Dental Emergency Toolkit: What to Do Before You Get to the Chair
Dental Emergency Toolkit: What to Do Before You Get to the Chair No one plans for a dental emergency. A chipped tooth at dinner, a crown that comes loose on a Friday evening, sudden pain that wakes you up at 2am — these moments arrive without warning and without a clear instruction manual. Knowing what to do before you can get professional help isn't just useful. In some situations, it's the difference between saving a tooth and losing one. Knocked-out tooth: the clock is running A completely knocked-out permanent tooth is the one dental emergency where time genuinely matters in minutes, not hours. If the tooth is whole and undamaged, keep it moist — milk is the best option if saline isn't available. Don't touch or scrub the root. If the patient is an adult, holding it between the cheek and gum keeps it viable. Contact your dentist immediately and get there as fast as possible; the success of reimplantation drops significantly after the first hour. Cracked or fractu...
