Do I Need Emergency Dental Care?
First, call a dentist’s office. The staff can ask questions about your injuries and determine whether you need to come into the office or go to urgent care. Call your dentist even outside of their normal business hours: they may have an answering service or an emergency line.
In general, if something hurts, you may have an emergency. Injuries which require immediate dental care include:
- Knocking out an adult tooth
- Jaw injuries
- Possible fractures
- A punctured lip
If you have injured your lip or tongue and are unable to control bleeding with pressure or a cold compress, seek medical attention. Not every injury requires emergency care, though. Depending on the severity of the injury and the location of the tooth, a cracked or broken tooth may not constitute an emergency. If you cannot reach your dentist, visit the nearest emergency room and to determine whether the injury can wait or needs immediate care.