Emergency Dentistry

Emergency Dentistry Q&A

What is a dental emergency?

A dental emergency is any oral problem that causes severe pain. If you’re suffering from severe tooth pain or injury outside normal office hours, Dr. Ramjit is on-call at any hour, seven days a week to help. Some emergency dental situations include:

• Knocked-out tooth

• Chipped tooth

• Severe toothache

• Abscess

• Oral injury

• Unstoppable bleeding

Any pain that disrupts your life can’t wait; you need to address it immediately. Similarly, Dr. Ramjit needs to address mouth injuries that knock out, loosen, or crack a tooth -- or result in continuous bleeding -- right away to prevent further problems or more permanent damage.

What can I do to prepare for my emergency visit?

For pain, Dr. Ramjit recommends acetaminophen like Tylenol®. Never take aspirin as it can cause excessive bleeding.

If your tooth is knocked-out, avoid touching the roots that sit below the gums. Wash the tooth gently if it has touched any surface outside your mouth. Try to set the tooth back in its socket if you can, but never force it.

If your tooth doesn't fit back in your gums, put it in milk, your saliva, or Save-a-Tooth® if you have some on hand. Then, visit Dr. Ramjit immediately.

For chipped or cracked teeth, save the chipped piece, rinse your mouth out with warm water, and apply a piece of gauze if there’s bleeding.

If you have an abscess that’s causing you severe pain, take a painkiller -- never touch it -- and see Dr. Ramjit right away. An abscess can lead to further issues if not taken care of properly.

How do I avoid dental emergencies?

Unfortunately, you can’t avoid dental emergencies all together, but you can do your best to prevent them. Regular check-ups and diligent at-home oral care can prevent tooth pain, abscesses, and weakened teeth that are prone to cracking.

If you participate in sports or physical activities, wearing a mouthguard to protect your teeth can prevent losing or breaking teeth. Also, always wear your seatbelt while in a car. It prevents you from hitting your mouth in case of an accident.
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If you do have a dental emergency, Dr. Ramjit is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be reached by phone or online.