A dental emergency almost never happens at a convenient time. It’s usually a weekend, late at night, or right before your child’s school picture day. And in that moment, it’s easy to panic. First, take a breath. Most dental emergencies are not life-threatening. And with a few simple steps, you can protect the tooth, reduce pain, and improve the chances of a good outcome.
At Butler Family Dentistry, we see emergencies as quickly as possible. But sometimes you have to wait before you can get here. What you do in that window matters. Here’s a quick guide for the most common dental emergencies.
Knocked-Out Tooth (Permanent Tooth)
This is the one emergency where time truly matters. If you act fast, there’s a small chance we could save the tooth.
- Pick up the tooth by the crown (the chewing surface). Do not touch the root.
- Gently rinse it with water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub or use soap.
- Try to reinsert it into the socket. Have the person bite down gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
- If you cannot reinsert it, keep the tooth moist. Place it in a cup of milk, saline solution, or your own saliva. Do not use plain tap water.
Get to our office immediately. A knocked-out permanent tooth has the best chance of survival if treated within 30 to 60 minutes.
For a baby tooth that gets knocked out: Do not try to reinsert it. Reinserting a baby tooth can damage the permanent tooth growing underneath. Call us for guidance, but the baby tooth is usually not reimplanted.
Chipped or Fractured Tooth
A small chip may not be an emergency, but a deep fracture or a break that exposes the nerve is painful and needs attention.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Save any broken pieces of tooth if you can find them.
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek to reduce swelling.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed.
Call our office. Even a small chip can let bacteria in and lead to infection over time.
Severe Toothache
Pain is your body’s way of saying something is wrong. Don’t ignore it.
- Rinse with warm water to clean the area.
- Floss gently around the sore tooth. Sometimes the pain is just from food stuck between teeth.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek if there’s swelling.
- Do not put aspirin directly on the gum or tooth. That burns the tissue and makes things worse.
Call us. A toothache rarely gets better on its own. Most are caused by decay, a cracked tooth, or an abscess.
Object Stuck Between Teeth
This happens more often than you’d think. Popcorn kernels, small bones, or even bits of hard candy can wedge themselves in.
- Try floss first. Gently work it up and down to dislodge the object.
- Try a water flosser if you have one.
- Do not use a pin, paperclip, or sharp tool. You could scratch the tooth or cut your gums.
If you can’t get it out, call us. We have safe tools and can remove it quickly.
When to Go to the ER
A few situations are beyond what a dental office can handle. Go to the emergency room if you have:
- A broken jaw
- Severe bleeding that won’t stop
- Swelling in your neck or around your eye that makes it hard to breathe or swallow
For everything else, call us first. We’ll tell you whether to come in or head to the ER.
We’re Here When You Need Us
Dental emergencies are stressful. But you don’t have to face them alone. At Butler Family Dentistry, we leave room in our schedule for same-day emergency visits whenever possible. And if you call when we’re closed, our voicemail will give you instructions for reaching someone.
We serve families from Strongsville, Brunswick, North Royalton, Berea, Middleburg Heights, and all the surrounding communities. When something goes wrong with your smile, we’re here to make it right.