Emergency Care

Dental Emergencies

Let’s face it, accidents happen! We are here for your family’s dental emergencies.

We provide emergency dental care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For emergencies during or after office hours please call 623.935.9873 .

If there is an emergency during office hours we will make time to see your child in one of our locations.  After hours, a staff member and an on-call doctor are available to help with your emergency. If needed, we will see your child in one of our offices.

Below are some common emergencies and some helpful tips:

Tooth Ache

Begin by cleaning around the sore tooth meticulously. Using warm salt water, rinse the mouth to displace any food trapped between teeth. Gently use dental floss to remove any food debris that may be impacted.  Do not use aspirin on the aching tooth or on the gum. In the event of facial swelling, apply a cold compress to the area and contact our office. For temporary pain relief, acetaminophen or motrin is recommended. See a dentist as soon as possible.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek

Ice can be applied to any bruised areas. For bleeding, apply firm (but gentle) pressure with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding does not stop with pressure or continues after 15 minutes, go to an emergency room.

Broken Tooth

Rinse the area with warm water. Put a cold compress over the facial area of the injury. Recover any broken tooth fragments. Get immediate dental attention.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

Recover the tooth, making sure to hold it by the crown (top) and not the root end. Rinse, but do not clean or handle the tooth more than necessary. Reinsert the tooth in the socket and hold it in place using a clean piece of gauze or cloth. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, carry it in a cup containing milk or water. Because time is essential, see a dentist immediately.

Possible Broken Jaw

In the event of jaw injury, tie the mouth closed with a towel, tie or handkerchief. Go immediately to an emergency room.

Bleeding After a Baby Tooth Falls Out

Fold a piece of gauze and place it (tightly) over the bleeding area. Bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes; if bleeding continues, see a dentist.

Cold or Canker Sores

Over-the-counter medications will usually provide temporary relief. If sores persist, visit your dentist.

Orthodontic Emergencies

If braces are causing extreme pain or if something breaks, you should call our office. If you are you in need of an emergency appointment we will schedule one for you. Be sure to reference the list below for some immediate solutions:

Protruding Wire

If the wire brakes or it’s poking your cheeks or soft tissue, try covering it with orthodontic wax to protect the cheek.

If the wire is extremely bothersome and the patient cannot make it to the office soon enough, you may attempt to cut the wire using a pair of fingernail clippers. Cut the wire against the next brace it is attached to. Reduce the possibility of swallowing the snipped piece of wire by using folded tissue or gauze around the area to catch the piece you will remove. You may still need to use orthodontic wax to provide comfort to the irritated area.

Loose Bracket, Band or Wire

If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If a wire is loose, try using tweeters to put it back into place. If this does not help, place some wax over it.

If the loose bracket has rotated on the wire (you can’t see the “O” ring) and is sticking out, using your fingers or a pair of tweezers you may attempt to turn it back into its normal position. Apply wax to minimize the movement of the loose bracket.

Soreness After an Adjustment

It is normal to have discomfort for three to five days after your braces, retainers or any other orthodontic appliances are adjusted. Although temporary, it can make eating uncomfortable. Eat soft foods and you may rinse with warm salt water. Over the counter pain relievers, acetaminophen or ibuprofen, are effective.

To make a salt water rinse, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the soreness is extremely severe, please call the office immediately.

The lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated during the adjustment process. They toughen as you get used to the feeling of braces. Put wax on the braces to ease the pain associated with this process.