If you have a life-threatening emergency such as uncontrolled bleeding, a jaw fracture or swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
What to do right now
- Knocked-out tooth: hold it by the crown, rinse gently without scrubbing, and place it back in the socket or in a cup of milk. Call us immediately; a tooth replanted within an hour has the best chance of survival.
- Broken or chipped tooth: rinse with warm water, save any pieces, and apply a cold compress for swelling.
- Toothache: rinse with warm salt water and floss gently to remove anything lodged between teeth. Take over-the-counter pain medication as directed. Do not place aspirin on the gum.
- Lost crown or filling: keep the crown and call us. Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can protect the tooth until your visit.
- Swelling or abscess: call us the same day. An infection can spread and should not wait.
- Soft tissue injury: apply gentle pressure with clean gauze. If bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes, seek emergency care.
How we handle emergencies
When you call, we will ask a few questions to understand what is happening and fit you into the schedule as quickly as possible. At your visit we focus first on relieving pain and stabilizing the tooth. Digital X-rays and our cone beam 3D scanner let us diagnose the problem accurately, and we will explain your options for definitive treatment, whether that is a filling, crown, root canal or extraction.
Preventing the next one
Many emergencies are the end of a problem that started months earlier. Regular exams let us catch cracks, decay and failing restorations before they become urgent. If you play sports, a custom mouth guard is the best insurance against a broken tooth.
Common questions
Do you accept new patients for emergencies?
Yes. You do not need to be an existing patient to call us with an emergency.
Does insurance cover emergency visits?
Most dental plans cover emergency exams and X-rays, and treatment is covered according to your plan. We are a Delta Dental preferred provider and work with most PPO plans.
