Find out what to do in the short term for relief of a dental emergency.

Bleeding Continues
After an extraction, if you start bleeding again, take a used teabag, place it at the site and bite hard for five minutes. The pressure will stop the bleeding.
  • If the bleeding continues, call your Dentist, or find a qualified Dentist from our Dental Directory.
Bleeding Spontaneously
If you start to bleed spontaneously from your nose, it is possible that after a recent extraction from the upper jaw and some sneezing,you could have dislocated the clot or broken the Schniderian membrane (membrane that forms the floor of the sinuses). Your dentist will beable to evaluate the situation.
HEART PROBLEM: If a patient is on medication for a heart problem or hypertension, the anticoagulant drugs taken can produce spontaneous bleeding.

DEFECTIVE LIVER: If a patient has a defective liver due to disease or alchoholism, some clotting factors could be not functioning properly.

BLOOD DISORDER: If a patient has a blood disorder (hemophilia, leukemia, sickle cell) any opening will trigger a hemorrhage.
  • If bleeding continues and your dentist is not available, go to your local hospital.
Your Cap Has Fallen Off
If you have a temporary cap which falls out, try first to snap it back in. If unsuccessful, you can sometimes buy over the counter temporary cement. Follow the directions strictly.
  • Do not use ordinary household glue!! Preferably see a dentist immediately.
Chipped Tooth
If part of a tooth breaks off, keep the piece, sometimes the dentist will be ableto reuse that piece with bonding techniques.
  • If you do not have the broken piece, call your dentist for an appointment.
Gum Surgery
After a gum surgery, warm salt water rinses will help you with possible discomfort you may be experiencing. Also, taking extra vitamin C will help it to quicken the healing period.
  • SMOKING WILL DELAY ALL HEALING.
Knocked Out Tooth
Teeth can be put back until you reach a dentist!!
Advice: If you or your child falls and a tooth pops out of the mouth: Rinse the tooth and try to hold the tooth in place in your mouth (best) or a glass of milk (better) or water and get to a dentistwithin 20 minutes.
  • If you are out of reach of a dentist, rinse the tooth and gently put the tooth back in the socket it came out of, and call a qualified Dentist.
Pregnancy
When pregnant, your gums will swell up and bleed. This is due to the high hormone level.
  • Keep your mouth clean by brushing and flossing after each meal.
Jaw is Sore
When you wake up in the morning, if your jaw muscles hurt and feel sore, place a warm compress on and off (ten seconds at a time,) for five minutes, every day for one week.
  • The soreness may occur from grinding your teeth at night. See your dentist to adjust your occlusion or get a night guard.
Still Unhealed
If you recently had a tooth taken out and the area has not healedafter one week, your dentist should take an x-ray to see if a root tipor fragment is still embedded in the area.
  • Do not wait to see your dentist.
Numbness Continues
If you had a tooth extracted on the lower back areas, it is possible that you may not regain full sensory feelings immediately.
  • After 24 hours contact your Dentistand let him know your symptons.
Tooth Ache or Abscess
If you have a tooth ache or an abscess: do not place an aspirin directly on the sore area as commonly done. This will cause an aspirin burn and the pain will increase later. Take the aspirin, then place a nice compress on the cheek. The abscess is producing heat, therefore the cold compress will keep the swelling down and the inflammation in check.

You can also buy a over-the-counter topical anaesthetic with 5%-20% benzocaine which will help alleviate the pain temporarily.
  • Relief is only temporary. Pick up the phone and schedule an appointment with your dentist.

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