Dental Emergencies: What to Do When Tooth Pain Strikes – Advice from Your Raleigh Dentist

At Wainright and Wassel, DDS, we care about every aspect of your oral health. Unfortunately, emergencies are sometimes unavoidable no matter how careful we are, or how hard we try to avoid them—that’s just life. Your Raleigh dentist team wanted to provide essential guidance on handling dental emergencies to help minimize tooth pain and prevent permanent damage.

Table of Contents

• Understanding Dental Emergencies
• Common Dental Emergencies and Solutions
• Preventing Dental Emergencies
• When to Contact Your Raleigh Dentist
• Emergency Dental Care at Wainright and Wassel, DDS

Understanding Dental Emergencies and Tooth Pain

Although it may seem like a minor issue to you, a dental injury to your teeth or gums should not be ignored as it can be potentially serious—with risks of more permanent damage, or more extensive (and expensive) repair down the road. Tooth pain is often your body’s way of signaling that something requires immediate attention.

According to the American Association of Endodontists, more than 5 million teeth are knocked out each year in both children and adults. Quick action can often save the tooth and prevent complications.

Common Dental Emergencies and Solutions from Your Raleigh Dentist

Toothache and Severe Tooth Pain?

Tooth pain can range from mild discomfort to severe, throbbing pain that makes it difficult to eat, sleep, or concentrate. If you’re experiencing tooth pain:

1. Rinse with warm salt water to clean the area
2. Ensure nothing is lodged between teeth by gently flossing
3. Apply an ice pack to your cheek for 15-20 minutes to reduce swelling
4. Take over-the-counter pain medication as directed on the package
5. Call Wainright and Wassel, DDS as soon as possible for an emergency appointment

Remember that persistent tooth pain is never normal and usually indicates an underlying issue that your Raleigh dentist needs to address.

Chipped or Broken Tooth?

A chipped or broken tooth can cause immediate tooth pain and sensitivity. Here’s what to do:

1. Save any pieces of the tooth if possible
2. Rinse your mouth with warm water
3. Apply gauze pressure if bleeding occurs (for about 10 minutes or until bleeding stops)
4. Cover the broken edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum if it’s sharp against your tongue
5. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
6. Contact Wainright and Wassel, DDS immediately for emergency care

Even small chips or cracks can expose the sensitive inner layers of your tooth, leading to infection if not treated promptly by your Raleigh dentist.

A Knocked-Out Tooth?

When it comes to a knocked-out tooth, “time is of the essence” in trying to save it. You have about 30 minutes to an hour for the best chance of successful reimplantation.

1. Handle the tooth by the crown (the part you bite with), not the root
2. Gently rinse the tooth with milk or saliva if it’s dirty, but don’t scrub or remove any attached tissue
3. Try to reinsert the tooth into its socket if possible
4. If reinsertion isn’t possible, keep the tooth moist in milk, saliva, or a tooth preservation product
5. Get to Wainright and Wassel, DDS or an emergency room immediately

Studies from the Journal of Endodontics show that teeth reimplanted within 30 minutes have the highest success rates.

Lost Filling or Crown?

If you’ve lost a filling or crown:

1. Clean the area gently with warm water
2. For a lost crown, try to place it back over the tooth using dental cement, denture adhesive, or even toothpaste as a temporary measure
3. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth
4. Call your Raleigh dentist at Wainright and Wassel, DDS for an appointment as soon as possible

Preventing Dental Emergencies and Tooth Pain

The best way to handle dental emergencies is to prevent them whenever possible. Your Raleigh dentist recommends:

1. Wear a mouthguard during sports activities – Custom-fitted mouthguards from Wainright and Wassel, DDS provide superior protection compared to over-the-counter options
2. Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels, and hard candy – These can crack teeth and cause immediate tooth pain
3. Never use your teeth as tools to open packages or bottles
4. Maintain regular dental checkups at Wainright and Wassel, DDS to catch potential issues before they become emergencies
5. Practice excellent oral hygiene to prevent decay that can lead to tooth pain and emergencies

Learn more about preventive dental care on our website.

When to Contact Your Raleigh Dentist About Tooth Pain

Not all dental issues require emergency treatment, but certain symptoms indicate you should contact Wainright and Wassel, DDS right away:

• Severe tooth pain that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter pain relievers
• A knocked-out, loose, or cracked tooth
• Swelling in the face, cheek, or gums
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop after applying pressure
• Signs of infection (fever, bad taste, swelling)

Our emergency dental services are designed to provide prompt relief from tooth pain and address urgent dental issues.

Emergency Dental Care at Wainright and Wassel, DDS

At Wainright and Wassel, DDS, we understand that dental emergencies can happen at any time. That’s why we reserve time in our schedule for emergency patients experiencing tooth pain or dental trauma.

If you experience a dental emergency during office hours, call our Raleigh dentist office immediately. For after-hours emergencies, follow our recorded instructions to reach the on-call dentist.

Hey, be careful out there! And wear a mouth guard to help prevent an injury! We want to help you keep ALL of your teeth—FOR LIFE!

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