Fast Help for Dental Emergencies

Fillings, crowns and bridges can all become loose if the tooth underneath has deteriorated even a little bit over the years. Please bring the crown or bridge with you to our office. 

You can also try gluing the crown or bridge back into place with dental cement. Follow these steps:

1. Purchase dental cement at a pharmacy. 
2. Test the fit of the crown or bridge by putting it back in place without any cement.
3. If it fits snugly and comfortably, remove the crown or bridge and spread the dental cement under it.  
4. Press the crown or bridge back into its proper place. 
5. If it feels fairly secure, bite down gently to secure it. (We will be able to remove it when we see you.) 
6. Wipe away any excess cement that has been squeezed out. 

Because the sensitive tooth underneath is covered, it will be protected from heat, cold and sweets. 

Never use any other kind of glue. Ask your pharmacist for dental cement. 

If a tooth is sensitive where a filling has come out, spread a little dental cement across the opening to protect it.

It is a good idea to keep a small tube of dental cement handy around the house for emergencies like these. Still, it’s vital to have the crown or bridge properly secured as soon as possible.

There are a few things you can address around the tooth to eliminate possible causes of painful swelling or infection. Floss very gently to remove any food particles that might be stuck and then rinse repeatedly with warm salt water. Your preferred over-the-counter pain reliever can help. While this may ease pain, the cause of a toothache can only be determined by a dental exam with x-rays in our office. 

Is the broken tooth area bleeding? Press gauze or a soft towel on the tooth. Use a cold pack on the outside of your cheek to reduce pain. If you have the broken piece, please bring it along with you. 

To keep the tooth capable of being restored to the jaw, store it in milk or inside the person’s cheek on the way to our office. (If it’s a child, do not store the tooth inside the cheek; the child may swallow it.)

Never touch a knocked-out tooth by the root, only the hard white crown.

The tooth must be returned to its socket within 30 minutes if it is to be viable (capable of surviving) afterwards which means you must rush immediately to our office. If the tooth is clean, you can temporarily replace it in the socket yourself right at the location where it was knocked out. You will still need an emergency dental appointment so call us immediately.

As long as the nerves and blood supply are still connected to this loosened tooth, it may be salvageable. Please call us immediately so we can see you as soon as possible. We will create a splint for the tooth to keep it stable while it heals. 

Until we can see you, apply a cold compress to your cheek to reduce pain. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers.