Arlington Emergency Dentist

Avulsed tooth (Tooth Knocked Out)

If the tooth has been knocked completely out of the mouth, it’s crucial to see a dentist immediately. The tissues, nerves and blood vessels are damaged when a tooth leaves your mouth. There is a chance the tissues will grow to hold the tooth in place if it can be put back into its socket within an hour.
Here are some steps to take:

• Call our office.
• Pick up the tooth by its crown and rinse under warm water. DO NOT touch the root.
• If possible, put it back in its socket; if not, tuck it into the cheek pouch. If it cannot be placed back in the mouth, place it into a cup of milk, saliva or water as a last resort. Make sure the tooth does not dry out.
• Find our office fast and safe. We will attempt to place the tooth back in its normal socket. In certain cases, the tooth will reattach; but, if the inner workings of the tooth is damaged extensively root canal therapy may be needed.

Lost Filling or Crown

Often a crown or filling loosens during chewing. Once out of the mouth, the tooth may become extremely sensitive to changes in temperature and pressure. Crowns usually loosen because the tooth beneath is rotting. Decay changes the tooth shape, so the crown no longer fits. If a crown has come out of the mouth, see a dentist promptly. Keep the crown in a cool, dry place; we might be able to put it back on. If the crown is out of the mouth a long time, teeth may shift or sustain more damage.
If we are not immediately available, please proceed with the following steps:

• Use clove oil on the tooth to reduce pain.
• Make sure the crown is clean, and then attach it to tooth with dental cement. Can be bought in a local pharmacy.
• If a crown is lost, smear dental cement onto the top of your tooth to ease discomfort.
• DO NOT glue the crown on — to anything!
• We’ll try the crown on to see if it fits. If it does, the tooth will be reattached. If decay is found, that will be addressed and a new crown made.

Cracked or Broken Teeth

They cover strong teeth, but they can still fracture, crack, or break. Some fractures are relatively pain-free, but if that crack extends down into the root, the pain is probably going to be intense. Fractures, cracks and breaks can come in various forms but are typically caused by some form of trauma, grinding or biting. For a fractured or cracked tooth, there is no choice but to book an appointment for as soon as possible.
For a chipped tooth or broken segment of a tooth, home procedures can be followed which include:

• Call our office.
• Then, rinse the tooth piece and your mouth using lukewarm water.
• If bleeding happens, put gauze to the local area for 10 minutes.
• Put a cold, wet dish towel on the cheek to reduce swelling and pain.
• If you cannot see us right away, then cover the affected area with OTC dental cement.
• Take a topical pain reliever.
• What we can do will also be limited by the nature of the break or fracture. When a fracture or crack goes into the root, root canal therapy is frequently the best opportunity to save the tooth. If the fragment has broken all the way off, your dentist will usually bond it back onto the tooth temporarily.

Dislodged/Loose Teeth

A dislodged or loosened tooth can be saved, provided that it has been knocked out of its socket and is not dead from trauma or decay. As long as the tooth has notfallen out, or broken into pieces while it still has its blood vessels and nerves intact, there is a good chance that root canal therapy will not be needed.
You should call our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. Until then, apply a cold compress and take over-the-counter pain relievers. Your dentist will move the tooth back into position and place splints to hold it in place. Root canalling may be needed if the tooth does not heal.