Emergency Treatment
If you have a family dentist call their emergency phone number. If you don't have a dentist, for emergency treatment you can call the dental clinics at the Stony Brook Dental Care Center (631) 632-3791 or the Stony Brook Emergency Room at (631) 444-2465. For the St Charles Hospital - Stephen B. Gold Dental Clinic call 631-474-6332 or the St Charles Emergency room at (631) 474-6000.
Knocked-Out Tooth:
It's important to retrieve the tooth, hold it by the crown, and rinse off the root of the tooth if it's dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, put the tooth back in its socket. If that isn't possible, put it in a container with milk or water and then get to the dentist as soon as possible.
Knocked out Baby Tooth:
Do not attempt to re-implant a knocked out baby tooth, to avoid damage to the developing permanent tooth underneath. Have your child evaluated as quickly as possible by your dentist.
Broken Tooth:
Rinse your mouth with warm water to keep the area clean. Use cold compresses on the area to keep the swelling down and get to your dentist's office quickly.
Bitten Tongue or Lip:
Clean the area gently with a cloth and then apply cold compresses to reduce the swelling. If the bleeding doesn't stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.
Objects Caught Between the Teeth:
Try to gently remove the object with dental floss and avoid cutting the gums. Do not use a sharp instrument. If you're not successful in removing the object, go to the dentist.
Toothache:
Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Make sure food or foreign objects aren't lodged around the tooth by using dental floss. Don't ever put aspirin or any painkiller on the gums or around the aching tooth. It can cause a burn on the mouth and do more harm than good.
Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving or losing a tooth. Time is important in saving teeth. If your tooth or your child's tooth has been fractured, or especially if the tooth has been knocked out, you need to get to a dental office or emergency room as quickly as possible.