Dental emergencies are stressful precisely because they are unfamiliar. A short mental checklist keeps a bad moment from becoming a permanent loss. Call us as soon as it is safe to do so.
A knocked-out permanent tooth
Handle the tooth by the crown, never the root. Rinse gently with milk or saline if it is dirty — do not scrub. If possible, place it back into the socket and bite on gauze. If not, transport it in milk or the patient's own saliva. Reimplantation success drops sharply after the first hour.
Severe toothache or swelling
Rinse with warm salt water and use a cold compress on the outside of the face. Facial swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing or breathing indicates a spreading infection and requires immediate care — an emergency room if you cannot reach a dentist right away.
Cracked teeth, lost crowns and fillings
These are urgent but usually manageable for a short time.
- Rinse and save any fragments you can find
- Cover a sharp edge with orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum
- Avoid chewing on that side entirely
- Never use household glue to reseat a crown
Preventing the next one
A custom mouthguard for sports, a nightguard for grinding, and prompt treatment of small cracks prevent a large share of the emergencies we see.
Talk it through with us
Educational articles can only go so far. For advice specific to your mouth, request an appointment on our contact page or read about becoming a new patient at Royal Dental Coral Springs.