Dental Emergency? We Have Answers.

Act fast — every minute counts. Follow these steps:

1. Pick up the tooth by the crown (white part), never the root.
2. If dirty, gently rinse with water for 10 seconds. Do NOT scrub or use soap.
3. Try to reinsert it into the socket and bite down gently on a gauze.
4. If reinsertion isn’t possible, store it in milk, saline, or between your cheek and gum.
5. Call Newbury Smiles immediately and get to us within 30 minutes.

Yes — a knocked-out permanent tooth can often be successfully reimplanted, especially when handled correctly and promptly. The key factors are: how quickly the tooth is replanted, how the tooth was stored, and the overall health of the root. Baby teeth (primary teeth) are generally not reimplanted because it can interfere with developing permanent teeth. Call us, and we’ll advise based on your child’s age.

Keep the tooth moist at all times. Store it in milk (best home option), saline solution, or a “Save-A-Tooth” emergency kit. Avoid tap water as it can damage root cells. Head to your nearest emergency dental clinic or ER if we are unavailable. Even if more than an hour has passed, bring the tooth; it may still help determine your treatment options.

It depends on the severity:

• Minor chip (no pain): Not urgent, but call us within 24–48 hours to prevent further damage.
• Large break with pain: Call us same day — the pulp (nerve) may be exposed.
• Tooth broken at the gum line: Dental emergency — call immediately.
• Vertical crack: Can be serious — call us today.

Absolutely. A crack that doesn’t hurt today can worsen under chewing pressure and become extremely painful,  or even cause the tooth to split, if left untreated. Cracks can also allow bacteria to enter, leading to infection. Schedule an appointment within 1–2 days. We’ll assess the crack depth and determine if bonding, a crown, or another treatment is needed.

• Rinse with warm salt water to clean the area.
• Apply gauze if there is bleeding.
• Use a cold pack on your cheek for swelling.
• Cover sharp edges with dental wax (available at pharmacies) to protect your tongue and cheek.
• Take OTC pain relievers (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) as directed — do not place aspirin directly on the tooth or gum.
• Avoid chewing on that side and avoid very hot, cold, or sweet foods.

A toothache becomes a dental emergency when:

• The pain is severe, throbbing, or constant
• Pain is accompanied by fever, swelling, or a bad taste/smell
• You have difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing
• Pain started after dental work and is getting worse
• OTC pain medication provides little to no relief

• Salt water rinse: Mix ½ tsp salt in 8 oz warm water and swish for 30 seconds.
• Clove oil: Apply a tiny amount with a cotton ball — it contains eugenol, a natural anesthetic.
• Cold pack: Apply to your cheek for 15–20 minutes on/off to numb and reduce swelling.
• OTC pain relievers: Ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed. Ibuprofen is often more effective as it also reduces inflammation.
• Elevate your head: Keep your head elevated when lying down to reduce throbbing.

These are temporary measures only. Please call us — untreated tooth pain rarely resolves on its own.

Yes. Tooth-like pain can sometimes originate from:

• Sinus infections (especially upper back teeth)
• TMJ (jaw joint) disorders
• Gum disease
• Referred pain from the ear or neck
• Impacted wisdom teeth

That’s why a professional examination is essential. We can diagnose the source and make sure you’re treated correctly.

A lost filling is not usually a severe emergency, but call us within 24 hours. The exposed tooth can become very sensitive and is at risk of further decay or fracture. In the meantime, you can use dental cement (brands like Dentemp, available at pharmacies) to temporarily fill the cavity. Avoid chewing on that side and avoid extreme temperatures.

You can temporarily re-seat a crown using dental cement from the pharmacy. Clean the crown and the tooth, dry them, apply the cement inside the crown, and gently press it back into place. Do not use super glue — it is toxic and can damage the tooth and crown. Call us immediately to schedule a permanent recementation.

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection. Signs include:

• Severe, persistent, throbbing toothache
• Sensitivity to hot and cold
• Fever and a general feeling of illness
• Swelling in your face, cheek, or neck
• Tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw
• A pimple-like bump on the gums near the painful tooth
• Bad taste or smell from a burst abscess

No, a dental abscess cannot be fully treated at home and should never be ignored. Antibiotics can help control the infection temporarily, but the source must be treated professionally through root canal therapy, drainage, or extraction. For temporary relief only: rinse with warm salt water several times a day and take OTC pain relievers. Call us immediately.

Occasional light bleeding with brushing is often a sign of gingivitis (early gum disease) and is not an emergency — but it is a warning sign you should not ignore. Schedule an appointment within the next 1–2 weeks. Use a soft-bristle brush, brush gently at a 45-degree angle to the gumline, and floss daily. Gums can often recover with improved home care.

1. Apply firm pressure with clean gauze for 15–20 minutes without lifting to check.
2. Do not rinse, spit, or drink anything during this time.
3. Sit upright or lean slightly forward; do not lay flat.
4. Apply a cold pack to the outside of your face.

If bleeding does not slow after 20–30 minutes, call us or go to the ER.

• Use the eraser end of a pencil to gently push the wire flat against the tooth.
• Cover the sharp end with orthodontic wax to protect the inside of your cheek.
• As a last resort, carefully clip the wire with small nail clippers sterilized with alcohol — only the protruding end.
• Call your orthodontist or us to schedule a repair soon.

A loose bracket is uncomfortable but generally not a true emergency unless it’s causing pain or injury. Secure it with orthodontic wax and contact your orthodontist within 1–2 days to have it rebonded. If the bracket is completely off, save it and bring it to your appointment. Do not attempt to glue it back yourself.

1. Rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water.
2. Apply pressure with clean gauze for 15–20 minutes.
3. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the face to reduce swelling.
4. If bleeding is severe or the wound is large, go to the ER.

Most minor soft tissue injuries heal on their own within 1–2 weeks. Avoid spicy or acidic foods during healing.

Canker sores are common and not an emergency. They typically heal within 1–2 weeks. OTC gels like Orabase or Anbesol can provide temporary relief. Call us if the sore is unusually large, lasts more than 2 weeks, is accompanied by fever, or makes swallowing difficult.

A locked jaw can be very alarming. Do not try to force your jaw open.

• Apply warm, moist heat to the jaw muscles to reduce tension.
• Take OTC anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen) if you can swallow them.
• Eat soft foods only and avoid wide mouth opening.
• Call us right away; in many cases, this can be treated in our office.

If the jaw was dislocated due to trauma, go to the ER.

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder is very common. Signs include:

• Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when chewing
• Aching pain in and around your ear
• Difficulty or pain chewing
• Facial pain and tenderness in the jaw
• Headaches, especially in the morning
• Locking of the joint (difficulty opening or closing)

TMJ disorders are very treatable. Call us for an evaluation; we may recommend a nightguard, physical therapy, or other treatments.

1. Try gently using dental floss,  slide it carefully between teeth, don’t snap it down.
2. Rinse with warm water to help dislodge loose particles.
3. Use an interdental brush or toothpick very carefully.
4. Do not use sharp instruments or metal objects.

If the object won’t come out or you have pain, swelling, or bleeding, call us. A persistent foreign object can cause a gum abscess.

Do not attempt to repair dentures with household glues — including super glue. These materials can be toxic and usually result in a poor fit that causes sore spots on your gums. Denture repair kits are available at pharmacies for very minor chips as a temporary measure only. Call us,  we can often repair or reline a denture quickly.

Ill-fitting dentures that cause painful sores should be evaluated within 1–2 days. Continued wear can cause bone loss, gum sores, and oral infections. In the meantime, use denture adhesive for a better fit, remove the denture for several hours a day to let gum tissue rest, and rinse with warm salt water to soothe sore areas.

A loose but still-in-place tooth needs to be seen by us as soon as possible, ideally the same day. The tooth may need to be splinted to neighboring teeth to stabilize it during healing.

• Eat only soft foods and avoid chewing with that tooth.
• Rinse gently with warm salt water.
• Take OTC pain relievers for discomfort.
• Do not wiggle or touch the tooth.

Yes, always. Even when a tooth looks intact after trauma, there can be damage to the root, supporting bone, or dental pulp (nerve) that only shows up on X-ray. Delayed diagnosis can lead to tooth death, discoloration, and abscess weeks or months later. We recommend a post-trauma evaluation within 24 hours even when symptoms seem mild. Please call us to schedule.

This is called luxation and it is a dental emergency, call us immediately. Do not try to push the tooth back yourself. Keep your child calm, apply a cold pack to the outside of the face, have them bite gently on gauze if there’s bleeding, and get to our office as quickly as possible.