5 Most Common Dental Emergencies and What to Do Before You Arrive

Dental emergencies can happen unexpectedly and often involve pain, trauma, or damage that requires prompt professional care. Acting quickly and taking the right steps before reaching an oral surgeon can help protect your teeth and reduce complications.

Emergencies can be stressful, but it helps to be prepared in order to stay calm and address the situation appropriately for the best possible outcome. In this article we will cover the most common dental emergencies and what you should do before arriving for treatment. 

Knocked-Out Tooth: Acting Quickly Can Save Your Tooth

A knocked out tooth is a time-sensitive situation. The sooner the tooth can be reinserted, the better the chances that it can be saved. But the steps you take immediately after the tooth comes out are crucial: 

• Handle the tooth by the crown only, gently rinse if dirty, and try to place it back in the socket. 
• If reinsertion is unsuccessful, store the tooth in milk, saliva, or a tooth preservation kit. 
• Contact an oral surgeon for immediate treatment, ideally within 30 minutes of the incident. 

Once the tooth is back in place it will need to be splinted to the neighboring teeth while the support structures heal around it. 

Severe Toothache or Dental Abscess

Toothaches and dental abscesses are common signs of infection. Pain coming from a certain tooth often indicates an infection of the dental pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth. A dental abscess is a pimple-like bump that forms on the gums, often the result of gum disease or an infected tooth. Warning signs include swelling, persistent pain, fever, and bad taste or odor. 

As you await treatment, take the following steps:

• Rinse with warm salt water. 
• Avoid chewing on the affected side. 
• Take over-the-counter pain medication to help manage discomfort. 

Seek immediate treatment for toothache or abscess, as the infection will only worsen and spread without proper care. 

Broken or Cracked Tooth

A cracked or fractured tooth can happen due to trauma, accidents, or biting down on hard foods. Another common cause is biting things that are not food, such as removing tags or opening containers with your teeth. In case of a cracked or broken tooth: 

• Collect any tooth fragments you can find.
• Rinse your mouth with water or salt water. 
• Apply a cold compress to your face to reduce swelling. 
• Contact your oral surgeon for further instructions.

A prompt evaluation is important in this situation. A cracked or broken tooth is highly susceptible to infection and should be treated as soon as possible.

Facial Trauma or Oral Injury

Injuries to the face, jaw, or soft oral tissues can be serious and require immediate treatment. Uncontrolled bleeding, severe swelling, and discomfort are all reasons to contact an oral surgeon right away. Oral surgeons are specially trained to treat facial injuries affecting the mouth and jaw, making them the best choice in these types of emergencies. Before arriving for treatment, take the following steps according to the situation: 

• Apply pressure to control bleeding. 
• Apply cold compress to reduce swelling.

Treatment may involve stitches to close tissues and control bleeding. 

Loose Adult Tooth

A loose permanent tooth should be addressed as soon as possible with professional treatment. Other than trauma or injury, conditions such as gum disease or bone loss in the jaw could be the reason for a loose permanent tooth. Before being treated, take these steps as needed: 

• Avoid touching the tooth excessively.
• Apply gentle pressure if bleeding occurs.

After an evaluation to determine the cause of the loose tooth, the appropriate treatment will be applied to stabilize the tooth if possible. 

When to Call an Emergency Oral Surgeon

The following signs should not be ignored. Contact an oral surgeon immediately in case of: 

• Severe pain that does not subside
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Presence of one or more abscesses
• Significant swelling
• Knocked out or loose tooth
• Cracked or broken tooth

Quick action and professional evaluation can prevent infection, tooth loss, or worsening damage. Braasch OMS provides emergency dental care and oral surgery treatment to address urgent oral health problems and protect patients’ long-term dental health. Call 603-657-1984 right away to reach our team in case of an emergency. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Emergencies

How quickly should I see a dentist or oral surgeon after a dental emergency?

Most dental emergencies should be evaluated as soon as possible, especially if there is severe pain, bleeding, or a knocked-out tooth. If an emergency occurs after business hours or on the weekend, call us and follow the instructions to leave a message. Someone will return your call shortly. 

Should I go to the ER for a dental emergency?

If the injury involves severe trauma, difficulty breathing, or life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical care first before visiting an oral surgeon. Call 911 if you can’t get to a hospital. 

At Braasch Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we are committed to providing advanced surgical care with a focus on patient comfort, safety, and long-term oral health. Our experienced team offers expert treatment for dental emergencies, facial trauma, and complex oral surgery needs. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, we encourage you to seek prompt care from our skilled specialists. Contact us today.