In a dental emergency, call your dentist first. A knocked-out adult tooth has the best chance of being saved if it is back in the socket within about an hour, so act fast. Facial swelling with fever or trouble swallowing or breathing is a medical emergency: go to the ER. For most other problems, a same-day dental visit is the right place, not the emergency room.
Dental emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time. Knowing what to do in the first hour can be the difference between saving a tooth and losing it. Here is De Anza Smiles' guide for Cupertino families.
Knocked-out adult tooth
- Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), never the root
- If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water. Do not scrub it
- If you can, gently push it back into the socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it
- If not, keep it in milk or inside your cheek. Do not let it dry out
- Call us right away. Time matters more than anything else here
For a knocked-out baby tooth, do not put it back. Call us so we can check the area and the adult tooth underneath.
Severe toothache
- Rinse with warm water and gently floss in case something is stuck
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label
- A cold compress on the cheek can ease swelling
- Do not put aspirin directly on the gum; it can burn the tissue
- Call us. A throbbing pain that keeps you awake often means infection
Broken or chipped tooth
Save any pieces you can find, rinse your mouth with warm water, and use a cold compress if your lip or cheek is swollen. Call us. A small chip can often be smoothed or bonded; a larger break may need a crown. Pain when you bite or a pink spot in the break means the nerve may be exposed, so come in the same day.
Lost filling or crown
Keep the crown if you have it, and avoid chewing on that side. A little sugar-free gum or dental cement from a pharmacy can cover a sensitive spot for a short time. Do not glue a crown back with household glue. Call us to have it re-cemented or replaced.
Swelling or a bump on the gum
A pimple-like bump on the gum, a bad taste, or swelling in the face are signs of an infection that needs treatment, often a root canal or an extraction. Call us the same day. If swelling spreads to your eye or neck, or you have a fever, trouble swallowing or trouble breathing, go to the emergency room.
Dentist or ER? Emergency rooms can manage pain, swelling and infection, but most cannot repair or save a tooth. Unless it is life-threatening, call your dentist first.
What can usually wait a day or two
- A small chip with no pain
- Mild sensitivity to cold that goes away quickly
- A loose or lost crown with no pain, if you avoid chewing on it
Call anyway. We will tell you honestly whether you need to come in today.
Emergency dentist in Cupertino
De Anza Smiles gives emergency appointments top priority, and we are reachable 7 days a week. You do not need to be an existing patient. Call (408) 255-1700, or read more about our emergency dentistry.