Common Dental Emergencies and How to Handle Them
Common Dental Emergencies and How to Handle Them: Advice for Port St. Lucie Families
Dental emergencies can happen suddenly, turning an ordinary day into a stressful situation for Port St. Lucie families. Whether it's a knocked-out tooth from a sports injury, a severe toothache that keeps your child awake at night, or a broken dental restoration during a weekend, knowing how to respond can make a significant difference in the outcome.
At St. Lucie Center of Cosmetic Dentistry, we provide emergency dental care for residents of Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Jensen Beach, and Palm City. Our team, led by Dr. Hans Almanzar, has created this comprehensive guide to help you identify common dental emergencies and take appropriate actions until you can reach our office.
For immediate dental emergency assistance in St. Lucie County, call our office at (772) 242-4124. We offer same-day appointments for true dental emergencies and will provide guidance on managing your situation until you can be seen.
In This Article:
- Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Tooth
- Cracked or Broken Tooth
- Severe Toothache or Dental Abscess
- Lost Filling or Crown
- Soft Tissue Injuries (Lips, Gums, Tongue)
- Object Stuck Between Teeth
- Broken Braces or Wires
- Dental Emergency vs. Urgency: When to Seek Immediate Care
- Prevention Tips for Port St. Lucie Families
- Creating a Dental Emergency Kit
Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Tooth
When Time Is Critical: Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth is one of the most serious dental emergencies, requiring immediate action. For Port St. Lucie residents, knowing the proper steps can be the difference between saving and losing the tooth permanently.
Time Sensitivity Alert
A knocked-out permanent tooth has the highest chance of being successfully replanted if it's reimplanted within 30 minutes. The success rate drops significantly after 60 minutes.
Step-by-Step Response
- Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root
- If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it with milk or saline solution. Do NOT use water, soap, or scrub the tooth
- If possible, gently reinsert the tooth into its socket, facing the correct way
- If reinsertion isn’t possible, place the tooth in a container of milk, saline solution, or an emergency tooth preservation kit
- As a last resort, place the tooth between the cheek and gums (if the person is old enough not to swallow it)
- Call our Port St. Lucie office immediately at (772) 242-4124
- Get to our office or the nearest emergency dental provider as quickly as possible
Do
- Handle the tooth by the crown only
- Keep the tooth moist at all times
- Seek emergency dental care immediately
- Apply gentle pressure with gauze to control bleeding
Don’t
- Touch the root surface of the tooth
- Scrub the tooth or use soap
- Rinse with tap water
- Wrap the tooth in tissue or cloth
- Delay seeking professional help
For more detailed guidance on handling knocked-out teeth, read our comprehensive article: I knocked my tooth out! What should I do?
Note for Stuart and Jensen Beach parents: Baby teeth that are knocked out are typically not reimplanted, as doing so could damage the developing permanent tooth. However, you should still see a dentist to ensure no fragments remain and to check for other injuries.
Cracked or Broken Tooth
Managing Dental Fractures and Breaks
Teeth can crack or break due to trauma, biting on hard foods, or underlying decay that weakens the tooth structure. For Port St. Lucie families, knowing how to respond to different types of fractures is important.
Types of Tooth Fractures
- Craze Lines: Tiny cracks that only affect the outer enamel, usually not painful and mainly cosmetic
- Fractured Cusp: Break in the chewing surface, generally not painful but may need restoration
- Cracked Tooth: Crack extends from the chewing surface toward the root, may cause pain and requires prompt treatment
- Split Tooth: Tooth is split into two parts, usually requires extraction or extensive restoration
- Vertical Root Fracture: Crack begins in the root and extends upward, often requires extraction
Step-by-Step Response
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clean the area
- If there’s bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze
- For pain, take over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (not aspirin, which can increase bleeding)
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek to reduce swelling
- Cover any sharp edges with dental wax (available at pharmacies) or sugarless gum to protect your tongue and cheeks
- If a large piece has broken off, save it and bring it to your appointment
- Call our Port St. Lucie office at (772) 242-4124 to schedule an emergency appointment
Do
- Avoid chewing on the affected side
- Stick to soft foods until treated
- Keep the area clean
- Save any broken pieces if possible
Don’t
- Apply aspirin directly to the gum or tooth
- Ignore even small cracks (they can worsen)
- Apply excessive heat to the area
- Try to file or smooth sharp edges yourself
For more information about broken teeth, read our article: My Tooth Broke: What Should I Do Next?
The treatment for a cracked or broken tooth depends on the severity and location of the damage. Options range from bonding and crowns to root canal therapy and, in severe cases, extraction followed by dental implant placement.
Severe Toothache or Dental Abscess
When Pain Signals a Serious Problem
Severe tooth pain or a dental abscess (infection) requires prompt attention, as it can indicate serious underlying issues and can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. For Jensen Beach and Palm City residents, understanding the warning signs is crucial.
Signs of a Dental Abscess
- Persistent, severe throbbing pain
- Swelling in the face, cheek, or gums
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- Pain when biting or chewing
- Fever
- A pimple-like bump on the gums (fistula)
- Foul taste or smell
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing (a medical emergency requiring immediate hospital care)
Serious Warning Signs
If you experience facial swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or high fever alongside tooth pain, seek emergency medical care immediately. These could indicate that the infection has spread and become life-threatening.
Step-by-Step Response
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 oz water)
- Gently floss around the painful tooth to remove any trapped food particles
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers according to package directions
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off)
- Do NOT place aspirin directly on the gums or tooth
- Call our Port St. Lucie office at (772) 242-4124 for an emergency appointment
- If you notice facial swelling or have trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the emergency room immediately
Dental abscesses will not go away without professional treatment. Even if pain temporarily subsides, the infection is still present and can cause serious complications. Learn more about the warning signs in our article: Signs of a Serious Dental Infection.
Treatment for dental abscesses typically involves draining the infection, possibly through root canal therapy or extraction, and a course of antibiotics. The sooner you seek treatment, the better the outcome and the lower the risk of complications.
Lost Filling or Crown
When Dental Restorations Fail
Losing a filling or crown may not always be painful, but it requires prompt attention to prevent further damage to the tooth. For Port St. Lucie residents, proper temporary management can help protect your tooth until you can see a dentist.
Step-by-Step Response
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
- If there’s pain, take over-the-counter pain relievers as directed
- You can place a temporary dental filling material (available at pharmacies) in the cavity
- Avoid chewing on the affected tooth
- Call our office to schedule an appointment within a few days
- Find the crown if possible and rinse it carefully
- Clean the inside of the crown gently
- If you wish to temporarily reattach it, you can use dental cement, dental adhesive, or toothpaste (not ideal but better than nothing)
- Apply the adhesive to the inside of the crown and position it carefully over your tooth
- Bite down gently to set it in place
- Never use super glue or other household adhesives in your mouth
- Call our Port St. Lucie office to schedule an appointment as soon as possible
Do
- Save the crown or large pieces of filling if possible
- Keep the affected tooth clean
- Use temporary dental cement from a pharmacy if available
- Seek professional care within a few days
Don’t
- Use household glues in your mouth
- Ignore the situation even if there’s no pain
- Chew on the affected side
- Try to permanently fix the restoration yourself
Even if you successfully reattach a crown temporarily, it's essential to see a dentist soon. The underlying tooth may be at risk for decay or damage, and only a proper professional recement or replacement will ensure long-term protection.
Soft Tissue Injuries (Lips, Gums, Tongue)
Managing Injuries to Oral Soft Tissues
Injuries to the soft tissues in your mouth—including the lips, gums, cheeks, and tongue—can be quite painful and may bleed profusely due to the rich blood supply in these areas. For Stuart and Jensen Beach families, knowing how to manage these injuries is important.
Step-by-Step Response
- Rinse gently with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 oz warm water)
- Apply pressure with clean gauze or a tea bag to the bleeding site for 15-20 minutes
- For external injuries, apply a cold compress to the outside of the affected area to reduce swelling
- If bleeding doesn’t stop after 20 minutes of pressure, seek emergency care
- For minor cuts inside the mouth, avoid spicy, hot, or acidic foods and drinks until healing occurs
- Call our Port St. Lucie office for guidance on whether your injury requires professional evaluation
When to Seek Immediate Medical Care
Go to the emergency room or urgent care if:
- Bleeding cannot be controlled after 20 minutes of direct pressure
- You have a deep cut that may require stitches
- You suspect a foreign object is embedded in the wound
- There is severe facial swelling that affects breathing
- You have signs of infection (increasing pain, swelling, fever)
Most minor soft tissue injuries in the mouth heal relatively quickly due to the excellent blood supply. However, keeping the area clean is essential to prevent infection during the healing process.
Object Stuck Between Teeth
Removing Trapped Objects Safely
Having something stuck between your teeth can be uncomfortable and, if left unaddressed, can lead to gum irritation, pain, and even infection. For Port St. Lucie families, knowing how to safely remove objects is an important skill.
Step-by-Step Response
- Try to remove the object with dental floss, moving it gently up and down between the teeth
- Consider using a floss threader or special interdental brush if regular floss doesn’t work
- Rinse vigorously with warm salt water
- Never use sharp or pointed household items (pins, needles, toothpicks) which can damage your gums or scratch tooth enamel
- If you cannot remove the object or if the area becomes painful, call our office for assistance
Do
- Use dental floss with gentle movements
- Rinse thoroughly after removal
- Use proper dental tools designed for this purpose
- Seek professional help if you can’t remove the object safely
Don’t
- Use sharp objects like pins or needles
- Apply excessive force that could damage gums
- Ignore objects that remain stuck
- Try to dislodge objects with pressure from your tongue (can push them deeper)
For Jensen Beach and Palm City residents with braces or other dental appliances, special floss threaders or orthodontic wax may be helpful to have on hand for managing trapped food or objects. These are available at most pharmacies.
Broken Braces or Wires
Managing Orthodontic Emergencies
Broken braces, wires, or other orthodontic appliances can cause discomfort and potentially slow down treatment progress. For St. Lucie County residents with braces, knowing how to handle these situations is important.
