Even for the most cautious and prepared person, life still throws the occasional “curveball.” And sometimes that comes in the form of a dental emergency, even if all you’re doing is eating lunch! One moment you’re enjoying a sandwich – and the next, you’ve suddenly broken a filling. But don’t panic – in this blog, you’ll get tips from an emergency dentist in Lincoln on how to handle four of the most common dental emergencies. You can’t always prevent an emergency, but at least you can feel prepared to handle one if it arises!
Broken Tooth or Filling
If you’ve broken a tooth or filling, start by rinsing out your mouth with lukewarm water to remove any small remaining pieces of debris (and avoid swallowing them).
Call a dentist to schedule the first available appointment. If you aren’t in pain, you don’t necessarily need to get care right away, but remember that broken teeth are very weak and may break again, which can make a tooth unsalvageable and lead to an extraction.
Knocked-Out Tooth
If a tooth has been knocked out, the sooner you act, the better (ideally you can be seen within an hour). After calling a dentist in Lincoln, take the following steps:
- Rinse off the tooth, handling it by the crown, not the root.
- If possible, put the tooth back in its socket (facing the right way) or hold it in your cheek pouch. Children are at risk of swallowing it, so put the tooth in a glass of milk instead (saliva or water work in a pinch). It’s crucial that the tooth stays moist.
- Using a clean, damp cloth, apply gentle pressure to the area to control any bleeding.
- For pain, use an over-the-counter pain medication until your appointment.
Toothache
If you have a toothache, a swollen face, or notice a pimple-like bump on your gums, there’s a good chance that you have an abscess or infection.
Infections need to be addressed immediately because they can move to other areas of the body and become very dangerous, so call a dentist right away to schedule the first available appointment.
Jaw Injury
If you’ve seriously injured your jaw or suspect it’s broken, go to the nearest emergency room to be stabilized. Then you can schedule a dental appointment for any restoration that’s necessary.
When life throws you a curveball like a sudden dental emergency, these tips will help you handle the situation until you can get professional care.
About the Author
Dr. Andrew Rossini is a general and emergency dentist in Lincoln who provides outstanding emergency care when his patients need it most. He and his staff do everything possible to accommodate their patients in an emergency and get them out of pain as quickly as possible. If you have any other questions about handling an emergency, he can be reached via his website or at (402) 420-2222.