Emergency Care

Dentistry For The Individual

865-982-9662

Kim C. Norman, DDS

734 W. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN 37801 • Monday - Thursday 8:00 - 5:00, Lunch 1:00 – 2:00 • 865-982-9662

During office Hours:

If you are experiencing an immediate dental care emergency and it is during our normal office hours (Monday – Thursday 8:30AM – 5:00PM), please call the office at 865-982-9662.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you call the office and are unable to reach us, please leave a message. We may be on another line or assisting another patient. We will return your call promptly.

After Office Hours or Weekends:

If you are a patient of record (someone who has been seen in our office within the last twelve months) and you are experiencing a dental emergency, call our office telephone at 865-982-9662. Listen to the recorded message for instructions and the emergency number to call. When you call the emergency number, leave your name, contact number, and the nature of the problem. Someone from the office will return your call shortly.

Self- Managing Dental Emergencies

Some dental emergencies can be handled with dental products available at your local pharmacy. Here are some common dental emergencies and how to handle them.

Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek

If you have bitten your tongue, lip or cheek, gently wipe the area clean with a damp cloth and apply light pressure until any bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress to the area to minimize any swelling. If you feel the bitten area is severe please call the office at 865-982-9662 to schedule an appointment or click the button below to request an appointment.

Burned Tongue, Palate (Roof of Mouth), Inside Lip, or Inside Cheek

Rinse with cool water, allow ice chips to melt in your mouth, or eat a popsicle to relieve the pain. If you feel the burn is severe and needs medical attention please call the office at 865-982-9662 to schedule an appointment or click the button below to request an appointment.

Something Caught Between Your Teeth

Gently insert a piece of dental floss. Be very careful not to cut the gum tissue. Never use a sharp object to try and remove something that is stuck in between your teeth. If you cannot remove the object, call the office at 865-982-9662 to schedule an appointment or click on the button below to request an appointment.

Crown, Bridge, or Temporary is off

Purchase an over-the-counter denture adhesive. Fill the crown, bridge, or temporary with the adhesive and place back on the tooth. As you press the restoration into place the excess adhesive will be squeezed out. Once the adhesive has set, gently remove any excess from around the edges of the restoration. Call the office to schedule an appointment (865-982-9662) or click the button below to request an appointment.

Broken or Cracked Partial or Denture

Wear your duplicate or old partial or denture if you have one. Call the office at 865-982-9662 to schedule an appointment to have your partial or denture professionally repaired. If you do not have a duplicate or an old partial or denture that you can wear, use a denture adhesive to repair the crack or break. Some pharmacies carry denture repair kits. DO NOT USE any type of GLUE (Elmer’s, Krazy Glue, or Super Glue). Using these products can ruin the partial or denture and make repairs impossible.

Chipped or Broken Tooth

Rinse the mouth using warm water. If there's bleeding, apply a piece of gauze (or small clean cloth) to the area and apply gentle pressure for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken/chipped tooth to keep down any swelling and to help relieve pain. Call the office immediately at 865-982-9662.

Knocked Out Tooth

Hold the tooth by the crown (the part of the tooth that you see in the mouth) and rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket being sure to position it properly. If that isn’t possible or you are unsure of the tooth’s proper position, put the tooth in a cup of milk (or a cup of water with a pinch of table salt) and call the office immediately at 865-982-9662.

Broken Jaw

If you think your jaw might be broken, apply a cold compress to the area and go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Most hospitals in our area have oral surgeons on call 24 hours a day. If possible, call ahead to let them know you are coming.

Tips for other dental emergencies can be found at the American Dental Association website: http://www.ada.org/public/manage/emergencies.asp

and at WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/handling-dental-emergencies