Emergency Care

Let Our Dentists in Brandywine, Hockessin, Middletown, Newark, Wilmington, Millsboro, DE Help You in the Event of an Emergency

Here at Dental Associates of Delaware, our dentists in Brandywine, Hockessin, Middletown, Newark, Wilmington, and Millsboro, DE work hard to provide quality family and cosmetic dentistry to our patients of all ages. From cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening and Invisalign® to reconstructive treatments like dental implants, we offer a wide array of services to meet your dental needs and wishes. Even though our work is designed to provide you with optimal oral health, dental emergencies do happen. Our dentists in Brandywine, Hockessin, Middletown, Newark, Wilmington, and Millsboro, DE are here to provide assistance during these times.

Should a dental emergency arise, we are able to attend to your need quickly. During office hours, a staff member will evaluate your problem and schedule an appointment for treatment. After hours there is always a dentist on call to respond promptly to any emergency.

Below are some emergency situations that you may encounter while at home, school or work, and what you can do to handle and take care of the situation yourself.

Tooth Ache

Begin by cleaning around the sore tooth. Then, rinse using warm salt water to displace any food trapped between teeth. Under no circumstances should you use aspirin on the aching tooth or on the gum. In the event of facial swelling, you should apply a cold compress to the area. For temporary pain relief, acetaminophen is recommended. Call our dentistry offices in Brandywine, Hockessin, Middletown, Newark, Wilmington, or Millsboro, DE to set an appointment with one of our dentists.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek

Ice can be applied to any bruised areas. For bleeding, apply firm (but gentle) pressure with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding does not stop with pressure or continues after 15 minutes, give us a call and either our front desk staff or our on-call emergency dentist will assist you.

Broken Tooth

Rinse the area with warm water. Put a cold compress over the facial area of the injury. Recover any broken tooth fragments and call our office immediately.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

Recover the tooth, making sure to hold it by the crown (top) and not the root end. Do not clean or handle the tooth more than necessary. Reinsert the tooth in the socket and hold it in place using a clean piece of gauze or cloth. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, carry it in a cup containing milk or saliva. Because time is essential, contact us immediately to see one of our dentists.

Possible Broken Jaw

In the event of jaw injury, tie the mouth closed with a towel, tie or handkerchief. Go to an emergency room immediately.

Bleeding After a Baby Tooth Falls Out

Fold a piece of gauze and place it (tightly) over the bleeding area. Bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes; if bleeding continues, contact us.

Lost Filling

Gently brush the area with toothpaste and rinse with lukewarm water. Avoid eating in this area. In the meantime, use an over-the-counter temporary dental material. Contact us as soon as possible to schedule an emergency appointment.

Broken or Lost Crown

If a dental crown falls off, call us to make an appointment as soon as possible and be sure to bring the crown with you to the appointment. If possible, place the crown back over the tooth from which it fell off. Before doing so, coat the inner surface with an over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive, to help hold the crown in place.

Dental trauma can be extremely scary for a person of any age. To ensure you are doing the right thing, follow the instructions above should you encounter any of these dental emergencies. Dental Associates of Delaware proudly serves children, teens and adults from across the state of Delaware at their Brandywine, Hockessin, Middletown, Newark, Wilmington, and Millsboro, DE offices. We proudly offer family and cosmetic dentistry including but not limited to children’s dentistry, teeth whitening, Six Month Smiles, Invisalign®, dental implants and sleep apnea therapy. Please contact our Brandywine, DE dentistry office, Hockessin, DE dentistry office, Middletown, DE dentistry office, Newark, DE dentistry office, Wilmington, DE dentistry office, or Millsboro, DE dentistry office today to schedule your first visit with us!