Dental Emergencies may include teeth that have been knocked out (evulsed), forced out of position (extruded), or broken (fractured).

These oral injuries are often painful, and should be treated by a dentist as soon as possible.

When a tooth is knocked out you should:

• Attempt to  find the tooth

• Immediately call your dentist for an emergency appointment

• Gently rinse, but do not scrub the tooth to remove dirt or debris

• Place the clean tooth in your mouth between the cheek and gum

• Do not attempt to replace the tooth into the socket. This could cause further damage

• Get to the dentist as soon as possible.  If it is within a half hour of the injury, it may be possible to re-implant the tooth

• If it is not possible to store the tooth in the mouth of the injured person (e.g., a young child,) wrap the tooth in a clean cloth or gauze and immerse in milk

If the tooth is pushed out of place (inward or outward), it should be repositioned to its normal alignment with very light  finger pressure. Do not force the tooth into the socket. Hold the tooth in place with a moist tissue or gauze. Again, it is vital that a dentist see the injured individual as quickly as possible.

How a fractured tooth is treated will depend on how badly it is broken. Regardless of the damage, a dentist should always be consulted as quickly as possible to determine appropriate treatment.

Minor Fracture – Minor fractures can be smoothed by your dentist or simply left alone. Another option is to restore the tooth with a composite restoration. In either case, you should treat the tooth with care for several days.

Moderate Fracture – Moderate fractures include damage to the enamel, dentin and/or pulp. If the pulp is not permanently damaged, there are a variety of procedures your  dentist can use to restore your tooth to its original shape and function, including the placement of a full permanent crown. If pulpal damage has occurred, further dental treatment may be required.

Severe Fracture – Severe fractures may mean a traumatized tooth with a slim chance of recovery. However, there are dental procedures available to restore even severely damaged teeth and a dentist should be consulted as soon as possible to determine if treatment is possible.