Dental emergencies & toothache in Rockland, Maine
A toothache, a broken tooth, a crown that came off. Call us and describe what's going on. Dr. Basi will take care of it.
What counts as a dental emergency
Pain that keeps you awake or does not respond to over-the-counter painkillers. A tooth knocked out or broken. Swelling in the gum or face. A crown or filling that has come out and left a sharp or sensitive edge. Bleeding that will not stop after an extraction.
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
Uncontrolled bleeding
Jaw injury after an accident
Fever with facial swelling
What to do right now
Handle it by the crown, never the root. Rinse gently, and if you can, put it back in the socket. If not, keep it in milk. Get seen immediately — the first hour matters most.
Rinse with warm water and use a cold compress on the outside of the face. Keep any pieces. Avoid chewing on that side and call us.
Keep the crown if you have it. Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can protect the tooth for a day or two. Do not use household glue.
Rinse with warm salt water and floss gently in case something is trapped. Take painkillers as directed on the packet. Do not hold aspirin against the gum — it burns the tissue.
Swelling is different
Swelling means infection, and infection spreads. If your face or gum is swollen, tell us that on the phone rather than waiting for a routine slot.
If the swelling is closing your eye, moving down your neck, or making it hard to swallow or breathe, go straight to the emergency room. That is a medical emergency, not a dental one.
If you are not a patient here
That is fine — call anyway. We will tell you honestly what we can offer and how soon.
If we cannot see you quickly enough for what you are describing, we will point you somewhere that can. Nobody benefits from you sitting in pain waiting on us.
Common questions about dental emergencies
My crown fell off. Is that urgent?
Usually not, unless the tooth underneath is painful or sharp. Keep the crown, keep the area clean, and call us — it can often be recemented.
Do you see emergency patients who are not already patients?
Yes, when we have the room. Call, describe what is happening, and we will tell you honestly what we can do and when.
Can a knocked-out tooth be saved?
Sometimes, and the odds fall sharply with every passing minute. Keep it moist in milk or back in the socket, and get seen as fast as you possibly can.
Will antibiotics fix a toothache?
Antibiotics can settle an infection temporarily, but they do not treat the cause. The tooth still needs attention or the problem returns, usually worse.
How do I manage the pain until my appointment?
Over-the-counter painkillers taken as directed, a cold compress on the outside of the face, and warm salt-water rinses. Avoid chewing on that side, and avoid very hot or very cold food and drink.
Should I go to the emergency room or to a dentist?
Hospitals can manage pain and infection but very rarely treat the tooth itself. Go to the ER for facial swelling that is spreading, trouble breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or jaw injury. For everything else, a dentist is the right call.
In pain? Call us.
Describe what is going on and we will find you the soonest appointment we have. Monday through Thursday, 8am to 4pm.