Don’t hesitate to call our Lake City office if you have a dental emergency (386) 752-8531
Are you experiencing a dental emergency? Do you know what to do when a dental emergency occurs? Learn what to do when the worst happens with the following guide from our Lake City dental team. There’s little as painful as a toothache, broken tooth, or another type of emergency dental problem. If you experience a dental crisis, don’t hesitate to contact our office to book a prompt emergency appointment.
- Toothache. Carefully clean around the tooth. Using a mixture of salt and warm water, rinse out the area. DO NOT put aspirin on the area. For facial swelling, apply a cold compress to the area. Take acetaminophen for temporary pain relief. Call us right away.
- Lacerated Tissue. If you cut or bite your tongue, lip, cheek, or other oral tissue, apply ice to any bruised area. For bleeding, apply firm yet gentle pressure using sterile gauze. If the bleeding does not stop or continues after 15 minutes, go to the emergency room.
- Broken Braces. Remove a broken orthodontic appliance only if it comes out easily. If the bracket or wire is lodged or painful to remove, cover any protruding edges with wax or gauze. DO NOT remove any wire caught in the gums, cheek, or tongue; see your dentist immediately.
- Broken Tooth. Rinse the area containing a broken tooth with warm (not hot) water. Place a cold compress over the exterior facial area covering the injury. Recover any broken tooth fragments and get dental attention right away.
- Lost Filling. If you lose a dental filling, call your dentist to schedule an appointment, store the filling in a secure container, gently clean the area with a mixture of warm water and salt, secure the hole with dental wax or temporary filling material, and treat any pain using over-the-counter numbing medication. Avoid applying pressure.
- Lost Crown. If your dental crown falls out, recover the dislodged crown, and then contact our dental office for the next best steps. If you are able to locate the crown, you may temporarily reattach it by first cleaning the tooth and the inside of the crown and then reattaching the crown using a dental adhesive.
- Knocked-Out Tooth. If a permanent tooth falls out, recover the tooth, holding it by the top (crown). Rinse the crown to clean, but do not handle the tooth more than necessary. Rinse the tooth into the socket and hold it in place using sterile gauze. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, carry it in a cup containing milk or water. If a cup is not available, you may carry it on your cheek. Because time is essential, see your dentist immediately.
- Broken Jaw. If you suspect your jaw is broken, tie your mouth closed with a towel, tie, handkerchief, or another long piece of fabric. Go to the emergency room immediately.
- Cold Or Canker Sore. Over-the-counter medications typically provide temporary relief for cold sores (on the outside of the mouth) and canker sores (on the inside of the mouth). If a cold or canker sore persists, then see your dentist.
- Baby Tooth Falls Out. To control bleeding after a baby’s (primary) tooth falls out, fold a piece of gauze and place it (tightly) over the bleeding area. Bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes; if bleeding continues, see your dentist.