Oh no! A dental emergency! Here's what to do!
Knocked out baby tooth.
Even though baby teeth are going to fall out eventually, you should contact us to have a look. Save the tooth if you can, do NOT put it back in the socket. We'll want to evaluate the status of the adult tooth underneath.
Knocked out adult (permanent) tooth.
Put it back in! ASAP! Do not scrub it or remove any of the bits attached. Hold it by the crown and put it back in the socket, making sure it's facing the right way. Time is of the essence, so put it back in, keep gentle pressure to keep in in place and then call us. If you can't get it back in, keep the tooth moist in a container of saliva (from the person the tooth came out of), milk or at least water. Then get to us as soon as you can.
Broken or chipped tooth.
Rinse with warm water to clean the area. If you have the broken piece, keep it moist in a wet paper towel. Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. Call us as soon as possible, and bring the broken piece with you.
A toothache.
Rinse with warm water and try to keep it clean. You can take good old ibuprofen according to the package directions (as long as you're not allergic). That works well for toothaches. Do not put anything directly on the tooth or gums. If there's swelling or fever, you should contact the emergency room. Otherwise, contact us as soon as possible.
Even though baby teeth are going to fall out eventually, you should contact us to have a look. Save the tooth if you can, do NOT put it back in the socket. We'll want to evaluate the status of the adult tooth underneath.
Knocked out adult (permanent) tooth.
Put it back in! ASAP! Do not scrub it or remove any of the bits attached. Hold it by the crown and put it back in the socket, making sure it's facing the right way. Time is of the essence, so put it back in, keep gentle pressure to keep in in place and then call us. If you can't get it back in, keep the tooth moist in a container of saliva (from the person the tooth came out of), milk or at least water. Then get to us as soon as you can.
Broken or chipped tooth.
Rinse with warm water to clean the area. If you have the broken piece, keep it moist in a wet paper towel. Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. Call us as soon as possible, and bring the broken piece with you.
A toothache.
Rinse with warm water and try to keep it clean. You can take good old ibuprofen according to the package directions (as long as you're not allergic). That works well for toothaches. Do not put anything directly on the tooth or gums. If there's swelling or fever, you should contact the emergency room. Otherwise, contact us as soon as possible.
