Emergency Dentistry

A dental emergency involves any situation that requires immediate treatment to save a tooth, stop continuous tissue bleeding, or relieve severe pain. Serious conditions such as a severe infection or abscess in the mouth can be life-threatening and should be addressed promptly. Additionally, chronic inflammation in the mouth can be harmful to your overall health.

If a dental emergency occurs during business hours, please call us immediately. We reserve approximately two hours each day for emergency appointments, which are prioritized based on urgency—pain and children are seen first. To ensure same-day care, call between 8:45 AM and 9:30 AM on the day you wish to be seen. Note that there is a fee for emergency appointments, and additional follow-up appointments may be necessary.

For emergencies during weekends, holidays, or outside business hours, please use our emergency phone number (236-9375) or email (manager@toothworxbda.com).

Regular dental care is crucial in preventing emergencies. By staying on top of your recare appointments and addressing minor issues before they escalate, you can minimize the risk of sudden dental problems. Toothworx encourages all patients to maintain routine dental visits and promptly address any emerging concerns to reduce the likelihood of needing emergency care.

There is a 30 minute window to re-implant a tooth after it has been knocked out.  Successful re-implantation after 30 minutes is significantly reduced. Do not attempt to sterilize the tooth and do not touch the root (only the crown) of the tooth. If the tooth has debris on it you can gently rinse it with water. If the athlete is alert, attempt to re-implant the tooth and stabilize and stop the bleeding by getting them to bite down on a towel or any other piece of material available. If you are unable to re-implant the tooth, transport it in saline, milk or under the athlete's tongue, if they are conscious.

If you have broken a piece off of your tooth, try and find the piece and bring it with you to the dentist. Call us immediately. If there is pain, make sure the tooth does not come in contact with air, liquid, or other teeth by biting down or covering the tooth with a towel or other material available (shirt, etc).

Extruded tooth: If an upper tooth is hanging lower than it should, gently reposition it back into the socket with a finger and stabilize it by biting down on a piece of material. Call your dentist immediately.

Lateral displacement: If a tooth is pushed backward or forward, gently reposition it with your finger. If it’s painful, do not force it; instead, bite down gently to stabilize and call your dentist immediately.

Intruded tooth: If a tooth is pushed up or down into the gums, do not attempt to reposition it. Call your dentist immediately for urgent care.