A dental emergency like a tooth that gets broken or knocked out can cause a panic. It is a good idea to be aware of how to handle a dental emergency before you actually have one. If you lose or break a tooth, this is obviously an emergency, but some situations may not seem like emergencies but actually require dental treatment as soon as possible. In some cases you may have hours to get to a dentist to save a tooth, while in other cases you may have days.
Losing a healthy tooth due to accident or injury requires quick action. When a tooth comes out in one piece, rinse it in water, trying not to handle the root end of the tooth. Very gently, try to put the tooth back in place in your mouth. If this is not possible, put it in a glass of milk or salt water. Get to the dentist immediately: The tooth is more likely to be able to be restored if you see the dentist within an hour.
If you chip or break a tooth, try to save any large broken pieces. They may be able to be reattached to the tooth, but in some cases a crown or other restoration materials may be necessary to rebuild the tooth. Rinse your mouth with water and tend to any injuries to your mouth or face. See the dentist as soon as possible.
Sometimes a toothache can be an emergency situation if the pain is severe or comes on suddenly. If you have something caught between your teeth that you cannot remove with dental floss, whether or not this is causing pain, you should see the dentist. You should see the dentist for a toothache even if it is not severe. A toothache that lasts for a day or more could be an indication of a serious problem inside the tooth.
If you lose a filling, break a crown, or wear braces and have broken wires or brackets, you should get to the dentist as soon as possible to have the issue fixed. Any sore or abscess in or around the mouth requires a trip to the dentist.
A lost or broken tooth requires immediate action and a trip to a dentist within an hour if possible. Other serious situations like toothache or lost fillings can wait a day or two, but the faster you get to the dentist, the sooner pain will be relieved and the healthier your teeth and mouth will be.
