Call us now: (812) 523-4545. Dental pain almost always gets worse without treatment, and we make every effort to see you as soon as possible.
Teeth can break from injury, grinding or biting something hard, and fillings and crowns can come loose or fall out. Here’s what to do until you get to us.
Knocked-out tooth
A tooth put back in its socket within an hour has a chance of reattaching.
- Call our office.
- Pick the tooth up by the crown and rinse it under warm water. Don’t touch the root.
- If you can, put it back in its socket. If not, tuck it inside your cheek.
- If it can’t go in your mouth, put it in milk or saliva (or water, as a last resort). Don’t let it dry out.
- Get to our office quickly and safely.
We’ll try to put the tooth back in its socket. If the inside of the tooth is badly damaged, a root canal may be needed.
Lost filling or crown
The tooth may be very sensitive to temperature and pressure. Crowns often loosen because decay underneath changes the tooth’s shape. Keep the crown somewhere cool and safe, and book a visit as soon as possible. Left out too long, teeth can shift or be damaged further.
If you can’t see us right away:
- Apply clove oil to ease pain.
- Clean the crown and hold it on with dental cement from the pharmacy.
- If the crown is lost, put a little dental cement on the tooth.
- Never use household glue.
We’ll check whether the crown still fits and reattach it, or treat any decay and make a new one.
Cracked or broken tooth
Some cracks are painless, but if one reaches the root, the pain can be severe. See us as soon as possible. If a piece has broken off:
- Call our office.
- Rinse the piece and your mouth with lukewarm water.
- If there’s bleeding, hold gauze on the area for ten minutes.
- Hold a cold, damp towel on your cheek to reduce swelling and pain.
- Cover the area with over-the-counter dental cement if you can’t see us right away.
- Use a topical pain reliever.
Treatment depends on the break. A crack into the root often needs a root canal, and a broken-off piece can usually be reattached temporarily.
Loose or dislodged tooth
If the tooth is still attached to its nerves and blood vessels, there’s a good chance it can be saved, often without a root canal. Call us right away. Meanwhile, use a cold compress and over-the-counter pain relief. We’ll reposition the tooth and splint it in place. If it doesn’t heal, a root canal may be needed.