Unfortunately, we often see patients with broken teeth. What do you do if you chip, crack, or knock out a tooth? Rule number one: don’t panic! Dentists see this all the time and we will help you! Let’s look at some guidelines to help you navigate these stressful situations.
Chipped Or Broken Tooth
If some of your tooth has chipped, or broken off, there is no need to worry about trying to locate the piece. We cannot bond pieces of a broken tooth back together. Simply call your dentist as soon as you can, and we will schedule you to evaluate the area as soon as possible. If the tooth is hurting, ibuprofen is the best medication to take.
Avulsed Tooth (knocked out tooth)
- Rinse your mouth with cold water and apply a cold compress to your face to reduce swelling.
- Check the inside of your mouth and identify the tooth (or teeth) in question. Look for the tooth that may have fallen out. If it was a baby tooth that fell out, do not try to put it back. Instead, put it in a safe place in case your dentist wants to see it. If a permanent tooth was affected, either preserve it in a clean container in a moist solution (cold milk, water, saliva), or place the tooth back into the socket and bite down gently on some gauze or a piece of cloth.
- Call your dentist.
It doesn’t matter what time of day or day of the week, Adams and Cheek Dentistry has an emergency number to call or text on our after-hours voicemail message. If you are unable to get the after-hours emergency line, you should visit the emergency room to get assessed. Of course, you’re in luck if the tooth situation occurs during normal business hours. Call us at 919.866.1360 or click here for our contact information. We will get you in as soon as possible!
