Walk in Emergencies

We understand that dental emergencies do not happen on a schedule and when they do happen, require immediate care. Many of our offices are also open in the evenings and on the weekends which ensures that emergencies can always be treated promptly.

Any dental emergency, such as a tooth or gum injury, can be dangerous and should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem increases the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and costly treatment in the future.

Here’s a quick summary of what to do for some common dental problems.

• Toothaches. First, thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water. Use dental floss to remove any lodged food. If your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. See your dentist as soon as possible.
• Chipped or broken teeth. Save any pieces. Rinse the mouth using warm water; rinse any broken pieces. If there’s bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken/chipped tooth to keep any swelling down and relieve pain. See your dentist as soon as possible.
• Knocked-out tooth. Find the tooth, hold it by the crown (the part that is usually exposed in the mouth), and rinse off the root with water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, try to put the tooth back in place. Make sure it’s facing the right way. Never force it into the socket. If you can’t put the tooth back into the socket, hold it in the mouth on the way to the dentist, or put it in a small container of milk or a product containing cell growth medium, such as Save-a-Tooth. See your dentist as quickly as possible. Knocked-out teeth have the highest chances of being saved if they’re seen by the dentist and returned to their socket within 1 hour of being knocked out.