Emergency Care
Should you have a dental emergency and need to reach Dr. Jay, first call the office at (703) 983-5250. After hours, call (703) 893-5250 and follow the instructions.
Common Emergencies Lost Crown - If a temporary or permanent crown falls out and you are able to save it, apply a small bead of toothpaste to use as "glue" to hold it in until you can come into the office. This temporary fix will usually last for a couple of days.
Broken or Cracked Tooth - Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Apply a cold compress on the area to reduce swelling. Call the office immediately.
Toothache - Rinse your mouth with warm water. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact your dentist.
Tooth Knocked Out
- Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root
of the tooth in water
if it's dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any
attached tissue fragments and don't let it dry out.
If
possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its
socket. If that isn't possible, put the tooth in a
cup
of milk or put it back in your mouth and hold it
under your tongue and contact Dr. Jay as quickly
as possible. Remember to bring the tooth with you.