If you lose a tooth due to accident, injury or illness, it is important to prepare the tooth for the dentist. Stay as calm as possible and find the tooth, rinsing it gently with water ensuring not to remove or scrub any of the tissue attached to the tooth. This is an important part of the tooth and will be needed when the tooth is replaced into the cavity. Handle the tooth only by its crown and never by the root. Doing so can further damage the tissues needed to replace your tooth. If you are worried about losing the tooth in the drain, place a clean cloth at the bottom of the sink over the drain before attempting to rinse the tooth.

After rinsing the tooth gently, rinse your mouth gently and try to replace the tooth within its socket. Hold the tooth in place while slowly biting down and keep the tooth in place until you can see your dentist. If you are unable to replace the tooth in its socket, you can transport the tooth to the dentist in your cheek pocket, in a small clean container, or (preferred) a container filled with cold milk.

Contact our dental office and let us know that you have a dental emergency. In most cases we will be able to accommodate your immediate needs, however, if for some reason that is not possible, we will encourage you to see the next available dentist at any emergency practice.

If your tooth or teeth have broken into several pieces, it will be important to collect all fragments and bring them with you to your emergency dentist. Your dentist may be able to restructure a tooth using a filling compound so having all pieces of the tooth or teeth is important.

To prepare your broken tooth, stay as calm as possible while you collect the pieces of tooth.  Gently rinse the pieces with water, being careful not to lose any pieces down the drain. In order to prevent such an occurrence, we advise that you place a towel or cloth over the drain. It is important not to remove any of the tissue that may be stuck to the fragments, it can be critical to saving tooth tissue.

If your mouth is bleeding, gently rinse it with water and place a piece of rolled gauze on the area, biting down gently to apply pressure to the bleeding area. Place any pieces of tooth into a small container of milk or saliva if possible, or carry them in your cheek pocket, making sure not to swallow them.

Call our office to let us know that you have a dental emergency. In emergency situations it is important not to wait to be seen. In the rare instance that we cannot see you, we will direct you to other emergency dental clinics in your area to ensure the timely treatment of your emergency. Your dentist will understand that you need to see the first available emergency dentist regardless of your loyalty to one dental practice.