A dental emergency is any problem that needs prompt attention to relieve severe pain, control bleeding, or save a tooth. If you are in significant pain or you have damaged a tooth, you do not need to wait and hope it settles down.
Situations that warrant an urgent call include:
Dr. Palmer treats urgent dental problems for patients in Houston, TX and the surrounding Stella Link, West University, and Bellaire areas. If you are unsure whether what you are experiencing counts as an emergency, call our office at 713-375-1777 and our team can help you decide what to do next.
Emergency patients are typically seen the same day, based on availability, whether you are a new or existing patient. If it’s after hours, our team is still reachable — calls are answered and, where needed, an appointment can be scheduled right then.
What you do in the first few minutes can decide whether a tooth is saved.
A knocked-out permanent tooth. Pick the tooth up by the crown — the chewing surface — never the root. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with water without scrubbing it or removing any attached tissue. If you can, place it gently back in its socket and hold it there. If you cannot, keep it in a small container of milk, or in your own saliva. Do not let it dry out, and get to the office as quickly as possible. A tooth replanted within the first hour has the best chance.
A cracked or broken tooth. Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek to limit swelling. Save any pieces of the tooth and bring them with you.
A lost filling or crown. Keep the restoration if you still have it, and avoid chewing on that side. Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can protect the tooth until your appointment.
A severe toothache. Rinse with warm salt water and floss gently on either side of the tooth in case food debris is the cause. Over-the-counter pain relief taken as directed on the label can help. Do not hold aspirin against the gum — it burns the tissue rather than easing the pain.
Bleeding soft tissue. Clean the area gently with water, then press firmly with clean gauze for ten to fifteen minutes.
Go to a hospital emergency room instead of a dental office if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that is spreading toward your eye or down your neck, bleeding that will not stop, a possible broken jaw, or a head injury. Those situations need emergency medical care first — dental treatment can follow once you are stable.
Your visit begins with getting you comfortable. Dr. Palmer will examine the area and take any images needed to see what is happening below the surface, then explain what he finds and what your options are before treatment begins.
The treatment itself depends on the cause:
For patients who feel anxious, nitrous oxide is available to help you stay comfortable and relaxed throughout treatment.
Waiting rarely makes a dental problem cheaper or smaller.
If you are dealing with a dental emergency, call Palmer Dental Group of Houston at 713-375-1777. Our office is at 9113 Stella Link Rd, Ste 1, Houston, TX 77025.