Dental Emergencies

Some dental concerns simply can’t wait. This is why NEPA Dental is happy to offer emergency dental services. Dental emergencies need to be addressed by an experienced dentist as soon as possible to avoid complications or permanent damage to your mouth and teeth.

Call Us Immediately if There’s an Emergency!

Dental emergencies do occur and we will try to schedule you an appointment the same day during regular patient hours if you call before noon.

List of Emergencies and What to Do

Broken Tooth

Look for any pieces that may have flown out of your mouth upon impact and rinse the pieces in warm water. Rinse your mouth as well. If bleeding is present, apply a small piece of gauze to the area until bleeding stops. You may manage your pain with the help of a cold compress to the outside of the affected area.

Knocked Out/Extruded Tooth

For a tooth that’s been knocked out completely, retrieve the tooth and hold it by the crown (chewing surface). Rinse off any dirt with warm water without scrubbing to keep attached tissue fragments. Place the tooth in a small cup of milk or water with a pinch of salt and immediately see your dentist.

An extruded or partially knocked out teeth should not be touched to prevent the tooth from falling off completely. Use a cold compress to relieve any pain and immediately see your dentist.

Lost Filling or Crown

For lost fillings, grab sugarless chewing gum, soften it up, and use it to cover the exposed cavity. This is only a temporary solution until you can get to your dentist.

Lost crowns should be brought straight to your dentist as soon as possible so that it can be reapplied. Never try to stick your crown back yourself using super glue.

Broken Brackets or Wires

Broken brackets and wires may force your teeth to shift into the wrong position if left alone for too long. See your dentist as soon as possible to avoid this. If the broken section is irritating your gums or the inside of your cheek, use a small strip of wax to create a cushion.

Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth is a significant bacterial infection and should be brought to the attention of your dentist immediately. Abscesses can quickly damage tissue around your tooth and lead to tooth loss. The infection may also spread to other healthy teeth or even to other areas of the body.