Dental Emergency FAQ

What is a Dental Emergency?

The list below are common occurrences that are considered dental emergencies. If you need to reach us after hours, call the number on our answering machine (it is Dr. Sawyer’s personal cell phone number, so feel free to call, text, or even send over a photo of the tooth or area in question). Overall, remain calm! Accidents happen and we are here to help!

• Bleeding that doesn’t stop

• Painful swelling in or around your mouth

• Pain in a tooth, teeth, or jaw bone

• Gum infection with pain or swelling

• Broken or knocked out tooth

What to do if my child knocks out a tooth?

First, if your child has any broken bones or other injuries, you should seek immediate medical attention at a hospital emergency room. If the nature of the injury is only dental in nature, the most important thing to remember is to remain calm so you can find the tooth. Second, determine if the tooth is a baby tooth or am adult tooth. If the knocked-out tooth is a baby tooth, do not try to re-implant the tooth. If done, it may damage the permanent tooth in the gums below the baby tooth.

If it was a permanent tooth, try to find the missing tooth. Once you find it, do not hold the root and wash it briefly if dirty (maximum 10 seconds). Hold the tooth by the crown (the big white part you normally see in the mouth) and try to re-insert it into the socket. If it doesn't go into the socket, do not try to force it. Place the tooth in a glass of milk or in a container with your child's saliva covering the tooth and call our office. In order for the tooth to have a good prognosis, your child needs to be seen as soon as possible – ideally within 30 minutes – 1 hour.