Emergency Information

Dental emergencies are often the reasons why people visit the dentist. Sensitivity to hot or cold drinks or even chewing food can elicit pain. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, you should contact a dentist right away.

Knocked-Out Tooth:

It’s important to retrieve the tooth, hold it by the crown, and rinse off the root of the tooth if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, put the tooth back in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put it in a container with milk or water and then get to the dentist as soon as possible.

Fractured Tooth:

To avoid further aggravating the damaged tooth, place a piece of soft wax into the area of the tooth that was chipped. You should eat only soft foods and try to avoid food and drink that are hot and cold to the touch.

Fractured Jaw:

If you find that your jaw hurts when it is moved or if you cannot close your mouth in a normal fashion, it is likely that you have fractured your jaw. Seek professional medical help at a hospital emergency room. The hospital will be able to treat your injury as well as advise you whether you need to make an appointment to see your dentist.

Bitten Tongue or Lip:

Biting or lacerating your tongue may cause inflammation and possible bleeding. Use ice or pressure to control the swelling or bleeding. Any swelling should subside within twenty-four hours. Contact the Columbus Dental Society for a referral if the pain persists or the laceration is deep.

Bleeding After an Extraction:

Slight bleeding after an extraction is normal. A clot will usually form within one hour. If bleeding continues, place a thick gauze pad over the extraction site. Apply pressure to the area to control the flow of blood. If bleeding still persists, you may try soaking a tea bag in water, placing it inside a thin gauze pad, and apply pressure for one hour. The tealeaves contain minerals which may aid in the clotting procedure.

Mouth Sores:

Canker sores are those very small and painful sores which occur inside the mouth. They can be caused by stress, biting the inside of the mouth or by a reaction to certain foods. If you find that you have developed a canker sore on the inside of the mouth, apply an over-the-counter medicine like Orajel or campho-phenique. This will produce a bandage-like film over the sore. You may contact a Columbus Dental Society member dentist to address your needs. Don’t ever put aspirin or any painkiller on the gum or around the aching tooth. It can cause a burn on the mouth and cause more harm than good.

Toothache:

An aching tooth is a very common dental emergency. A toothache is often a sign of infection in or around a tooth. Advil can sometimes be effective in comforting pain. If there is a hole in the tooth, you may place Oil of Cloves on a small cotton pellet and place it in the site to relieve pain.