Dental emergencies can happen at any time, which is why it’s important to know what to do in the event that one happens to you. This includes things like a dislodged, chipped, or knocked out tooth. Less pressing but still important dental problems also include a missing crown or filling, or broken braces. In this week’s blog, we’ll talk about what to do if one of these dental events happens to you.
What to do in the event of mouth trauma.
Dental Emergencies: What to Do in the Event of Mouth Trauma
Knock-Out Tooth
Teeth can be knocked out due to trauma. Pick it up by the top, not by the root. Rhinse the tooth with warm water but do not scrub it. This helps preserve any tissue fragments. Put the tooth in a clean container in milk, and take it to the dentist, or emergency room if the dentist is not available. Permanent teeth can be re-implanted within 1-2 hours of the event. Apply a constant, firm pressure to the area around the tooth to stop bleeding.
Chipped Tooth
Save the chipped piece of the tooth and rinse it and your mouth with warm water. Apply gauze to stop any bleeding. When the bleeding stops, apply a cold compress to the area around the tooth to reduce any inflammation. See your dentist as soon as possible and bring the piece of the tooth with you. It may or may not be possible to reattach them. If not, there are a number of cosmetic dentistry procedures that can be used to restore the natural look of the tooth.
Dislodged Tooth
Teeth can become partially dislodged. If this happens, put a cold compress on the area to reduce inflammation, and get to the dentist as soon as possible.
Missing Filling
If a filling comes of a tooth, keep it if you can find it, and take it to the dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can use dental wax or dental cement to plug the hole.
Missing Crown
Use a denture adhesive or dental cement to put the crown back on the tooth until you can get to the dentist.
Broken Braces
If there is a protruding piece of wire, do not cut it, as you could inhale it or swallow it. Use a q-tip to push it into a position where it’s not rubbing against your gum or check, or cover it with gauze or a cotton ball. See your orthodontist as soon as possible.
Call Olney Dental at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online for an appointment. And don’t forget to visit Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube to connect with us on social media.