Dental emergencies reward calm and speed in roughly equal measure. What you do in the first half hour can decide whether a tooth is saved — so bookmark this guide, and remember the golden rule: call us first. We reserve same-day emergency time every open day, weekends included.
Knocked-out tooth (adult)
- Pick it up by the crown — the white part. Never touch or scrub the root.
- If dirty, rinse gently for a few seconds under cool water. No soap, no wiping.
- Best option: slide it back into the socket and bite gently on gauze or cloth to hold it.
- Can't re-insert? Keep it in milk (or tucked in the cheek for older kids and adults). Not water, not dry tissue.
- Get to us fast — re-implantation succeeds best within 30–60 minutes.
Baby tooth knocked out? Don't re-insert it — you can damage the adult tooth beneath. Call us and we'll check everything else is okay.
Severe toothache
Rinse with warm salt water, floss gently to rule out a trapped popcorn hull (it happens more than you'd think), and take your usual over-the-counter pain relief. Never place an aspirin against the gum — it burns tissue. Throbbing that keeps you up at night usually means the nerve is involved; that needs a dentist, not a waiting game.
Cracked or chipped tooth
Rinse, save any fragments in milk, and cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or drugstore dental wax. Avoid chewing on that side. Even painless cracks deserve prompt assessment — bacteria don't wait for symptoms.
Swelling — the one you never wait on
Facial swelling with fever, or any swelling affecting your eye, throat, or breathing, is the dental emergency that can turn dangerous. Go to the ER immediately, then see us right after for the dental cause. Swelling limited to the gum still needs same-day dental care — an abscess never fixes itself.
Lost crown or filling
Less urgent, still time-sensitive. Keep the crown, keep the tooth clean, use temporary dental cement from any pharmacy if the tooth is sensitive, and book within a few days — exposed teeth shift and decay surprisingly quickly.
The pattern in all of this
Protect the part, manage the pain, and call quickly: same-day emergency care exists precisely for these mornings. Save our number now — future-you will be grateful.