Emergency Dentistry
bismarck, nd

By being prepared and knowing a few tips, you can remain calm and know what to do when and if an issue happens. These tips will also help you take the correct steps and avoid creating any unnecessary complications later.

• Uncomfortable Toothaches- Toothache pain can become overwhelming. Serious tooth pain can be caused by an infection or dental abscess, or by decay that has irritated the nerves in your tooth. If the tooth pain does not subside with an over-the-counter pain reliever, you should consider it a dental emergency. Call Missouri River Dental immediately, and follow these tips until we can see you:
  • Rinse the mouth with salt water to kill bacteria and alleviate inflammation.
  • Hold a cold compress against the cheek near the sore tooth.
  • Use dental floss to remove any food near the sore tooth.
  • Use an oral numbing gel to the sore tooth and the gums around it.
  • Never apply a pain reliever directly to your tooth or gums, as this will irritate the gum tissue and make matters worse.
• A Broken or Cracked Tooth- If you chip or break a tooth it is best to see Missouri River Dental as soon as possible. The sooner we can treat you, we might be able to reattach the broken piece to your damaged tooth. Save any pieces of the tooth that you find and rinse them gently in warm water. Put it in a cup of milk and bring them on your appointment. If the tooth is painful, you can reduce the pain by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. Hold an ice pack against your cheek, and if you are bleeding, bite down on a piece of gauze to stop the bleeding.
• A Knocked-Out Tooth- Having a tooth knocked out can be traumatic. If you can see Missouri River Dental within an hour, there is a good chance we will be able to re-insert the tooth into its socket and save it. Call us immediately. Pick up the tooth by the crown, not the root, because you do not want to introduce bacteria to the tooth root. If there is debris on the tooth, run it under clean, cold water, and do not dry it. Push it back into the socket, and bite down slowly until you reach us. If you cannot get it back into its socket, put it in a cup of milk. The emergency treatment process involves cleaning the socket, and then re-inserting the tooth in its socket. We might use a special splint to hold the tooth in place. Over the next few weeks, the tooth will fuse with the jawbone, making it stable once again.
• A Lost or Damaged Filling- If you crack or chip a dental filling and do not experience intense pain, you can call Missouri River Dental and schedule an appointment. If you lose a filling totally, you can place some sugar-free gum in the space. If this is comfortable, you can see us to have the filling replaced within a few days. If the pain is intense, call us so we can insert a new filling promptly.
• A Lost Crown- A lost crown is considered an emergency dentistry situation, but like a lost filling, you should be able to wait a few days for treatment. You can put clove oil on the tooth to alleviate any soreness. You can also apply denture glue to the tooth and put the crown back on. Never use super glue. If you cannot get the crown to stay on the tooth, keep it in a plastic bag until you can see us.
• Loose Braces Brackets- A loose braces bracket is not an emergency dentistry issue at 12:00 am, but it is a reason to see Missouri River Dental as soon as possible. You can use orthodontic wax to hold the loose bracket in place. Apply some wax over the top of the bracket so that it does not rub on your cheek. If an arch wire in your braces breaks off, this is also an emergency that can wait until the next day. To keep the wire from poking you, use a pencil eraser to bend it back against your teeth. Do NOT cut the wire! Put some orthodontic wax on the end to prevent it from rubbing on your cheek. Stick with soft foods until you have it repaired.
• A Dental Abscess- A dental abscess is an infection that happens in or around a tooth root. It can cause serious pain and can be dangerous as it can spread into the jawbone. It is important to seek treatment for a possible dental abscess as soon as possible to reduce the chance of spreading infection. If you have a fever or severe pain, call us immediately. If you can manage your pain with over-the-counter pain relievers, you can call us in the morning, and we should be able to see you that day. As with all toothaches, you can use cold compresses, salt-water rinses, and eating just soft foods. Abscesses are usually treated with a root canal procedure. If the tooth is badly infected, an extraction is also a treatment option.
• An Oral Injury- If you have suffered an injury that results in tissue damage or bleeding, you should visit the emergency room. The ER doctor can suture up any external cuts and refer you to an emergency dentist for your teeth or soft tissues. Until you reach the emergency room, you can control the bleeding by placing pressure on the wounded area with a cold compress. Rinse your mouth with cool water to control any bleeding and keep the area clean.