When a dental emergency takes place, it is important to be prepared and take the right steps. Knowing what to do can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. At Rifkin & Raanan, we set aside time for emergency procedures. Dr. Rifkin has the training and expertise to identify a dental emergency and eliminate or reduce pain within a few minutes. Regardless of your situation, getting your injury treated and repaired as soon as possible is always the best thing to do. The following tips will help you manage your emergency before you are able to receive the proper treatment.

What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?

It’s also important to know what kinds of injuries require immediate care and which can wait. If you are unsure about whether or not your injury is a dental emergency, ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you in significant pain?
• Are any of your teeth loose?
• Are you experiencing severe bleeding?
• Do you have any major swelling in the mouth or facial area?
• Do you have any knots or bulges in your gum tissue?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you most likely have a dental emergency on your hands. Be sure to call us as soon as possible and schedule an emergency appointment!

Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth requires immediate medical attention. If you take the appropriate steps, chances are high that your tooth can be reinserted and preserved by Dr. Rifkin. Ideally, we want to schedule an emergency appointment within one hour of the incident. When a tooth is knocked out, be sure to pick it up by the crown—never touch the roots of the tooth. Rinse the tooth off very gently, but do not scrub the tooth or remove any remaining tissue. If possible, gently place the tooth back into the socket. You can hold it in place by delicately biting down. If this is not possible, we suggest placing the tooth in a glass of milk, saliva, or water. You can also store the tooth in between your cheek and gums. The most important thing to do is to keep the tooth moist.

Dr. Rifkin will try to re-implant the tooth as soon as possible. This may be more complicated if your tooth or bone is broken. If your tooth remains intact, we will use a splint to hold it in place for several days. If the bone around the tooth is not fractured, the root will usually reattach in about three or four weeks. Severely damaged areas could take up to eight weeks. If the tooth cannot be saved, Rifkin & Raanan offers a number of restorative treatments to provide a discrete and reliable replacement.

Chipped or Fractured Tooth

If a tooth is chipped, but there is no pain, you can usually wait a few days to see a dentist. Be careful when chewing food as it may cause a larger chip. If the chip is minor, we may be able to smooth it out. For larger chips, we can bond resin composite material to the tooth to restore its shape and function. A cracked or fractured tooth is a much more serious issue. A fracture usually suggests that damage has occurred on the inside of the tooth as well. Severe fractures can be so damaging that we may not be able to save the tooth. If you experience a fracture, be sure to gently rinse your mouth out with warm water. You can take acetaminophen to alleviate any pain. If you have facial trauma, you can apply a cold compress to minimize swelling. We may need to take an x-ray to see the extent of the damage. If the pulp is unaffected, you may only need a dental crown. If your pulp is damaged, you may need a root canal.