When to Schedule an Emergency Trip to the Dentist

Many of us fear the dentist more than snake bites or bee stings or even that dreaded visit with boring Aunt Maude. As such, we avoid our regular check-ups at all costs and simply hope our daily oral hygiene regimen is enough to keep our mouths happy and healthy. While many of us can often get away with neglecting regular dental check-ups and cleanings, there are some emergency instances in which a trip to your local oral healthcare provider is not only unavoidable, it has to happen right away. Many dentists like to make themselves available for emergency situations and aim to reduce your pain as quickly as possible. However, there are a few things you can do at home or en route in order to make the trip to the dentist a little less painful. 

If you have knocked out a tooth, try to find and collect as many tooth pieces as you can and put them in a solution such as contact lens cleaning fluid, milk, water, or normalized saline. Apply pressure to any bleeding areas within the mouth with a piece of gauze that has been immersed in cold water or a teabag. Don’t hesitate to take appropriate pain medication if necessary while dialing the number to your dentist. Keep the compress in place to minimize bleeding, but do not attempt to clean out the area. Leaving tissue fragments in place can come in handy later and make reinserting the tooth easier if possible. As the bleeding slows, this is an indication that a clot is starting to form. This clot is fragile at first and can easily be disrupted by events such as spitting, sucking on a straw, or smoking. You will need to see your dental care provider within the hour if you want to save the tooth and try to reinsert it.

Occasionally, gums can form large painful boils that need to be seen and treated by a dentist. If you have developed a painful sore on your gums it is best to continue to keep the area clean and rise it with salt water. Cool compresses and pain medications should help if the boil continues to swell. Whatever you do, do not attempt to pop the boil as if it was a pimple on your face. The boil is full of bacteria and your mouth is not the best place to release all of that bacteria. It can enter your bloodstream and spread just about anywhere in your body. Make an appointment to see your dental healthcare provider right away. He or she will evaluate and let you know if you need to be put on a round of antibiotics.