At the Family Dental Center, we understand how painful a toothache can be. To that end, we accept dental emergencies on a walk in basis and are open extended hours in order to treat patients who require "immediate attention."

There are a number of simple precautions you can take to avoid accident and injury to your teeth.

• Wearing a mouthguard when participating in sports or recreational activities that may pose a risk can protect your mouth, teeth and gums.
• Avoid foods such as ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth.
• Cut tape using scissors rather than your teeth.

Accidents do happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. In the event an accident occurs, call us and provide as much detail as possible about the situation. Remember, pain is a signal that something is wrong—a problem that will not disappear even if the pain subsides. If you’re concerned because you have limited or no dental insurance, we offer CareCredit services, a convenient and flexible payment program. Click here for more information on CareCredit and our other payment options.

Bitten Lip or Tongue
Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce any swelling. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.

Broken Tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use cold compresses on the area to keep any swelling down. Make an appointment with our offices as soon as possible.

Jaw-Possibly Broken
Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Go to the emergency room immediately.

Knocked Out Tooth
Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and see us as quickly as possible. Remember to take the tooth with you!

Objects Caught Between Teeth
Try to gently remove the object with dental floss; avoid cutting the gums. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, contact our office.

Toothache
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact our office.