What to do in a dental emergency (North Miami Beach)

Knocked-out tooth

Time matters more here than with any other dental emergency — an adult tooth that's re-implanted within about an hour has the greatest chance of being saved.

1. Pick it up by the crown — the white part you chew with — never touch the root. Touching the root can damage the fibers the tooth needs to reattach.
2. Rinse gently if it's dirty, with milk or clean water. Don't scrub it, don't use soap, and don't let it dry out or wrap it in a tissue.
3. Try to put it back in the socket if you can manage it, and bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
4. If you can't reinsert it, keep it moist — in a cup of milk or tucked between your cheek and gum. Plain water is a last resort.
5. Call a dentist immediately. Baby teeth are not re-implanted, but for an adult tooth, every minute counts.

See our full step-by-step knocked-out tooth guide for more detail.

Broken or chipped tooth

A cracked or chipped tooth is still urgent, even if it doesn't hurt yet, because it can expose the inner tooth to bacteria and get worse quickly.

1. Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area.
2. Save any broken pieces, keeping them moist in milk if possible.
3. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling if there's any facial trauma.
4. Cover a sharp edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum if it's cutting your tongue or cheek, as a temporary measure only.
5. Call the same day. A chipped tooth that seems minor can quietly turn into a bigger, costlier problem — quick care often prevents that.

Dental abscess (infection)

A dental abscess is a pocket of infection, usually showing up as a painful, swollen bump on the gum, sometimes with a bad taste or fever — and it needs professional treatment; it will not resolve on its own.

1. Rinse with warm salt water several times a day to ease discomfort and help draw the area.
2. Don't apply heat to the outside of your face, as it can worsen swelling — a cold compress is safer if there's facial swelling.
3. Avoid squeezing or puncturing the abscess yourself.
4. Call a dentist right away. An untreated abscess can spread infection to the jaw and beyond, which is a serious medical situation.
5. Go to the emergency room if you have facial swelling that's spreading, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or a high fever — these can signal the infection is spreading beyond what a dental visit alone can address.

Lost or broken crown

A crown that's come off exposes the tooth underneath, which can be sensitive and vulnerable to further damage until it's re-seated.

1. Keep the crown if you can find it — don't throw it away.
2. Clean it gently and, if you're comfortable doing so, you can temporarily reseat it with a small dab of over-the-counter dental cement or denture adhesive as a short-term measure only — never super glue.
3. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth until you're seen.
4. Call us the same day. Left too long, the exposed tooth can decay or shift, which may complicate re-cementing the original crown.

Severe tooth pain

Severe or throbbing tooth pain, especially if it's keeping you up at night, usually signals something that needs professional attention — not just a sensitive tooth.

1. Rinse with warm salt water and gently floss around the tooth in case something's lodged there.
2. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label — never place aspirin directly against the gum, which can burn the tissue.
3. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek in 15–20 minute intervals.
4. Avoid very hot, cold, or sugary foods that can trigger sharp pain.
5. Call us. Persistent, severe pain is often a sign you need treatment such as a root canal — see our guide to signs you need a root canal for more.

When to go to the emergency room instead

Go to your nearest emergency room, not the dental office, if you have heavy bleeding that doesn't stop after about 20 minutes of firm pressure, a possible broken jaw, facial swelling that's spreading toward your eye or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing. For the tooth itself — pain, a break, or a knockout — a dentist is faster and better equipped; call us for a same-day emergency visit.

How Dental Pearl handles emergencies

We keep time open for urgent visits and try to see emergencies the same day, Monday through Friday 9 AM–5 PM and Saturday 9 AM–2 PM. When you call, our team listens to your symptoms, gives you first-aid guidance over the phone, and gets you scheduled as quickly as possible. Dr. Carlos Quilichini, DDS brings more than 30 years of experience with emergency care, root canals, and oral surgery, and the rest of the team supports exams and follow-up restorative work as needed.