Dental emergencies are usually painful and frightening. Injuries to the mouth includes teeth that are knocked out (avulsed), forced out of position and loosened (extruded) or fractured.  In other cases, fillings, crowns and other restorative devices can be damaged or fall out of the mouth completely. In addition, lips, gums or cheeks are often cut. Oral injuries are often painful and should be treated by our dentist as soon as possible.

Prompt treatment is almost always required to alleviate pain and to ensure the teeth have the best possible chance of survival. The pain caused by dental emergencies almost always gets worse without treatment, and dental issues can seriously jeopardize physical health.

1. Immediately call your dentist for an emergency appointment.
2. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root. Touching the root (the part of the tooth below the gum) can damage cells necessary for bone reattachment.
3. Gently rinse the tooth in water to remove dirt. Do not scrub.
4. If possible, gently place the clean tooth in the socket to keep it moist. It is important not to let the tooth dry out.
5. If it is not possible to store the tooth in the mouth of the injured person, wrap the tooth in a clean cloth or gauze and immerse in milk or saliva.

What should I do when a tooth is pushed out of position?

1. Immediately call your dentist for an emergency appointment.
2. Attempt to reposition the tooth to its normal alignment using very light finger pressure, but do not force the tooth.
3. Bite down to keep the tooth from moving.

What should I do when a tooth is fractured?

1. Rinse mouth with warm water.
2. Use an ice pack or cold compress to reduce swelling.
3. Use ibuprofen, do not use aspirin, for pain (Aspirin is an anticoagulant, which may cause excessive bleeding in a dental emergency).
4. Immediately get to our Fairfax VA Dentist, Dr. Le who will determine treatment based on how badly the tooth is broken. Only after examination will our dentist be able to determine if it is a minor, moderate or major fracture.

What should I do if I lost a filling or crown?

Usually, a crown or filling comes loose while eating.  Once it is out of the mouth, the affected tooth may be incredibly sensitive to temperature changes and pressure.  Crowns generally become loose because the tooth beneath is decaying.  The decay causes teeth to change shape which results in the crown no longer fitting the tooth.

If a crown has dropped out of the mouth, make a dental appointment at our Fairfax VA office as soon as possible.  Keep the crown in a cool, safe place because there is a possibility that our Cosmetic and Implant Dentist, Dr. Hang Le can reinsert it.  If the crown is out of the mouth for a long period of time, the teeth may shift or sustain further damage.

If you can’t get to us immediately, here are the steps to take:

1.  Apply clove oil to the tooth to alleviate pain.
2.  Clean the crown and affix it onto the tooth with dental cement.  This can be purchased at the local pharmacy.
3.  If the crown is lost, smear the top of the tooth with dental cement to alleviate discomfort.
4.  DO NOT use any kind of glue to affix the crown.

Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Hang Le will also check the crown to make sure it still fits.  If it does, it will be reattached to the tooth. Where decay is noted, this will be treated and a new crown will be made.