Dental emergencies do not wait for business hours, and in the Shenandoah Valley they tend to happen at the worst possible moments, a chipped tooth during a hike on Massanutten, a knocked-out tooth at a JMU football tailgate, a lost filling on a Sunday afternoon in Bridgewater. Knowing what to do in the first 30 minutes can literally save a tooth.
For a knocked-out permanent tooth, pick it up by the crown only, never the root. If possible, gently rinse it with milk or saline and reinsert it into the socket. If reinsertion is not possible, place it in a container of milk or saliva and get to a dentist within 30 minutes for the best chance of reimplantation. Do not scrub the tooth, do not wrap it in tissue or a dry cloth, and do not let it dry out. The periodontal ligament cells on the root surface are living tissue, and keeping them moist is essential for successful reimplantation.
For a cracked or broken tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water, apply a cold compress to reduce swelling, and save any fragments. If the break exposes the nerve, you may experience extreme sensitivity to air and temperature, cover the exposed area with sugar-free gum or dental wax as a temporary measure and seek treatment immediately. A severe toothache may indicate an abscess or deep infection, rinse with warm salt water, take over-the-counter pain medication, and contact your dentist immediately.
Soft tissue injuries to the lips, tongue, and cheeks can bleed profusely but often look worse than they are. Apply firm pressure with clean gauze for 15 to 20 minutes. If bleeding does not stop, or if the wound is deep enough to see underlying tissue, visit an emergency room. Jaw injuries that affect your bite or your ability to open and close your mouth also warrant immediate medical attention.
Harrisonburg Dentist sits inside the Sentara RMH medical corridor at 1947 Medical Avenue, which means we are minutes from the hospital and easy to reach from I-81 whether you are coming from Elkton, Dayton, Broadway, or Mt. Crawford. We reserve slots in our daily schedule for emergency patients, so call us first, do not just drive to the ER unless there is facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma that needs medical attention beyond dental care.