Some helpful tips on what to do in the case of a dental emergency.

The Problem: "My crown came off..."
Possible Causes:
  • Eating sticky candy.
  • Chewing lots of gum.
  • Decay causing seal to deteriorate.
What to do until you can see your dentist:
  • Use gel-type denture adhesive to hold your crown on until you can see your dentist.
  • Please do NOT use superglue.
The Problem: "My tooth has broken..."
Possible Causes:
  • Structural fracture from biting on something very hard.
  • A very large filling which has weakened the tooth.
  • An old deteriorating filling.
  • Decay undermining and weakening the tooth.
What to do until you can see your dentist:
  • Toothache drops on cotton placed in the hole will often ease the pain. Also, take Advil.
  • Use a bit of a drug store product called Den-Temp. This putty-paste can temporarily seal the hole until you can see your dentist.
  • Please do NOT use superglue.
The Problem: "My tooth is painful to bite on and the gum is swollen..."
Possible Causes:
  • Infection from untreated decay or gum disease.
What to do until you can see your dentist:
  • Call the dentist.
  • Hold a mixture of hot salt water around the tooth to help draw the infection out.
The Problem: "My child just knocked a tooth out..."
Possible Causes:
  • Bike wreck.
  • Fall.
  • Other trauma.
What to do until you can see your dentist:
  • Rinse the tooth gently under slowly running water. Hold it by the “crown” — the portion that shows in the smile.
  • Gently replace it in the socket as soon as possible. Have the child bite down gently to hold the tooth in place. If the tooth can’t be replaced in the socket immediately, it is crucial that it be kept moist by putting it in the child’s mouth between the cheek and the teeth — or in a glass of milk. If these two options are impossible, wrap the tooth in a clean, wet handkerchief.
  • Please do NOT use superglue.
  • Call your dentist and go there immediately.