Why It Happens
- Deep Decay: Cavities that have penetrated the enamel and dentin, reaching the sensitive nerve pulp.
- Abscesses: Infections at the root of the tooth that create intense pressure.
- Bruxism: Chronic grinding that has inflamed the ligament holding the tooth in place.
What to Do Immediately
- Rinse: Swish with warm salt water to clean the area and reduce inflammation.
- Floss: Gently floss around the tooth to ensure no food debris is wedged against the gum, mimicking a toothache.
- Medicate: Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen (if medically safe for you).
- Call Us: Do not apply aspirin directly to the gum (a common myth), as this burns the tissue. Contact our Emergency Dentist immediately.
The Severity Spectrum
- Craze Lines: Tiny cracks in the enamel that cause no pain and require no treatment other than cosmetic polishing.
- Chipped Enamel: A piece of the outer shell breaks off. It may not hurt, but the sharp edge can cut your tongue.
- Fractured Cusp or Split Root: A deep break that affects the chewing surface or extends below the gum line. This is usually painful and threatens the tooth’s survival.
Professional Treatment
- Bonding: For minor chips, we use tooth-colored resin to reshape the tooth. (Learn more about Dental Bonding ).
- Veneers: For larger cosmetic breaks on front teeth.
- Crowns: If a significant portion of the tooth is missing, a crown provides a “helmet” of protection. (See our Dental Crowns page).
The Protocol
- Handle with Care: Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), never the root. Touching the root damages the delicate ligament cells.
- Rinse Gently: If it’s dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water. Do not scrub it or use soap.
- Reinsert: Try to place the tooth back into the socket immediately. Bite down gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
- Preserve: If you can’t put it back in, place the tooth in a container of cold milk or use a tooth preservation kit (Save-A-Tooth). Do not store it in water, as water can damage the root cells.
- Go: Get to our office immediately.
Why It’s an Emergency
- Sensitivity: The exposed dentin is highly reactive to hot, cold, and sweet stimuli.
- Structural Weakness: Without the filling or crown, the remaining tooth structure is fragile and prone to crumbling.
- Infection Risk: Bacteria can rush into the open space, causing rapid decay or infecting the nerve.
Identifying an Abscess
- A pimple-like bump on the gums
- Severe, throbbing pain
- Facial swelling
- Fever
- A foul taste in the mouth (if the abscess ruptures)
Treatment Approach
- Root Canal Therapy: To clean out the infection from inside the tooth. (Read about Root Canal Treatment ).
- Antibiotics: To prevent systemic spread.
- Extraction: If the tooth is non-restorable.
Symptoms Get Your Confident Smile — Book Today
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- Swelling in the back of the jaw
- Difficulty opening the mouth (trismus)
- Pain radiating to the ear
- Bad breath
Common Issues
- Broken Brackets: Eating hard foods can pop a bracket off the tooth.
- Protruding Wires: A wire can shift and poke the cheek or gums.
What to Do
- Bracket: If the bracket is loose but attached to the wire, leave it alone and cover with wax. If it falls off, save it and bring it to your appointment.
Assessing the Damage
- Clean the area: Rinse gently with warm water.
- Apply pressure: Use a clean gauze or tea bag to apply firm pressure to the bleeding site for 15-20 minutes.
- Cold compress: Use ice on the outside of the cheek to reduce swelling.
The Cost of Waiting
- Preventive: A small filling costs relatively little and takes 30 minutes.
- Emergency: Ignoring that cavity until it hurts often leads to a root canal and crown, which costs significantly more and takes multiple visits.
How to build Your Emergency Kit
- Small container: To hold a knocked-out tooth or lost crown.
- Sterile gauze: To stop bleeding.
- Temporary dental cement: For reattaching loose crowns temporarily.
- Floss: For dislodging stuck objects.
- Over-the-counter pain reliever: Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen.
- Our Phone Number: Written down on a card.
3 Steps to Reduce Your Risk
- Wear a Mouthguard: If you or your child plays sports, a custom mouthguard is the single most effective piece of safety equipment you can own. (See Reduce Sports Injuries with Mouth Guards ).
- Don’t Use Teeth as Tools: Open packages with scissors, not your incisors.
- Treat Grinding: If you wake up with jaw pain, ask us about a night guard to prevent stress fractures.