Dental emergencies: what to do in the first hour

Dental emergencies rarely come at a convenient time. A fall, a sports injury or a bite on something hard can break a tooth in seconds. What you do in the first hour can make a real difference to whether the tooth can be saved. Here is a quick guide to the most common situations.

A knocked-out adult tooth

Time matters most here. A tooth that is put back within about 30 minutes has the best chance of reattaching.

1. Pick up the tooth by the crown, the part you normally see, never by the root.
2. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water. Don’t scrub it or wrap it in tissue.
3. If you can, gently push it back into its socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
4. If that isn’t possible, keep it moist in a cup of milk, or inside your cheek if you’re an adult and won’t swallow it.
5. Call us right away.

A knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back in, as this can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Call us for advice.

A broken or chipped tooth

Rinse your mouth with warm water, save any pieces you can find, and use a cold compress on your cheek to reduce swelling. If the break is large, painful or bleeding, call us the same day. Small chips can often be repaired with bonding, while larger breaks may need a crown.

A loose or pushed-out tooth

Don’t wiggle it. Bite gently to keep it in position and call us as soon as possible.

A severe toothache or swelling

Pain that keeps you up at night, or swelling of the gum or face, can be a sign of infection. See our guide to toothache relief, and call us promptly. If swelling spreads quickly, or you have trouble breathing or swallowing, go to an emergency room.

A lost filling or crown

Keep the crown if you have it. Avoid chewing on that side, and call us to have it re-cemented or replaced. Don’t use household glue.

A broken denture

Keep all the pieces and bring them with you. Don’t try to glue it yourself, as that can make a professional repair harder.

When the tooth’s nerve is affected

After an injury, a tooth may look fine but keep aching, or darken over the following weeks. This can mean the pulp inside the tooth has been damaged. Root canal treatment can often save the tooth by removing the damaged tissue and sealing it.

Call us first

If you have a dental emergency, call SmileNY Dental at (212) 593-1499. We’ll make every effort to see you as soon as possible. Learn more about Emergency Treatment. For serious injuries to the face or jaw, or heavy bleeding, go to the emergency room first.