Dental Emergencies in Charlestown, RI

Dental emergencies include bleeding that cannot be controlled, unbearable tooth pain, or a tooth that needs immediate care in order to be saved after being knocked out or damaged. If you are experiencing any of these situations, call our office right away for an emergency dental appointment.

When you lose a tooth due to an accident, it can be scary, but the good news is that it can usually be saved with prompt emergency care. Hold the tooth by the crown—never touch the root—and rinse off any dust or debris using milk or saliva. You can attempt to reinsert the tooth back into the socket yourself, or place it in a small cup of saliva or milk and bring it to your appointment. Call our office as soon as you are able for emergency treatment—we will reinsert the tooth and stabilize it to encourage your gums to reattach.

If your broken tooth is sharp or painful or if your tooth is badly damaged, it’s considered a dental emergency. Call our office and we will provide you with instructions and make arrangements to see you as soon as possible. If you’ve suffered only a minor chip and are not experiencing any pain, give our office a call—while a chipped tooth is not considered a dental emergency, we can schedule an appointment to see you soon and repair your tooth with dental bonding or a veneer.

The first thing to do if you’re experiencing severe tooth pain is to try flossing. It may sound strange, but food stuck between two teeth is often a cause of toothaches. If this doesn’t help, it’s likely that you have an infection, fracture, or cavity that needs treatment. Call our office to make an appointment. In the meantime, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, cold compresses, numbing gels, or salt water rinses for temporary relief.

Sometimes a broken crown can be repaired, but other times a new crown must be made to replace it. It’s important to get prompt treatment when a crown breaks to prevent further damage and infection. You can place dental wax or a piece of sugarless gum onto the affected tooth to protect it temporarily, then call our office for an appointment.