Dental Emergencies
How proper response to dental emergencies can save you pain, expense and emotional duress.
The American Dental Association recommends that you make yourself familiar with these particular dental emergencies. It is critical that you know what to do, if any one of these things happens to you or a loved one.
1) If you knock out a tooth, hold the tooth by the crown and rinse the root in water to cleanse it. Do not let the tooth, or the root, become dirty. Do NOT rub, scrub or remove any attached tissues fragments that are on the tooth. Preserve the tooth (in its natural condition) in a cup of milk and take it with you IMMEDIATELY to the dentist’s office.
2) If you break a tooth, rinse you mouth with warm water. This will keep the area clean and as sterile as possible. Apply cold packs on your cheeks to minimize swelling. Go to the dentist immediately.
3) Treat a bitten tongue or lip with a soft cloth to help stop the bleeding. Have the person suck on ice cubes to combat any swelling (cold pack on the lips). If bleeding doesn’t stop, seek immediate treatment from a dental professional or the emergency room.
4) If you have a toothache, rinse your mouth with warm water, carefully floss to remove food or other particulates that might be surrounding the tooth and see your dentist as soon as possible. Do not apply aspirin (or anything else) to the tooth or gum tissues.
5) Any jaw injury (or possible fracture) is serious enough that it NEEDS immediate medical attention at you dentist’s office or the emergency room. Use cold packs on the way to reduce any swelling.
6) If a loose or broken wire from your braces is hurting you, cover the end of the wire with a piece of beeswax or a piece of good quality gauze until you can get into the dentist’s office. Seek immediate treatment if the wire gets stuck into the cheek, tongue or gum tissue. If this happens, don’t try to pull it out yourself and move carefully to avoid any additional pain or damage.
7) If you have a dental emergency when you are away from home, look up “dentist” in the local yellow pages so that you can find the phone number for the state or local dental society. The society is able to refer you to a reputable local dentist who is closest to you. Another option is to go to an actual emergency room and ask them for a referral to a good dentist. If you are traveling overseas, consult with the nearest U.S. Embassy or ask the hotel personnel for a dentist’s referral.
We hope you find this web site useful and invite you to contact us with your questions at any time.
Call us at 208-377-2160
