Our Edmonton dentists offer an outline of what to do during a dental emergency.
The steps you should take in a dental emergency depend on the type of emergency you are experiencing. If you are experiencing one of the following dental emergencies, please follow the steps outlined below.
Traumatic Injury
If you have a mouth injury that has resulted in bleeding, swelling, or a broken or knocked out tooth:
1) Quell any bleeding using some gauze or a rag. If you cannot do this, visit your nearest emergency room straight away.
2) If you have lost a tooth, try your best to find it. Remove any debris from the tooth (but do not rinse it under water). Try to put the tooth back in the socket. If you can’t, store it in a glass of milk until you can get to the dentist’s office.
3) Get to our office right away (give us a call to let us know you are on your way); we’ll make room in our schedule to see you as soon as possible.
Severe Pain
If you are experiencing severe toothache pain that cannot be managed with an over-the-counter pain medication:
1) Call us to let us know you are coming, and then get to the dentist’s office as soon as possible.
2) In the meantime, take some pain medication anyway to help with discomfort.
3) Apply an ice pack to your face to reduce swelling and promote numbness.
4) Rinsing with saltwater or applying clove oil can also help temporarily reduce pain.
Lost Filling or Crown
If you have lost or dislodged a dental filling or crown:
1) Call us to let us know you are coming, and then get to the dentist’s office as soon as possible.
2) In the meantime, if you have lost your restoration, try to locate it and if possible, use some dental cement to put it back into position. This is not a permanent solution, but it will help protect the area until you can get to the dentist.
3) If you are experiencing any pain, take an over-the-counter painkiller, rinse with salt water, or apply clove oil to the area.