TL;DR
Call Stone Falls Dental Care at (618) 624-2800 as soon as a dental emergency happens; emergencies are seen as soon as possible. For a knocked-out adult tooth, pick it up by the crown, rinse it briefly, and put it back in the socket or keep it in milk, then come in right away. Save the pieces of a broken tooth, keep a lost crown, and use a cold compress for swelling. Go to the emergency room or call 911 for swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, bleeding that will not stop, a possible broken jaw or a head injury.
What counts as a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is anything that puts a tooth at risk of being lost, causes severe pain, or involves swelling, bleeding or injury to the mouth. When in doubt, call. We would rather hear about a problem that can wait than have you sit at home with one that cannot.
- A permanent tooth knocked out or pushed out of position
- A broken or cracked tooth, especially with pain or a sharp edge
- A severe or throbbing toothache that keeps you awake
- Swelling of the gum, face or jaw, which can signal an infection
- A lost crown or filling that leaves the tooth exposed or painful
- A cut or bite to the lips, tongue or cheek that keeps bleeding
What should I do if a tooth is knocked out?
Act quickly, because a knocked-out adult tooth has the best chance of being saved if it goes back in the socket within the first hour. Do not try to put a baby tooth back; bring the child in instead, since replanting a baby tooth can harm the adult tooth developing underneath.
- Pick the tooth up by the crown, the white part, never by the root
- If it is dirty, rinse it for a few seconds with milk or cool water; do not scrub it or wrap it in tissue
- If you can, push it gently back into the socket and bite softly on a clean cloth to hold it
- If it will not go back, keep it in a small container of milk or inside your cheek
- Call (618) 624-2800 and come in right away
How do I handle a broken tooth, toothache or lost crown until I’m seen?
For a broken or chipped tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water, save any pieces in milk or a damp cloth, and hold a cold compress against your cheek to limit swelling. Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or dental wax from a pharmacy so it does not cut your tongue.
For a toothache, rinse with warm water and floss gently around the tooth in case something is caught there. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever you can safely use, swallowed as directed. Never place aspirin against the gum, since it can burn the tissue. If a crown comes off, keep it safe and bring it with you. A dab of temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can hold it in place for a day or two, but never use household glue.
When should I go to the ER instead of the dentist?
Go to the emergency room, or call 911, when a dental problem comes with signs that affect your breathing, your circulation or your head. A dental office is the right place for most tooth injuries, but these need hospital care first. Once you have been treated, call us so we can take care of the tooth.
- Swelling that spreads toward the eye or down the neck
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Fever with facial swelling, or feeling very unwell
- Bleeding that will not stop after 15 minutes of firm pressure
- A jaw that may be broken or dislocated, or a bite that suddenly does not meet
- Any head injury, loss of consciousness, confusion or vomiting after a blow to the face
How quickly can Stone Falls Dental Care see me in an emergency?
Dental emergencies are seen as soon as possible. Call (618) 624-2800, tell us what happened and when, and we will tell you what to do in the meantime and when to come in. The office is on Frank Scott Parkway in O’Fallon; directions and hours are on the contact page.
Bring a list of your medications, any pieces of the tooth or the crown, and your insurance card. Our team can check your benefits, and CareCredit and other payment options are described on the financial options page. If the tooth needs more than a quick repair, our pages on root canal therapy and crowns explain what may come next.