Preparedness is key in any emergency. When it comes to dental emergencies, it is important to know what you can do before you see your emergency dentist to prevent further damage from occurring. It just might save your tooth.
Broken tooth.
Whether you took a hard fall, a blow to the face, or just bit down on something hard, a broken tooth may seem scary, but shouldn’t be cause for alarm. Before you head out to see your emergency dentist, take the following steps:
- Keep and rinse off all broken tooth fragments.
- Rinse your mouth in warm water.
- Apply gauze to any areas of bleeding until it stops, or around ten minutes.
- If there is pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever and apply a cold pack to the outside area near the affected tooth.
Knocked-out tooth.
A knocked-out tooth can be worrisome. It’s a serious event that will require you to visit your emergency dentist. But there is a good chance you can save your tooth if you act quickly.
- Be gentle and try not to handle the tooth by the root part that was under your gums.
- If the tooth is dirty, carefully rinse it off with water. Do not wipe or scrub it or remove any attached tissue.
- Reinsert the tooth into the socket, if possible, being mindful that it is facing the correct way.
- If you are not able to reinsert the tooth back into the socket, keep it moist in a small cup of milk or water.
- For the best chances at saving your tooth, see your emergency dentist within one hour.
Lost filling.
A fallen-out filling can be a minor inconvenience, but there are a few things you will need to know before your emergency dentist visit.
- If you can find the filling, keep it to show your dentist.
- Brush your tooth gently with toothpaste to keep it clean.
- Avoid eating with or near of the affected tooth.
- Apply over-the-counter temporary dental cement—or a piece of sugarless gum—to the tooth.
When a dental emergency happens, it is crucial to act quickly. Knowing what to do before you see your emergency dentist may make all the difference—and even help save your tooth.
At Sair Dental, we know the urgency of a dental emergency and can usually see you very quickly. Call us right away so we can prepare for your visit.