dental medicine

A Dental Emergency Will Happen When Least Expected
We Will Be Here To Help You

Not all dental problems grow slowly. For example, we know that it seems a dental emergency comes out of nowhere, and usually at the worst time, like right before your school pictures are taken or when you have out of town travel planned. Because of this, our office is prepared to help you get through your dental emergencies with compassion and skilled care.

Pain. It’s real. And dental pain is often some of the worst pain you can encounter. The doctors and staff at Clifty Family Dental in Madison, Indiana are here to help you get relief from the problem that is causing your pain, and restore your mouth to proper form and function. If you are having dental pain, call our office now. We will do our best to see you as soon as possible.

Not all dental emergency problems cause pain. Honestly, some are just bad timing. Broke your front tooth the day before your wedding? Lost your denture a week before your 50th high school reunion? Lost you retainer and you are worried about your teeth shifting? These are all problems that Clifty Family Dental can help with.

We Can Help

Dental emergencies vary greatly in their need for swift action. For example, here are just a few types of dental emergencies that we regularly see in our office. Most importantly, review the section further down the page on what to do in certain severe cases.

  • Broken Tooth

  • Abscessed Tooth

  • Chipped Tooth

  • Mouth Sores

  • Broken Retainer

  • Toothache

  • Severe Pain

  • Lost Filling

  • Lost Or Broken Denture

  • Something Between Teeth

  • Bleeding

  • Swelling

man in pain

What To Do
In Your Situation

Not all dental problems are created equally. Some situations call for immediate action, while others can be handled with less urgency. Here are some tips for a few common dental emergency problems we encounter.

Tooth Pain

Infection, broken teeth, deep cavities, or lost fillings can all cause tooth pain.

Tooth Pain

Only an exam can help resolve what is causing the problem. Call and come see us. Until then, apply ice 10-20 minutes each hour and take tylenol to help reduce the intensity.

Broken Jaw

If you suspect a broken jaw, get to an emergency room right away.

Broken Jaw

DO NOT MOVE your jaw.  You should support it by using a tie or towel tied around the top of the head and supporting the jaw. This can be a serious injury, so seek emergency care immediately.

Tooth Chip

We may be able to re-attach your broken tooth piece, so bring it with you.

Tooth Chip

Some repairs might require other treatment such as a filling or crown.  If there is no pain, there is no need for urgent care.  Sharp edges can temporarily be covered with orthodontic wax.

Knocked Out

If you have a tooth knocked out, we may be able to save it

Knocked Out

Hold the tooth by the crown, not the root.  Rinse if dirty, but DO NOT SCRUB. Place in milk or water with a pinch of salt and get to a dentist within minutes!

Lost Crown

If there is no pain or sensitivity, you don't need to rush.

Lost Crown

Slip your crown back on the tooth using over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste or denture adhesives. Whatever you do, DO NOT GLUE it back in.

Lost Filling

If you are not having pain, schedule an appointment and tke a few simple measures until you can see us

Lost Filling

Place a small amount of dental temporary cement in the place of the lost filling.  Or you can place a small piece of sugar free gum there to keep out food debris.

Broken wire

A broken wire on your braces can be really irritating and painful.

Broken Wire

You can find orthodontic wax at most stores in the dental section.  Place a small amount on the end of the wire.  DO NOT cut or bend the wire yourself, you could cause bigger problems for yourself.

Lost Bracket

An orthodontic bracket that comes off should be re-cemented as soon as possible.

Lost Bracket

DO NOT try to glue the bracket back to the tooth.  The position of the bracket is critical to how it works, and you could send the tooth in the wrong direction or angle if you try to repair this yourself.

Lost Aligner

Clear aligners or aligner attachments that are lost are just like missing brackets or wires on metal braces.

Lost Aligner

You need to have a new aligner made as soon as possible in order to avoid losing progress that you have already made, as well as being sure that your future aligners are going to fit correctly.

Contact Info

Emergency Care CALL

812.273.0207

Do you have a dental emergency? Call us today and we will do our best to get you out of pain as quickly as possible.