What to Do in a Dental Emergency: A Southeast Michigan Guide

Is it actually a dental emergency? (How to tell)

If you have severe pain, swelling, bleeding that won't stop, or a knocked-out tooth — yes, it's an emergency. Call your nearest PGS office right away. Don't wait it out.

Common dental emergencies and what to do RIGHT NOW

Knocked-out tooth

Pick the tooth up by the crown (not the root), gently rinse it with milk or saline, and try to place it back in the socket. If you can't, store it in milk and call us within 30 minutes — that's the window where we can often save it.

Cracked or broken tooth

Rinse with warm water, apply a cold compress to your face, and call. Save any pieces you can find.

Severe toothache

Rinse with warm salt water, floss gently to remove anything trapped, take ibuprofen if you tolerate it. Call us — severe pain usually means an infection that needs treatment.

Lost filling or crown

Not as urgent, but call within a day. You can use over-the-counter dental cement temporarily.

Abscess or swelling

Always urgent. Infections can spread fast. Call immediately.

What NOT to do (common mistakes that make things worse)

• Don't apply aspirin directly to gums — it burns tissue.
• Don't ignore an abscess hoping it'll go away.
• Don't try to extract a tooth yourself.
• Don't skip calling because it's after hours — leave a message; emergencies get prioritized.

How PGS Dentistry handles dental emergencies

Most dental emergencies are seen same-day across our 6 offices. Our team is trained to triage by phone and bring you in fast.

Which PGS location is closest to you?

We have offices in Richmond, Chesterfield, Romeo, Marysville, Harrison Township, and St. Clair Shores. See all locations.

Need same-day care? Call your nearest PGS office now.