Emergency FAQs

Dental emergencies can cause a lot of pain, discomfort, swelling, and even lead to more significant issues down the road. But what is considered a true dental emergency?

A true dental emergency involves any dental problem with the potential to be life-threatening. This includes: uncontrollable bleeding, acute dental infections and associated severe pain, trauma to the mouth/teeth, and knocked-out adult teeth. Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms should seek emergency help immediately. If you are experiencing difficulty breathing or throat swelling that inhibits swallowing, call 911 and seek immediate help.

There are also urgent dental concerns that require treatment as soon as possible to address the issue; however, these issues typically can be addressed during normal business hours. Urgent dental concerns include, but are not limited to:

• Toothache (mild to moderate discomfort managed with OTC pain medication)
• Cracked/chipped teeth
• Trauma to the tooth that exposes the nerve
• Wisdom tooth pain
• Localized gum pain/swelling
• Lost or broken crown

If your adult tooth has been knocked out/avulsed (entire tooth and root), please contact the on-call dentist immediately and follow the following steps:

• Pick up the tooth by the crown only (the chewing part of the tooth), and avoid touching the root.
• Gently rinse the tooth with water or milk to remove any debris; no soap is needed.
• Gently place the tooth back into the socket, root first. Hold your tooth by the crown to avoid touching the root.
  • If you are unable to reinsert your tooth, keep the tooth as moist as possible. Place the tooth in a glass of milk, your cheek (saliva helps keep the tooth moist), or saline solution. Avoid placing the tooth in a glass of water.
• Bite on a napkin, gauze, or cloth to help hold the tooth in place.

At Biddeford Saco Dental Associates, we make every effort to see emergency patients the same day they call. When you contact us with a dental emergency, our team will assess the urgency of your situation and schedule you as quickly as possible, often within hours.

For life-threatening emergencies involving uncontrollable bleeding, severe swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, or acute infection with fever, call 911 immediately before contacting our office.

For moderate dental pain before your emergency appointment:

• Take over-the-counter pain medication (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) as directed on the packaging
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water (1 teaspoon salt in 8 ounces of warm water)
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek if swelling is present
• Avoid chewing on the affected side
• Avoid extremely hot, cold, or sweet foods and beverages

Do not place aspirin directly on the gum tissue, as this can cause tissue damage. If pain is severe or worsening, contact our office immediately.

The urgency of a chipped tooth depends on the severity and symptoms. If the chip is small, causing no pain, and has no sharp edges, it can typically wait for a scheduled appointment during normal business hours.

However, if the chip is large, exposes the nerve (causing significant pain or sensitivity), creates sharp edges cutting your tongue or cheek, or results from significant trauma, contact us immediately for same-day evaluation.