Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving or losing a tooth.

• Tooth knocked out: First, try to stick the tooth back in place and hold it there while you rush to see the dentist. If that's impossible, put the tooth in a container of milk (or water if milk is not available) and take it and the patient to the dentist immediately.
• Fractured Tooth: To avoid further aggravating the damaged tooth, place a piece of soft wax into the area of the tooth that was chipped. You should eat only soft foods and try to avoid food and drink that are hot and cold to the touch.
• Fractured Jaw: If you find that your jaw hurts when it is moved or if you cannot close your mouth in a normal fashion, it is likely that you have fractured your jaw. Seek professional medical help at a hospital emergency room. The hospital will be able to treat your injury as well as advise you whether you need to make an appointment to see your dentist.
• Bitten Tongue or Lip: Biting or lacerating your tongue may cause inflammation and possible bleeding. Use ice or pressure to control the swelling or bleeding. Any swelling should subside within twenty-four hours. Contact your dentist if the pain persists or the laceration is too deep.
• Bleeding After an Extraction: Slight bleeding after an extraction is normal. A clot will usually form within one hour. If bleeding continues, place a thick gauze pad over the extraction site. Apply pressure to the area to control the flow of blood. If bleeding still persists, you may try soaking a tea bag in water, placing it inside a thin gauze pad, and apply pressure for one hour. The tea leaves contain minerals which may aid in the clotting procedure.
• Mouth Sores: Canker sores are those very small and painful sores which occur inside the mouth. They can be caused by stress, biting the inside of the mouth or by a reaction to certain foods. If you find that you have developed a canker sore on the inside of the mouth, apply an over-the-counter medicine like Orajel or campho-phenique. This will produce a bandage-like film over the sore.
• Objects Caught Between Teeth: Try to gently remove the object with dental floss; avoid cutting the gums. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth. If you can't dislodge the object using dental floss, contact your dentist.
• Toothache: A toothache is often a sign of infection in or around a tooth. Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact your dentist.

Orthodontic Emergencies
Some minor problems can occur during orthodontic treatment, ranging from sore teeth and swollen gums to bent wires and broken brackets.

In spite of everyone's best intentions "things happen" to the wire and the brackets attached to your teeth. In most cases you will be able to fix the problem, but sometimes you will need to contact us immediately to schedule an emergency appointment. Here are a few common problems that could occur during the course of treatment.

• Poking wires: When the end of the arch wire pokes the gum, tongue or cheek, use the head of a small flathead screwdriver to push the wire inside the bracket. If that does not work, try bending the wire by pushing on it just behind the bracket. If this does not work, cover the end of the wire with the wax or cotton to prevent it from poking the gum or cheek.
  
  When the arch wire breaks between two brackets and pokes your gum or cheek, use the small flathead screwdriver to push the wire away from the gum or cheek. If that does not work, cover the ends of the wire with the wax or cotton to prevent if from poking the gum or cheek.
• Sore teeth: After most adjustments visits, you can expect to experience sore teeth to some degree for the next 2 - 3 days, as the teeth gradually move in response to our adjustments. Over the counter pain relievers can be use to diminish the discomfort.
• Loose bands or brackets: In the event that you loosen a brand or bracket with hard or sticky food, please call us right away for a special appointment.
• Lost separator: Please call immediately and tell us which separator is missing. If there is adequate space between those teeth, you may not need a special appointment.
• Lost retainer: Your retainer holds your teeth and roots in place after the active tooth-moving appliance is removed. Please contact us immediately for a special appointment to make a new retainer to prevent your teeth from becoming crooked again (relapse).
• Allergies: Although it is very rare, some people may have allergic reactions to materials used in an orthodontic practice. If you have any known allergies, or suspect an allergic reaction, it is important that you alert our office immediately.