Emergency Care When You Need It

You may never experience a dental emergency, or you may experience one in the next few days.That’s the nature of emergencies, unfortunately—you never know when one is going to happen.Thankfully, you have a dentist who can help you.Our Greenbrae dental office offers emergency care to help you when you need it most.

Below are some of the most common emergencies and the steps you can take until we’re able to see you. Some situations are simple while others will require more immediate attention.Call us immediately if you need urgent care.

Knocked Out Tooth

If you have just lost a tooth, your first step—after calling us—should be to rinse the tooth and try to hold it in the socket it came from. If you’re not able to do that, store it in milk or water. We may be able to reattach it at your appointment.

Broken Tooth

Rinse your cracked or broken tooth with warm water immediately, and then apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call our office for an appointment.

Temporary Crown Falls Out

If faced with this situation, rinse your crown and apply a small amount of toothpaste or denture adhesive to reattach it. Keep in mind, though, that this is just a temporary fix. Call our office to have it professionally reattached by Dr. Shapiro.

Toothache

A toothache can be caused by a variety of things. Before calling us, trying flossing around the tooth to see if that dislodges any debris. If your pain persists, take an over-the-counter medication like Tylenol or Advil and give us a call. Do not put an aspirin directly on your tooth, as this can damage your sensitive gum tissue.

Something Caught between Your Teeth

Similar to when you have a toothache, try flossing before giving us a call. Use only floss, and avoid all sharp instruments. If this doesn’t help, let us know.

Possibly Broken Jaw

If you think you might have broken your jaw, visit your nearest emergency room. If you have also lost a tooth, let us know and we’ll advise you on the next step to take.

Cut/Bitten Tongue or Lip

If you’re bleeding, try applying pressure to the area with a cold compress. If it doesn’t stop, visit your local emergency room.

Call our Greenbrae dental office at (415) 461-5926 if you’d like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Shapiro. Our practice is committed to comprehensive exams and patient education, and we offer a broad range of today’s best general, cosmetic, and restorative services. We’re happy to serve patients from San Rafael, Novato, San Francisco, Berkeley, and all surrounding communities.

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