Emergency Dentistry: What To Do Before You Reach The Dentist

A toothache that won’t let you sleep. A knocked-out tooth on the playground. A crown that breaks during dinner. Dental emergencies rarely happen at convenient times, but the right first steps can protect your tooth and ease pain until you’re in the chair.

Is It A Dental Emergency?

Call if you have severe tooth pain, facial swelling, broken or knocked-out teeth, a loose adult tooth, a lost filling or crown with pain, or trauma that causes bleeding that won’t stop. When in doubt, reach out—quick triage can prevent complications.

Knocked-Out Tooth (Adult)

• Pick it up by the crown, not the root.
• If dirty, gently rinse with water—don’t scrub.
• Try to reinsert into the socket; if you can’t, store in milk or a tooth preservation kit.
• Get to the dentist within 30–60 minutes for the best chance of saving it.

Broken Tooth Or Lost Crown

Rinse with lukewarm water and cover sharp edges with dental wax. If a crown comes off, you can place it back with temporary dental cement; avoid superglue. Soft foods and gentle chewing help until we can secure a permanent fix.

Severe Toothache Or Abscess

Over-the-counter pain relief can help, and a cold compress reduces swelling. However, avoid placing aspirin on the gum—it can burn tissue. If you notice a pimple-like bump on the gums or swelling that spreads to the face or neck, seek care promptly.

Soft-Tissue Injuries

For lip or cheek cuts, clean gently and apply pressure to control bleeding. If bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of pressure, or if the wound is deep, urgent medical attention is needed.

Protecting Children’s Smiles

Kids are adventurous—sports guards and bicycle helmets reduce risk, but accidents still happen. Keep our number handy, and bring any broken pieces of tooth with you. We’ll advise you by phone on the safest next steps for your child’s age and situation.

Preventing Emergencies

Regular checkups catch small issues before they turn urgent. Meanwhile, custom night guards shield teeth from clenching, and sports guards help prevent impact injuries. Avoid chewing ice, pens, or hard candies, and don’t use teeth as tools—your enamel will thank you.

Same-Day Solutions We Offer

Depending on your emergency, we may recommend fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, reimplantation, or temporary stabilization until a definitive procedure is possible. The goal is simple: get you out of pain and back to normal quickly, then plan long-term stability.

Call First—We’ll Do The Rest

If you’re hurting, Call Us Today at (817) 420-6676. Eagle Mountain Dentistry provides same-day emergency care in Saginaw, serving Fort Worth, Lake Worth, Azle, and nearby communities. We’ll guide you step by step—even before you arrive.