Before we dive into the details of what to do during a dental emergency, we want to first say that if you are experiencing unbearable pain or uncontrollable bleeding outside of regular business hours, you should go to the emergency room in Royal Oak, MI.
In any other situation, it’s important to know which dental emergencies are urgent and which emergencies can wait to be treated during our regular business hours at North Oaks Dental.

What Is An Urgent Dental Emergency?

The following are considered urgent dental emergencies:

  • Gums that won’t stop bleeding
  • A very loose tooth or a tooth that has been knocked out
  • An injury to your jaw
  • Painful swelling in or around your mouth
  • A painful toothache that won’t go away, even with over-the-counter pain medications
  • Swollen cheeks or face in combination with a toothache
  • Extreme tooth sensitivity

If you are experiencing anything listed above, or any other oral health crisis you should deal with it right away by calling your dentist. We can be reached during regular business hours by calling 248-712-1522. If, for whatever reason, you can’t get in touch with us during an urgent dental emergency, visit your nearest emergency room.
If you are one of our longtime patients, you likely already have an emergency number to call if you have an urgent dental emergency outside of regular business hours. If you are a new patient, ask us about our emergency contact information during your next visit.

What Is A Non-Urgent Dental Emergency?

The following are considered non-urgent dental emergencies:

  • Lost filling, crown, or bridge
  • Broken or cracked tooth (unless it is extremely painful)
  • Broken or damaged retainer, night guard, or mouthguard
  • Food stuck between teeth
  • Dull or throbbing toothache
  • Small chip in your tooth
  • Mild tooth sensitivity

If you experience any of the above non-urgent dental emergencies, you should still call your dentist right away. In most cases, patients dealing with a non-urgent dental emergency can wait until their doctor can see them, even up to a few days. The most important thing to remember is to call your dentist as soon as something happens so that you know what steps you should take next.

What to Do at Home in Case of a Dental Emergency

Depending on the emergency you are experiencing, there might be some things you can do at home to ease any discomfort you are feeling and remedy the situation until you can get to your dentist.
Below are some suggestions for how to deal with a dental emergency at home:

  • Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a mug of boiling water then let it cool until it can be used as a warm mouthwash. This can help relieve irritation and reduce swelling.
  • If you get a tooth knocked out, keep it in a glass of milk until you can get to your dentist.
  • Try flossing to see if there could be something stuck between your teeth or inside your gum tissue, causing you discomfort.
  • Use a cold compress or ice pack to reduce swelling, numb the area, and control bleeding.
  • Take the prescribed dose of over-the-counter pain medication.

For more information on what to do in case of a dental emergency, contact North Oaks Dental at 248-712-1522. We are more than happy to help.