Home | Dental Emergencies
If you find yourself with an after hours dental emergency use the information below to help plan a course of action.
IMPORTANT:
If you are having a true dental emergency and are unable to reach us, please try one of the many urgent dental centers in Cincinnati. You can find them by doing a search on the internet. Otherwise go to a local medical urgent care or the nearest hospital ER.
Pain:
If you are having mild to moderate tooth pain and it is after office hours, most adults can take 600 to 800 mg ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or 1000mg of Tylenol to take the edge off the pain until we can see you. Do not take ibuprofen if you are allergic to it, if you are allergic to aspirin, or if you are allergic to other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines. Avoid ibuprofen if you have a history of asthma with aspirin sensitivity and nasal polyps. Use ibuprofen with caution if you have a history of ulcers or GI bleeding. If you are pregnant, talk to your ob/gyn before taking any medicine.
You may alternate the two medicines for moderate to severe pain by taking ibuprofen, then taking Tylenol three hours later, then the ibuprofen again three hours after that if needed. Keep that rotation going as needed or until you can get treatment. If that does not help or the pain is severe, you may call our emergency message line at 513-520-2881. If you are having trouble reaching us after hours or if you are not are not a regular patient of our office you may want to go to one of the urgent dental centers in Cincinnati or go to the nearest hospital ER for pain relief.
Back to Top
Abcess (swelling/infection):
If there is a blister or gumboil near the infected tooth that is draining (usually you'll see pus or get a bad taste in your mouth) this is not an emergency and can be handled on the next business day. If there is facial swelling or the blister is not draining, call our emergency message line, or go to the nearest hospital ER. If swelling involves the eye or neck or limits mouth opening, go to the emergency room! This severe infection may require IV antibiotics and/or the establishment of
drainage.
Back to Top
Temporary Crown is lost/broken/swallowed:
If the tooth does not hurt, this is not an emergency and can be handled during regular business hours. Please do call us to schedule an appointment to put it back on. If the crown is off more than 5 to 7 days, the tooth may drift without it, causing problems with seating the new crown. If the crown is off only a few days it won't be a problem. If it is swallowed, don't panic, it will not hurt you. If it is missing or broken and it is sensitive, get some orthodontic wax at the pharmacy and cover the sensitive tooth the best you can. Try to avoid chewing in that area and eat lukewarm food and drink until we can get it covered up again. If it is missing or broken but not sensitive, just avoid chewing on that area and call us on the next business day. This is not an emergency unless it is a front tooth and it is an esthetic problem. In that case call our emergency line. If the temporary crown came off and it is still in good condition, save the crown and bring it with you to your appointment. If the tooth is sensitive and the crown is intact, use some Fixodent or other denture adhesive to "glue" the crown back on. This will hold for several hours, so it will have to be repeated until you come in to have it re-cemented. Also, if denture adhesive is unavailable, regular toothpaste (not whitening or tarter control) can hold it temporarily. If the tooth is causing moderate to severe pain and the crown cannot be salvaged, please call the emergency message line.
Back to Top
Broken tooth/lost filling:
If the break is small and not sensitive, it is not an emergency. Please call during office hours to schedule and appointment for us to fix the tooth. If it is sharp to the tongue or cheek, try filling the void with some orthodontic wax or canning wax. If that doesn't help, call us and we can smooth it for you. If the tooth has moderate to severe pain because of the fracture, and ibuprofen or other over-the-counter pain medicines aren't helping, call the emergency message line. Another option is to obtain temporary filling material from a local drug store such as CVS to temporarily plug the hole in the tooth. If the broken tooth is an esthetic (affects the way you look) concern, please call our emergency message line. If you are unable to reach us, call an urgent dental center in Cincinnati.
Back to Top
Avulsed (completely dislodged) tooth and root:
If the tooth has been loose for some time and has finally come out, this is not an emergency. If the tooth has been knocked out because of an accident, find the tooth, rinse off any obvious dirt or debris but DO NOT SCRUB IT. Immediately put the tooth back in the socket and call the emergency phone. If you cannot get the tooth back in, store the tooth in saliva (in the patient's mouth) or in a cup of milk and get to someone who can help you (dentist's office or hospital ER). Time is of the essence here. See a dentist within one hour if possible. If you can't reach us go to any dentist; just go quickly! The quicker the tooth goes back in the socket, the more likely it is to re-attach and heal. If any bones are broken or soft tissue is cut, go to the emergency room. Don't wiggle the loose tooth. It will need to be stabilized by a dentist right away.
Back to Top
Sensitivity to cold/hot:
This is generally not an emergency. Immediately stop using tarter control or whitening toothpaste and switch to a sensitive paste like Crest Sensitive or Sensodyne. You should always use a soft bristled toothbrush. When brushing your teeth, start in a different area than you are used to and brush the sensitive area last. Before you start brushing, warm your bristles under warm water. Make a dental appointment to see what the problem is.
Back to Top
Broken or lost crown (cap) or bridge (permanent, not temporary):
If some of the porcelain breaks off, this is not an emergency. Call to make an appointment. If the crown is loose or if it came off, save the crown. It's possible to re-cement in some situations. Call and make an appointment and put it back on with denture adhesive in the meantime. If the crown is lost and the tooth hurts, try over-the-counter medicines for pain. If it is swallowed, don't worry. It will not hurt you.
Back to Top
