Dental Emergencies

What is a dental emergency? 

A dental emergency is any situation that poses an immediate threat to the health of your teeth and supporting tissues. Dental emergencies are often the result of impact to the mouth, but they can also be caused by infection. To ensure the best possible outcome, any dental emergency should be evaluated by a dental professional as soon as possible. 

To help us care for patients when urgent needs arise, time is built into our schedule each day to accommodate lastminute emergency appointments for both new and existing patients whenever possible. 

After-Hours Emergencies 

If you are a current patient and have a severe dental emergency after hours—such as significant infection, pain, trauma, or a lost tooth—please call us at Cahill Dental Care Phone Number 651-451-9101 to learn about our emergency services and receive further instructions. 

What to do if a tooth is knocked out 

For permanent teeth that are knocked out: 

Rinse the tooth gently and place it back in the socket if possible. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, place it in a container of milk, water, or saliva to keep it moist. Do not touch the roots (handle the tooth by the crown only) and do not brush the tooth. Contact us IMMEDIATELY for emergency care, the sooner you reach us, the greater the chance we can save your teeth. 

For baby teeth that are unexpectedly knocked out: 

Leave the tooth out and contact us immediately for instructions. 

Other Emergency Dental Situations 

  • Substantial toothache 
  • Significant sensitivity 
  • Swollen or sore gums 
  • Jaw pain 
  • Infection 
  • Broken, cracked, or chipped teeth 
  • Broken fillings 
  • Lost crowns 

Pain Management 

If you are unable to get into our office immediately, the following home care tips may help keep you comfortable while you wait for treatment: 

  • Rinse with warm water to soothe sore teeth and gums 
  • Take overthecounter pain medication such as ibuprofen (not aspirin) 
  • Apply ice packs to the outside of the cheek 
  • Use dental anesthetics containing benzocaine as directed on the package 
  • Avoid overly hot or cold foods and beverages 
  • Use heating pads for jaw pain 
  • Avoid chewing on the affected side 
  • If a broken tooth has a sharp edge, place cotton over it to protect soft tissues 

Pain-Free Emergencies 

Some dental emergencies may not cause pain right away. For example, a cracked tooth may not hurt initially but can still lead to nerve damage or infection. For this reason, all of the conditions listed above require prompt attention, even if pain is not present. 

We are here to help. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, call us at the first sign of a problem so we can get you the care you need as quickly as possible.