What happens when you chip a tooth? What do you do when faced with a toothache? These are referred to as dental emergencies. At our office, we offer emergency care for patients. In addition, prior to visiting our office you can take steps to address discomfort. Find out what you need to know about common dental emergencies.

Common Dental Emergencies

1.Chipped Tooth

What Do I Do? Don’t panic! With dental bonding or a crown we can restore the damaged tooth. After calling the office you can apply gauze to stem any bleeding or place a cold compress on the face to reduce swelling.

  1. Sudden Toothache

What Do I Do? Often a toothache is the result of a cavity or infection. We can examine your tooth and in the same visit place a filling to repair the decay. Don’t ignore a toothache, as you increase the risk of an abbesses or the need for a root canal.

  1. Damaged Filling or Crown

What Do I Do? If your crown or filling is loose contact our office right away. In the meantime, you can use vaseline to place the crown back in place temporarily.

  1. Knocked-Out Tooth

What Do I Do? If you lose a tooth first pick the tooth up by the crown. Never touch the root. You can rinse the tooth under water to remove dirt or foreign debris. Bring the tooth in a glass of milk to the office.

  1. Damaged Lip or Gum

What Do I Do? Place a cold compress on the lip or against the mouth. If bleeding continues then you may need to proceed to the emergency room for stitches. Likewise, any injury that involves major bleeding or may be life threatening then go to the emergency room right away.


We look forward to providing families with exceptional care and advanced treatment options. To schedule an appointment with Corbet Locke, DDS, please contact us at (254) 776-4888. Our office welcomes patients living in Waco, Hewitt, McGregor, Woodway, and nearby cities.