5 Ways to Prepare for a Dental Emergency

Drawing of man in a suit against a red and purple background clutching his forehead in panic due to a dental emergency

Though you definitely hope a dental emergency never happens to you, it’s possible one will occur at some point in your life. Here, we explain five ways to prepare for a dental emergency so you are ready to handle whatever life throws at you and your teeth.

  1. Research What to Do in Common Dental Emergencies
  2. There is an abundance of information to be obtained online and at our office concerning what to do in common dental emergencies. For example, read up on and ask our team what to do if your tooth gets knocked out (reach for that cup of milk!), if you chip or crack a tooth, if your dentures break, if you develop a toothache or abscess, and if your mouth is bleeding profusely after oral surgery. By gathering information beforehand, you’ll know what to do in the moment if something does happen.

  3. Have the Right Materials on Hand
  4. A significant part of being prepared for a dental emergency is simply having the right materials available. If something happens to your tooth, you’ll want to have sterile gloves on hand so that you can handle the tooth by its chewing surface without fear of contamination. In situations where you have an toothache, it’s helpful to have salt on hand to create a salt water solution to help sterilize your mouth and alleviate pain. Other materials, such as gauze, a tooth preservation kit, and a cold compress can really help in a dental emergency. Keeping acetaminophen or ibuprofen around is also a good idea. Avoid using aspirin during a dental emergency because it reduces blood coagulation and can lead to excessive bleeding.

  5. Always Carry Your Insurance Card
  6. It’s important to always have your dental healthcare insurance card on you because you never know when you might need to get emergency dental care. Without the card, obtaining emergency care can become a lot more complicated and you don’t want to have to spend hours on the phone with your insurance company.

  7. Have Our Phone Number Programmed Into Your Phone
  8. You should call our Troy Bartels, DDS team at 870-802-1500 as soon as possible in any dental emergency. By programming our number in now, you eliminate the headache of having to look up our number while you’re in the middle of a dental emergency. We are open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Friday from 8:00 am to noon. Our address is 811 Windover Road, Suite B, Jonesboro, AR 72401.

  9. Remind Yourself to Stay Calm
  10. Though it may be difficult in the stress of the moment, it’s critical to stay calm during a dental emergency. But don’t worry—by being prepared now, you are more likely to stay calm in an emergency and make the right decisions using all the tools you have at hand.
If you experience a dental emergency, call us as soon as possible so we can help you get the emergency care you need!
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