How to prepare for a dental emergency

A dental emergency can happen at any time. A tooth may be dislodged in a fall or a crown may break during a meal, for example. Because you never know when a dental emergency may occur, it’s important to be prepared and know how to proceed if you are ever faced with one. Responding quickly to a dental emergency may prevent the need for extensive treatment later.

Different situations call for different tactics to address the problem immediately until you get to the dentist. If you wake up with an aching tooth, place a cold compress on the outside of the mouth to dull the pain. If your tooth is chipped, broken or knocked out, rinse off the tooth or any pieces in warm water. If the tooth has fallen out, try to gently re-insert it into its place. If that’s not possible, store the tooth in a container of milk until you can get to the dentist, which should occur within an hour if you hope to save the tooth. A lost filling can be filled in temporarily by a piece of sugarless gum, and you may be able to put a lost crown back into place for a short time until you see the dentist.

If your dental emergency happens during a weekday, you may be able to go directly to the dentist for treatment. Call the office and see if they can squeeze you in. Even in busy practices, dentists in Tarrant County typically can accommodate patients with emergencies that occur during normal practice hours.

Even if you have a dental crisis outside of normal business hours, you can always visit the emergency room for initial treatment then schedule a follow-up appointment with your regular dentist as soon as possible for a permanent fix. It’s important to get treatment for a dental emergency as soon as possible to prevent other complications from developing.

If you do not have a relationship with a dental practice, it may be more difficult to find care from a dentist in an emergency. This is another reason why it’s important to seek routine care from one of the best dentists in DFW, to ensure that you’ll have a place to go for treatment in an urgent situation.