Other than practicing daily oral hygiene, it can be impossible to plan for or prevent a dental emergency. For those times when a tooth is knocked out, broken, or causing you intense pain, our team of Ada, MI, emergency dentists are here to help. Most urgent oral problems are time-sensitive so it’s important that you call our Ada dental office ASAP to receive prompt care.
Urgent and Non-Urgent Dental Issues
Anytime you have elevated dental discomfort, it’s easy to think it’s an emergency. However, real dental emergencies require immediate attention to reduce severe pain, stop uncontrolled bleeding, and save teeth. For example, a severe toothache is considered an emergency because it could mean there is a dental abscess present. If not treated, an abscess can lead to serious oral and general health problems. A small crack or chip, on the other hand, is not necessarily something that needs to be solved right away. In general, we encourage patients to schedule appointments for any non-urgent dental emergencies during regular office hours.
Examples of urgent dental emergencies include:
Knocked-out tooth
Severe toothache
Broken or cracked tooth
Dental Abscess (pocket of infection in gums)
Partially dislodged tooth
Injury to the tongue, gums, lips, or cheeks that won’t stop bleeding
Examples of non-urgent dental emergencies include:
While you’re still at home, you can try a few different things depending on your dental emergency. These methods will hopefully reduce swelling, bleeding, or pain and increase the chance that your tooth will be saved when you come into our office.
For knocked-out teeth: Pick up the tooth by the crown (top), not the roots. Rinse it off with water but don’t scrub or get rid of any attached tissue. Try to place the tooth back into the socket if possible but if not, put it between your cheek and gum or submerge it in a glass of milk to avoid it drying out.
For severe toothaches: Rinse out your mouth with warm water and gently floss to remove any food that may be trapped. Place a cold compress (with a towel wrapped around it) on the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling. Take over-the-counter pain relievers as needed.
For broken teeth: Find and save any pieces of tooth. Rinse out your mouth (and any pieces of tooth) with warm water. If there’s bleeding, apply gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until bleeding stops. Place a cold compress against the mouth, cheek, or lips near the tooth to limit swelling and reduce pain.
