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Health Emergencies

Dental Emergency

Where to call

During the day on weekdays

Call your dentist or a dentist in the yellow pages of the phone book. If you have the dental plan offered through the Student Health Insurance Plan, you will want to see a participating provider. If you want suggestions about dentists, we can provide you with referrals to dentists in the Ithaca area. Call 255-5155 and ask for assistance in securing a referral.

Nights and weekends

Call the Gannett health care provider on call at 255-5155. Although Gannett does not have a dentist on staff, we can help you think through your options regarding whether, when, and where you should seek medical attention.


Kinds of dental problems

Check here to see how to handle these common problems of the mouth and teeth.

If you have a tooth that has been knocked out
If you have a tooth that has been pushed out of place
If you have chipped a tooth
If you have cut your lip, gum, tongue, or cheek
If you have a toothache
If you still have your wisdom teeth
If you have something stuck between your teeth

If you have a tooth that has been knocked out
A.  

It is best to place it right back in the socket. Hold it by the crown (not the root), and rinse it off with water if it is visually contaminated. If you cannot place the tooth back in the socket, place it in a glass of milk. In either case, call a dentist for immediate care.


If you have a tooth that has been pushed out of place
A.  

Gently (using light finger pressure), try to push it back into place. Do not force it. Call a dentist for care.


If you have chipped a tooth
A.  

Rinse your mouth out, try to keep food away from that tooth, and call a dentist. If it is a small chip it usually can wait until a weekday for care.


If you have cut your lip, gum, tongue, or cheek
A.  

Rinse with warm water and apply a cool moist compress to the area. If the bleeding does not stop or the area extends beyond the lip to your face you should seek emergency care.


If you have a toothache
A.  

Rinse your mouth well, floss and brush your teeth and gums. Take an over-the-counter pain medication. Never place any pain medication directly on your tooth or gums.


If you still have your wisdom teeth
A.  

It is not uncommon for them to cause your mouth to ache. Keep the area clean and do not chew hard foods like nuts or seeds. Try not to poke at the area. You should see a dentist or oral surgeon if they continue to cause pain for you.


If you have something stuck between your teeth
A.  

Use dental floss to remove it. Never use a sharp tool as this may damage your tooth or gums.