure it’s facing the right way. Hold it in place by biting down gently on a clean cloth or gauze. 

If you can’t reinsert it, it’s important to keep the tooth moist. The most ideal place is actually in your mouth – either in your cheek or under your tongue –  but be very careful not to swallow it. You can also use a cup of milk, but avoid using water, as it can damage the root.

If your tooth (or teeth) are still attached but have been dislodged or are pushed in, do your best to straighten them into the correct position and contact us immediately. 

Dr. O’Donnell will see you as soon as possible to try to stabilize the teeth in the correct position to give them the best chance to recover!

A chipped tooth is generally not an emergency as long as the chip is small, and not sharp or cutting your cheeks or tongue. Waiting a few days or weeks to see us is usually not an issue, you should definitely make an appointment to have your tooth checked out. Sometimes chipped teeth simply be smoothed, or they can be repaired with something like fillings or crowns. 

If fixing a chipped tooth a priority to you because it is an esthetic concern, we can usually see you the same day.

A cracked tooth, especially a molar, is more urgent than a chipped tooth. Even if it doesn’t hurt right away, there is often an underlying issue that should be addressed before it becomes painful or infected. 

If you have a loose filling or missing filling, you will need to have it replaced as soon as possible. Call us to schedule an appointment within a few days. The reason it is important to replace broken fillings is because food and bacteria can get trapped under loose fillings or in a space where a filling is missing and cause a cavity or make an existing cavity worse. Make sure you’re doing a thorough job keeping the area clean (with brushing and flossing or a waterpik) until you can have the filling replaced.

If you have a crown that is loose or has fallen out, we may be able to re-cement it, as long as the tooth underneath is not decayed and the crown is intact. Re-cementing a crown is usually a quick, painless procedure. Don’t delay calling for an appointment – loose crowns trap bacteria, and they can also come off unexpectedly. If you bite into your crown and break it, or accidentally swallow it, you will likely need to have a new crown made.

Even if a crown has come off and you aren’t having sensitivity, it is important to call us to schedule an appointment to have it re-cemented as soon as possible. When a crown is missing your teeth can start to shift, even within a few days, and the crown may not fit if you wait too long.

If you break a tooth, you should see your dentist as soon as possible. Your teeth cannot repair themselves, and waiting to address the issue will only allow the problem to get worse, which can lead to needing more extensive and expensive treatment. If it is not hurting, you should be seen for the broken tooth within a week (ideally sooner) of it breaking. 

In most cases, visiting the emergency room for most typical dental issues is not effective. Exceptions include severe bleeding, bleeding that will not stop, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, or swelling that migrates below the jawline. If you experience any of these issues, an emergency room is preferred because they can be life-threatening and can escalate quickly.

Generally, ER doctors are not trained in most types of dental care and, in most cases, won’t be able to perform procedures or take the necessary dental x-rays to diagnose or treat dental problems. 

Typically, an ER visit may result in a prescription for antibiotics or pain medication, which only offers temporary relief. While antibiotics can help control an infection, they won’t fix the source of the infection or underlying dental issue. You’ll still need to see a dentist to address the root cause.

Once again, if your emergency involves soft tissue injuries or trauma to the head, face, or around the mouth, such as deep cuts to the lips or tongue, the ER may be appropriate. Severe bleeding, cuts that are longer than a half-inch, or injuries requiring stitches should be treated by a medical professional right away. If you do chose to go to an ER, please make sure to inform our office.

Like an ER, urgent care centers are usually not equipped to handle most dental emergencies. While they can provide temporary relief by prescribing pain medication or antibiotics for infections, they rarely have the correct x-ray equipment or dental expertise to treat the underlying issue.

However, if you have a soft tissue injury, like cuts to the lips or tongue, urgent care can help with stitches or stopping bleeding.

For dental emergencies, it’s best to contact a dentist as soon as possible.

You should never ignore a toothache, but there are things you can do at home to help if you can’t see a dentist right away.

Start by using floss to try to remove any food particles or debris stuck between your teeth that could be causing the pain. You can also rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to clean the area and help reduce inflammation.

Over the counter pain medications including ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be used temporarily to manage discomfort.

Almost all dental insurance policies will cover some portion of emergency care. When you visit us for an emergency, we will typically perform a limited problem-focused exam and take diagnostic X-rays and photos. Once we have identified the issue, we can discuss your treatment options and go over the costs and your dental benefits.

Yes! Dental insurance is never required to have treatment in our office. We will always be transparent about our fees, and discuss all of your options including the cost of care.

Many dental emergencies can be avoided with routine care and good oral hygiene. If you see your dentist regularly, problems can be detected and treated early, before the issue progresses and becomes painful. 

If you play sports or do other high risk activities, we recommend wearing a mouthguard to protect your teeth. We also recommend night guards to reduce the wear and tear from clenching and grinding at night.