Dental Emergencies

Dental Emergencies in Tecumseh, MI

Dental accidents happen, but a quick response can help save your tooth or reduce immediate pain.

Dr. Hourani and Dental Hygienist examining patient's teeth at Tecumseh Family Dental Care

Your Dental Emergency Specialists

A knocked-out tooth or bitten tongue can cause panic in any parent, but quick thinking and staying calm are the best ways to approach such common dental emergencies. With proper timely treatment, you can often prevent additional unnecessary damage or costly dental restorations!

Whether the emergency is related to a lost tooth, damaged restoration or other issue, contact us right away! We can help you save the tooth or give you instructions on what to do until you can be seen by a dentist.

Procedure

The procedure will vary based on your dental emergency. However, if you lost a tooth, there are some steps you can take to improve your recovery and reduce chances of permanently losing your tooth.

If a tooth is lost, it’s important to prevent it from drying out. The best way to save the tooth is to hold it by the crown (avoid touching the root) and rinse it under running water. This will help remove debris that may have contacted the tooth when it was dislodged from its socket.

Next, place the tooth back in the socket it was removed from. The faster you do this, the higher your chances are of reattachment with the roots and tissue.

Apply light pressure to your tooth to help keep it in the socket and in the proper position. You can bite your teeth together to help verify that it’s in the right place! If you have a sterile gauze pad, you can place this over your tooth to bite onto and hold the tooth in place.

Contact us as soon as possible for further instruction. If the tooth cannot be replaced in the socket, it can be stored in clean water or milk for a short time until you can make it to our office.

FAQ

I Lost a Filling, Can I Use a Filling Kit from the Store?

Yes – these temporary filling kits commonly located at your local drugstores are a great option to keep your tooth safe until you’re able to reach us. These solutions aren’t permanent, so please contact us as soon as possible so we can find a time to help replace the lost filling.
What can I Do About a Loose Crown?

If your emergency involves a loose crown, you’ll need it cemented back in place at the dentist. Until you can be seen, you can use a temporary dental adhesive to keep it in place.
What about a Broken or Chipped Tooth?

When a tooth breaks completely, it’s likely to lead to swelling. There are two important steps to take:
#1. Rinse out your mouth. Try using room temperature or warm water to avoid issues with sensitivity.
#2. Use a cold compress on the area with the damaged tooth to reduce potential swelling.