Dental Emergencies

A chipped or broken tooth occurs when a part of the tooth is fractured or lost. Even though this happens mostly after biting on food, there is often an underlying long term cause to tooth fracture. Common long term risk factors for tooth fracture include: clenching habit, existing dental decay, or compromised restorations. Common symptoms related to a chipped or broken tooth include sharp edges rough to the tongue or lips, mild to severe temperature sensitivity, pain on chewing or tapping, and aesthetic concerns.

Chipped or broken tooth is considered a dental emergency that should be addressed within 1-2 weeks. If the tooth is highly sensitive or potentially infected, it should be addressed in the next 2-3 days.

A lost filling or crown happens when a dental restoration detaches from the tooth, often due to decay, trauma, or normal wear and tear. This can leave the underlying tooth vulnerable to damage, sensitivity, and infection. Common symptoms to lost filling or crown include sensitivity on chewing, brushing or flossing, gum bleeding, rough edges, mild to severe temperature sensitivity, pain on chewing or tapping, and aesthetic concerns.

A lost filling or crown is considered a dental emergency that should be addressed within 1-2 weeks. If the tooth is highly sensitive or potentially infected, it should be addressed in the next 2-3 days.

A sudden toothache is a sharp, intense pain that can arise unexpectedly, often due to underlying issues such as decay, infection, or a cracked tooth. While not always an emergency, a severe toothache warrants prompt dental attention. Persistent or severe pain, swelling, fever, or signs of infection like a bad taste in the mouth indicate the need for immediate care. Early intervention can diagnose the cause, relieve pain, and prevent complications. Ignoring a sudden toothache may lead to worsening conditions, requiring more extensive treatment. Seeking timely dental care ensures proper diagnosis and appropriate management of the issue.

A dental abscess is an infection in the tooth or surrounding tissues, often resulting from untreated tooth decay, gum disease, or trauma. It forms a pocket of pus, causing pain, swelling, and redness in the affected area. Facial swelling occurs when the infection spreads beyond the tooth, leading to swelling of the face. This condition can be serious and requires prompt attention. Antibiotics should be prescribed and taken immediately. If the swelling progresses quickly, IV antibiotics may be needed from a hospital emergency department. Once the swelling is controlled, addressing the underlying cause of the abscess, often through extraction of the problematic tooth, is necessary.

Discomfort after dental procedures is common, as patients may have their mouths open for extended periods, receive dental anesthesia, and undergo various treatments.

If you have recently had restorative work, such as fillings, root canals, crowns, veneers, or bridges, and notice that your bite feels slightly off, please contact us as soon as possible. While this is not an emergency, a persistent bite discrepancy can lead to damage to the tooth or adjacent teeth, as well as affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

If you have recently undergone surgical procedures such as dental extraction, implant fixture placement, bone graft, sinus lift, or soft tissue graft, moderate pain, swelling, bruising, or slight bleeding is normal. However, if you experience excessive bleeding, worsening facial swelling, or a fever, please contact us immediately. For rapidly progressing facial swelling, difficulty swallowing, or difficulty breathing, please call 911.

If you develop a stiff jaw with limited opening after a dental procedure, it may be due to the epinephrine in the dental anesthetic causing muscle spasms. To alleviate this, massage the jaw muscles, apply a hot pack intermittently for 20 minutes, 4-6 times a day, for 3-5 days, and gently exercise your jaw to regain motion. If this situation does not improve in 2 weeks please make sure to contact us.

Broken braces or wires occur when brackets or archwires become damaged or dislodged, often due to eating hard or sticky foods, accidental trauma, or wear over time. Although not typically an emergency, if a broken wire pokes into soft tissue, it can cause pain, injury, and difficulty eating or speaking. If you have orthodontic wax at home, use it to cover the offending wire. Contact us if you experience severe discomfort or if the issue persists.

Soft tissue injuries in the mouth, such as cuts, tears, or burns on the gums, cheeks, lips, or tongue, are concerning but not always immediate dental emergencies. Examples include lacerations from sharp foods or dental appliances, burns from hot foods or drinks, and punctures from accidental trauma. While minor injuries can often be managed with proper oral hygiene and warm salt water rinses over 3-5 days, we are happy to examine the area to ensure proper healing.

However, if you experience excessive bleeding, severe pain, rapidly progressing swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or a fever, seek immediate care at a hospital emergency room or call 911.

Facial accidents or dental trauma become a dental emergency when they involve significant damage to the teeth, gums, or supporting structures, or when they cause severe pain or functional impairment. Immediate attention is necessary to prevent long-term damage and manage pain effectively.

If a tooth becomes mobile due to trauma, act quickly to minimize further damage. Avoid touching or wiggling the tooth, as this can exacerbate the issue. Rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water to keep the area clean and avoid chewing or clenching on the affected side. If needed, keep your mouth open to prevent contact with the mobile tooth.

Trauma induced tooth mobility is a dental emergency. Please contact us immediately, we will attempt to see you as soon as possible to stablize the tooth and address any other related damages.

Facial accidents or dental trauma become a dental emergency when they involve significant damage to the teeth, gums, or supporting structures, or when they cause severe pain or functional impairment. Immediate attention is necessary to prevent long-term damage and manage pain effectively.

If a tooth is displaced due to a facial accident or dental trauma, immediate action is crucial. Avoid touching or wiggling the displaced tooth to prevent further damage. Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water to keep the area clean, and apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze if there is bleeding. Refrain from chewing on the affected side to minimize stress on the tooth. If feasible, gently reposition the tooth into its original place and stabilize it with a clean cloth or gauze until you receive professional care.

Trauma induced tooth discplacement is a dental emergency. Please contact us immediately, we will attempt to see you as soon as possible to reposition and stablize the tooth, as well as to address any other related damages.

Facial accidents or dental trauma become a dental emergency when they involve significant damage to the teeth, gums, or supporting structures, or when they cause severe pain or functional impairment. Immediate attention is necessary to prevent long-term damage and manage pain effectively.

Knocked-Out Tooth: A tooth that has been completely displaced from its socket requires immediate attention to maximize the chances of saving it. First, identify if this is a baby tooth or adult tooth (as baby teeth should never be re-implanted when lost). If an adult tooth is knocked out, reimplanting it within 30 minutes gives a reasonable chance of retaining the tooth. Rinse the tooth gently with saliva or milk, avoid touching the root, and keep it moist by placing it in your mouth or a container with milk.

A trauma-induced knocked-out adult tooth is a dental emergency. Please contact us immediately, we will attempt to see you as soon as possible to stablize the tooth and address any other related damages.

Soft tissue lacerations from facial accidents or dental trauma involve cuts or tears in the gums, lips, cheeks, or tongue. While minor lacerations often heal on their own, larger cuts with excessive bleeding need urgent medical care. For major soft tissue injuries in the lips, face, cheeks and tongue, immediately place gauze to apply pressure and stop the bleeding. Head to the hospital emergency room, as ER doctors are best trained to manage such lacerations. After contact us for follow-up care and to manage any remaining dental issues.