How to Deal With a Dental Emergency at Home

When dental emergencies happen at home, what do you do? You may be scared or in pain. The best thing to do in these situations is to call your Mount Pearl dental office as soon as possible so you can get treatment.

Your dentist can treat dental emergencies.

Whether you have a severe toothache or have suffered an injury playing sports or some other physical activity, experiencing a dental emergency at home can cause discomfort and be scary. We recommend that you call our Mount Pearl dentists so they can arrange to see you as soon as possible.

Your dentist will be able to assess your situation and decide on a treatment plan.

If you can't manage to see a dentist within the hour of developing a dental emergency, there are a few things you can do while at home. Here are some of the common tactics you can take to help with dental emergencies while waiting to see a dentist.

How To Manage Common Dental Emergencies

The following are some common dental emergencies we often see at Mount Pearl Dental, and how you can address them at home to reduce discomfort until you can get to our office. 

Damaged Tooth

Is your tooth broken or chipped? A dentist may be able to reattach the missing piece. If you can. locate it and bring the piece of your teeth to your dental appointment. 

If you can't locate it, your dentist will probably be able to replace the missing piece with a dental restoration.

Severe Toothache

Severe pain in your teeth can cause severe discomfort; you may feel throbbing or sharp pain. This could be caused by an infection in the root of your tooth, among other things.

Until you visit a dentist, you may try some at-home remedies for aching teeth like applying ice packs to your hurting area. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers can also help to reduce your pain.

If the tooth becomes severely infected, your dentist may need to perform a root canal.

Knocked-Out Tooth

If one of your teeth has been knocked out, try to locate it and rinse it off with water (not soap or harsh chemicals as this can damage the tooth).

Place the knocked-out tooth back into its socket by biting down gently but firmly to help keep it in place. If you can't place the tooth back into its socket, keep it moist by holding it in your mouth next to your cheek or placing it in a glass of milk or saliva.

If you are unable to locate the tooth, your dentist can offer options for tooth replacement such as a dental implant or crown.

Damaged Crown or Filling

Fillings or crowns may become lost or damaged, just like teeth. If possible, try to find the missing restoration and rinse it off before placing it back on your tooth. If you can't place it in your mouth, bring it in to your appointment

If you cannot locate your crown or filling, your dentist will likely be able to provide a replacement.

Are you experiencing a dental emergency? Contact our Mount Pearl dentists right away to schedule an appointment. We will get you in as soon as possible.