Toothache, a broken tooth, a lost crown or a knocked-out tooth. Call and we will make room.
If something has gone wrong with a tooth today, call (918) 355-1391 and describe what happened. Having two dentists at Dentistry For You in Broken Arrow means there is usually room to fit an emergency into the day rather than putting you off for a week.
What to Do Right Now
Different emergencies need different first steps, and with some of them the first hour decides the outcome.
A knocked-out adult tooth
This is the one where speed matters most. Pick the tooth up by the crown, the part you normally see, and never by the root, because the cells on the root surface are what allow it to reattach. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline; do not use water and do not scrub it.
If you can, put it straight back into the socket the right way round and bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it. If you cannot, keep it in milk. Then get here as fast as you can. A tooth replanted within the hour has a real chance.
A knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back, because pushing it into the socket can damage the adult tooth developing above it.
A broken or chipped tooth
Rinse gently with warm water. Use a cold compress on the outside of the face for swelling. Keep any pieces and bring them. If a sharp edge is cutting your tongue or cheek, dental wax or a piece of sugar-free gum over it helps until you are seen.
Severe toothache
Take over-the-counter pain relief as directed. Rinse with warm salt water. A cold compress on the outside can help, and keeping your head raised often makes the night more bearable, because lying flat increases the pressure.
Do not put aspirin directly against the gum. It burns the tissue and does nothing for the tooth.
A lost filling or crown
Keep the crown if you have it, as it can often be re-cemented. Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can protect the tooth for a day or two. Avoid chewing on that side and do not use household glue.
Facial swelling
Swelling means infection is spreading beyond the tooth and it needs seeing urgently. If it is spreading towards your eye or under your jaw, or you have a fever, difficulty swallowing or difficulty breathing, go to an emergency room. That is not a wait-and-see situation.
What Happens When You Arrive
The priority is to find the cause and stop the pain. That usually means an X-ray of the area and an exam. Once we know what is going on, we will explain the options and the costs before doing anything beyond making you comfortable.
Sometimes the definitive treatment happens the same day. Sometimes the right move is to settle the infection and pain first and do the main work at a planned appointment.
Why Waiting Costs More
Dental problems do not plateau. A cavity reaching the nerve becomes a root canal rather than a filling. An untreated infection becomes an abscess, and eventually an extraction. A crack confined to the crown of a tooth can be held together with a crown, but once it runs into the root the tooth is lost.
Pain that disappears on its own is the one to watch. It usually means the nerve has died rather than recovered, and the infection carries on silently.
Call (918) 355-1391. We are open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m.
Dental Emergency Questions
What counts as a dental emergency?+
Severe or worsening toothache, facial swelling, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, bleeding that will not stop, a lost crown or filling causing pain, or an injury to the jaw. Facial swelling with fever or difficulty swallowing needs urgent medical attention rather than waiting for a dental appointment.
What do I do with a knocked-out tooth?+
Act within the hour. Pick it up by the crown, never the root. If it is dirty, rinse briefly in milk or saline, not water and do not scrub it. Put it back in the socket if you can and bite gently on a cloth, or keep it in milk. Then get to the office. An adult tooth replanted quickly can survive; a baby tooth should not be put back.
Can I be seen the same day?+
Usually. Having two dentists means there is generally room to fit an emergency in. Call as early in the day as you can, because same-day appointments get taken.
What if it happens when you are closed?+
We are open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Outside those hours, call (918) 355-1391 and the message will tell you what to do. For facial swelling with fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a serious injury, go to an emergency room rather than waiting.
Call the Office Now
Describe what happened and when. The front desk will tell you what to do while you travel in.
