Dental Emergency? What to Do in the First Hour

Dental emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time. A fall on the trail at Folsom Lake, a hard olive pit, a toothache that wakes you at 2 a.m. — what you do in the first hour can make a real difference to the outcome.

Here's a practical guide to the most common situations. Keep it bookmarked, and save our number in your phone: (916) 983-8777.

First: is this a dental emergency or a medical emergency?

Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 if you have:

• Swelling in the face or neck that is spreading, or that makes it hard to breathe or swallow
• Swelling with a high fever
• Bleeding that won't stop after 10–15 minutes of firm pressure
• A possible broken jaw, or a head injury with loss of consciousness, confusion, or vomiting

These can be serious and need hospital care first. For everything else, call your dentist.

A knocked-out adult tooth

This is the one true race against the clock. Replant the tooth immediately if you can: the best outcomes come when it's back in the socket within minutes. After about 30 minutes out of the mouth and dry, the cells that let the root heal start to die, so every minute counts.

1. 1Pick it up by the crown (the white part), never by the root.
2. 2If it's dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water, no more than 10 seconds. Don't scrub it, dry it, or wrap it in a tissue.
3. 3Try to put it back in the socket, facing the right way, and hold it in place by gently biting on a clean cloth.
4. 4If you can't put it back, keep it moist. Place it in milk, in a tooth-preservation kit, or in your mouth between your cheek and gum (not for young children, who might swallow it). Spitting into a cup works too. Water is a poor choice for storage.
5. 5Call us right away and get to a dentist as fast as you can. If we're closed, don't wait for us to open: go to the nearest open dentist or emergency room.

Don't try to replant a knocked-out baby tooth; it can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Call us, and we'll check the area.

A broken or chipped tooth

• Rinse with warm water and save any pieces you can find.
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to limit swelling.
• If there's a sharp edge, cover it with sugarless gum or dental wax.
• Call the office. A chip may only need smoothing or bonding; a larger break may need a crown, and many broken teeth can be repaired the same day with a CEREC crown.

If you see pink or red in the middle of the broken tooth, the nerve may be exposed. That needs to be seen quickly.

A severe toothache

• Rinse with warm salt water and gently floss around the tooth. Sometimes trapped food is the whole problem.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers can help, taken as directed on the label and only if they're safe for you.
• Never put aspirin directly on the gum — it can burn the tissue.
• A cold compress on the outside of the cheek can ease throbbing.
• Call us. Pain that lingers after hot or cold, wakes you at night, or comes with swelling usually means the nerve is involved, and it won't resolve on its own.

Swelling or a pimple on the gum

A bump on the gum, a bad taste, or facial swelling often signals an abscess, which is an infection. Don't try to pop it. Rinse with warm salt water and call the office the same day. If the swelling is spreading, affects your breathing or swallowing, or comes with fever, go to the ER.

A lost crown or filling

• Keep the crown and bring it with you; it may be possible to re-cement it.
• Avoid chewing on that side.
• Pharmacy dental cement can hold a crown temporarily. Never use superglue.
• Call to schedule. It's rarely an emergency at night, but the exposed tooth is vulnerable, so don't wait weeks.

A cut lip, tongue, or cheek

Rinse, then apply firm pressure with clean gauze for 10–15 minutes. A cold compress helps with swelling. Deep cuts, cuts that cross the edge of the lip, or bleeding that won't stop need urgent care.

Something stuck between your teeth

Use floss, gently. Avoid sharp objects like pins or toothpicks pushed hard into the gum. If you can't get it out, call us.

How to avoid the next emergency

• Wear a mouthguard for basketball, soccer, martial arts, mountain biking, and skateboarding.
• Don't chew ice, hard candy, or popcorn kernels, and don't use your teeth as tools.
• Ask about a night guard if you clench or grind. Cracked teeth are often the result.
• Keep up with checkups. Most "sudden" emergencies, like an abscess or a broken old filling, start as a small problem that can be fixed calmly.

Emergency dental care in Folsom

If you're in pain, call Creekside Dentistry at (916) 983-8777. Don't wait for an online appointment. For a knocked-out tooth or serious swelling when the office is closed, go to the nearest open dentist or emergency room rather than waiting for us to open. We'll tell you what to do next and how soon we can see you, and genuine emergencies get priority. Many repairs, including broken teeth that need a crown, can be completed in a single visit.

More about emergency dental care at Creekside. We're on East Bidwell, minutes from Folsom, El Dorado Hills, and Orangevale.

*This article is general information, not a diagnosis. If you're unsure whether your situation is urgent, call us or seek emergency care.*