How to Handle a Dental Emergency

In the event of a dental emergency, please call Tarheel Dentistry at (919) 551-8847 as soon as possible so we can get you the care you need. Common dental emergencies to be aware of include a severe toothache, broken dental restorations, or a knocked-out tooth. Chapel Hill, North Carolina dentist Dr. Sarah Cook helps patients with dental emergencies receive the treatment they need. Learn more below about common dental emergencies that we treat at Tarheel Dentistry as well as what you should do before arriving at our office.

Emergency Dentistry Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Dental Emergencies

Tooth pain: Take over-the-counter pain medications like Ibuprofen. You can also treat swelling by using an ice pack against your mouth. Eat soft foods and chew on the opposite side of your mouth.

Knocked out tooth: Use a damp cloth to apply pressure to the gum socket to stop the bleeding. If you can locate the tooth, pick it up by the crown and gently rinse it off. You can transport the tooth to us in a glass of milk or your own saliva. We may be able to save your tooth if we receive it within a couple of hours. However, if you lose your tooth, we can provide you with a dental restoration.

Broken dental restoration: If your restoration has just broken, do not attempt to replace it on your own as this can cause damage to your teeth. Bring your dental restoration to our office and we will help you determine if you need a new restoration.

Object lodged between teeth: If you have something stuck between your teeth, gently floss it to try and get it out. Call us if you are unable to get it loose. Do not try to remove it with anything other objects as you could hurt your teeth or gums. We will help you dislodge the object and keep pain to a minimum.