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How to Handle a Dental Emergency

Michael Wahl • December 18, 2019

Many medical offices reduce their hours over the holidays or may even close for several days. If you’re celebrating the holidays and have a dental emergency, don’t let it derail your celebration. Here’s how to handle a dental emergency on your own before you can get in to see a dentist.

What is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is any situation where you experience trauma or significant pain in your mouth. This includes lost, broken, loose, or cracked teeth or fillings, injuries to the soft tissues of your mouth, or pain and swelling in your mouth.

How to Handle a Dental Emergency

Lost or Loose Tooth

  • Find your tooth, handling it only by the crown (top) not the sensitive roots.
  • Clean your mouth and the tooth gently with warm water.
  • Try to place the tooth back in your mouth, or reposition it.
  • Teeth that won’t go back in should be stored in milk, not tap water.
  • Visit a dentist immediately, ideally within 30 minutes.

Broken or Damaged Tooth or Filling

  • Locate any missing pieces
  • Rinse your mouth gently with warm water
  • Apply an ice pack or cold compress to reduce swelling
  • Schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as is reasonably possible

Injured Soft Tissues

  • Rinse your mouth gently with warm water
  • Apply a clean piece of gauze to any bleeding wounds
  • If you have a significantly deep wound, especially if the wound goes completely through a lip or tongue, visit your local urgent care for wound care treatment.
  • Chew soft foods gently and drink plenty of clear fluids.

Unexplained Pain

  • Rinse and brush gently to try and locate the source of the pain.
  • Contact a dentist and go in as soon as is reasonable to identify and solve the issue.

Contact Your Dentist ASAP

Most dental emergencies will need to be resolved by a dentist. While the ER can treat symptoms or soft tissue wounds, they can’t handle tooth issues. If you are experiencing difficulty breathing or swelling in your neck visit the ER immediately for help breathing, but schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Many dental offices have options for after hours care in the case of a dental emergency. At West One Family Dental if you call after our normal hours you have the option of paging Dr. Wahl if you have a dental emergency. Dr. Wahl treats patients and visitors to Colorado Springs during dental emergencies, even after regular hours.

How to Manage The Pain

Consider this blog post for managing your pain until your appointment. If you have a wound that is bleeding, avoid Aspirin which is an anticoagulant and could increase how much you bleed. If you decide to take an over-the-counter medication stick with Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen.

 

Visiting Colorado Springs and have a dental emergency? Please reach out to our office at 719-633-8766. We would be happy to help! Happy Holidays from all of use here at West One Family Dental!

 

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