Dental Emergency in Millcreek? Here's What to Do.

A dental emergency is one of those things nobody plans for — and almost everyone eventually faces. Whether it's a cracked tooth from biting down wrong, a sudden severe toothache that wakes you up at 2am, or a sports injury that knocks out a tooth, knowing what to do in the first few minutes can make a real difference in the outcome.

At Sansom Dental in Millcreek, we do our best to see dental emergencies the same day you call. Here's what you should know.

What Counts as a Dental Emergency?

Not every dental issue requires an emergency visit, but these situations do:

• Severe or throbbing toothache that doesn't ease with over-the-counter pain relief
• Knocked-out (avulsed) tooth — time is critical here
• Cracked or broken tooth, especially with sharp edges or exposed nerve
• Lost crown or filling that's causing sensitivity or pain
• Abscess or swelling in the gums, jaw, or face
• Soft tissue injury — cuts or lacerations to the tongue, cheek, or lips that won't stop bleeding
• Broken orthodontic wire poking into your cheek

If you're not sure whether your situation is urgent, call us. We'd rather talk you through it and have you come in than have you wait too long.

What to Do Before You Call

Knocked-Out Tooth

This is the most time-sensitive situation in dentistry. If a permanent tooth gets knocked out:

1. Pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root
2. Rinse it gently with water if it's dirty — don't scrub or dry it
3. Reinsert it into the socket if you can and gently bite down on gauze to hold it in place
4. If you can't reinsert it, keep it moist — in milk, saline, or tucked between your cheek and gum
5. Call us immediately and get in as fast as possible — ideally within 30 minutes

The faster you act, the better the chance of saving the tooth.

Severe Toothache

• Rinse with warm salt water
• Use over-the-counter pain relief like ibuprofen (not aspirin placed directly on the gum — that can cause chemical burns)
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek for 20 minutes at a time
• Call us — a severe toothache often signals an infection that needs treatment soon

Cracked or Broken Tooth

• Rinse with warm water
• Save any large pieces if you can find them
• Cover any sharp edges with dental wax (available at most pharmacies) to protect your tongue and cheek
• Avoid chewing on that side until you've been seen

Lost Crown or Filling

A lost filling or crown isn't always a pain emergency, but the exposed tooth is vulnerable. You can find temporary dental cement at the pharmacy to place over the area until your appointment.

Why Same-Day Care Matters

Dental problems rarely get better on their own — and infections in the mouth can spread quickly. What starts as a toothache can escalate to an abscess, and in serious cases, untreated dental infections can become genuinely dangerous.

Getting seen quickly not only relieves your pain faster, it typically means less extensive (and less costly) treatment.

Call Sansom Dental First

If you're in Millcreek, Holladay, Murray, or anywhere in the Salt Lake Valley, call our office at 801-467-6381. We'll get you in as soon as we can.

After hours? Call the same number and listen to the message for guidance on reaching Dr. Kyle directly for true emergencies.

We know dental emergencies are stressful. Our goal is to make sure you're seen quickly, treated gently, and out of pain as fast as possible.