At the moment an emergency pops up, it can be difficult to tell whether you need care right away or can wait until your dentist’s regular hours. We recommend consulting with your regular dentist before an emergency arises so you are prepared. Quick treatment could be the difference between a quick fix and a drawn-out recovery.
Some common injuries are cracked, broken, or knocked-out teeth. Several factors like location and severity will determine if you need to see a dentist immediately for your injury or if you can wait until normal hours. Severe cracks, missing teeth, or nerve damage, on the other hand, require immediate care.
With a knocked-out tooth, it is important to keep it moist until the dentist can see you. Try to reinsert the tooth into the socket and hold it there without touching the root. If not, placing the tooth between your teeth and cheek or in milk will do. Rinse your mouth with warm water to clear it out if you’ve chipped or fractured a tooth.
If you bite your tongue or lip and the bleeding is uncontrolled or excessive, call your dentist immediately.