Tooth Knocked Out - Permanent

1. Go to the hospital if:

- You were knocked unconscious for any period.
- You have any cuts which require stitches.
- You cannot find all or part of the tooth; you need to be checked to see if it was inhaled.

2. If you find the tooth, pick it up by the crown or the surface which you would normally chew with or see. Don't touch the root.

3. Rinse off the tooth in cool water very gently, being careful not to disturb the root. Don't wipe, scrub or dry off the tooth. Keep the tooth moist at all times.

4. Try to carefully place the tooth back in the socket by pushing with your fingers. Bite down to help hold it there. See a dentist as soon as possible.

5. If you can't get it back in, place it in milk if possible, or in your mouth between your cheek and your lip. If neither of those will work, try saline contact lens solution or water with a pinch of salt.

6. Try to see a dentist within one hour so the tooth can be replaced.

7. Switch to a liquid diet.

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Tooth Knocked Out - Child's Baby Tooth

1. Go to the hospital if:

- Child was knocked unconscious for any period.
- Child has any cuts which require stitches.
- You cannot find all or part of the tooth; you need to have your child checked to see if it was inhaled.

2. Child's baby teeth are not replaced. Use a cold compress for swelling.

3. Use Tylenol for pain.

4. Make an appointment with your dentist so your child can be checked to see if a space maintainer is needed to ensure the space doesn't close up and block the eruption of a permanent tooth.

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Tooth Pushed Out of Place

1. Use very light finger pressure to gently push tooth back into place.

2. Do not use strong pressure to force tooth into socket.

3. Use moist gauze to hold tooth into place.

4. Get in to see a dentist as soon as possible.

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Broken Tooth

Take over the counter pain killer if needed. Call your dentist as soon as the office opens and schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

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Possible Broken Jaw

Apply a cold compress and see your dentist or go to the emergency room immediately.

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Broken Denture

As an emergency repair, you can superglue it. Be sure it is clean and dry and that you get the pieces together exactly as they were. Call your dentist to see if your denture can be repaired. Your superglue will only last a day or so.

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Toothache

1. Contact your dentist as soon as possible to make an appointment. Be sure to let them know you have a toothache.

2. Take Tylenol or Advil to ease the pain.

3. A topical, over-the-counter anesthetic with benzocaine applied every two hours may also help the pain. Ask the pharmacist if you have trouble finding this. It comes in gel or swabs.

4. Rinse your mouth with water and floss to remove any food or debris.

5. If you have any swelling, use an ice pack on your cheek to help with the pain and swelling. Swelling is likely the result of an infection. You will most likely need to get on an antibiotic as soon as possible.

6. Don't put off regular check-ups or needed dental work. They can prevent most toothaches from occurring in the first place.

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Pain and Swelling around Tooth

If there is swelling you probably have an infection and you need to see your dentist as soon as possible. You will probably need an antibiotic. Oral infections can be very serious, so seek help immediately. If you cannot get to dentist, go to the emergency room.

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Lost Crown

If the crown has come off cleanly (i.e. no part of the tooth has broken off with the crown), then you can stick the crown back on temporarily with some denture adhesive. Call your dentist as soon as the office opens to have your tooth fixed properly.

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Temporary Crown Off

1. It is important that you have a temporary crown on your tooth until time for your permanent crown to be placed.

2. If your temporary comes off, place denture adhesive in the temporary and replace it over the tooth. Call your dentist as soon as the office opens to have the temporary replaced properly.

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