What is a dental
emergency ?
Injuries to the mouth may include teeth
that are knocked out (avulsed), forced out
of position and loosened (luxated) or
fractured. In addition, lips, gums or cheeks
are often cut. Oral injuries are often
painful and should be treated by a dentist
as soon as possible.
How
soon should I see a dentist?
Immediately. Getting to a dentist with 30
minutes can make the difference between
saving or losing a tooth.
When a
tooth is knocked out:
- Immediately call your dentist for an
emergency appointment.
- Handle the tooth by the crown, not the
root. Touching the root (the part of the
tooth below the gum) can damage cells
necessary for bone re-attachment.
- Gently rinse the tooth in water to
remove dirt. Do not scrub.
- Do not try to replace the tooth into
the socket, but place the clean tooth in
your mouth between the cheek and gum to
keep it moist. It is important not to
let the tooth dry out.
- If it is not possible to store the
tooth in the mouth of the injured
person, wrap the tooth in a clean cloth
or gauze and immerse in milk.
When a
tooth is pushed out of position:
- Attempt to reposition the tooth to its
normal alignment using very light finger
pressure, but do not force the tooth.
- Bite down to keep the tooth from
moving.
- The dentist may splint the tooth in
place to the two healthy teeth next to
the loose tooth.
When a
tooth is fractured:
- Rinse mouth with warm water.
- Use an ice pack or cold compress to
reduce swelling.
- Use ibuprofen, not aspirin, for pain.
- Immediately get to your dentist, who
will determine treatment based on how
badly the tooth is broken. Only a
dentist can tell how bad the break is.
- Minor fracture: Minor fractures can be
smoothed by your dentist with a
sandpaper disc or simply left alone.
Another option is to restore the tooth
with a composite restoration. In either
case, treat the tooth with care for
several days.
- Moderate fracture: Moderate fractures
include damage to the enamel, dentin
and/or pulp. If the pulp is not
permanently damaged, the tooth may be
restored with a full permanent crown. If
pulpal damage does occur, further dental
treatment will be required.
- Severe fracture: Severe fractures
often mean a traumatized tooth with slim
chance of recovery.
When
tissue is injured:
Injuries to the inside of the mouth
include tears, puncture wounds and
lacerations to the cheek, lips or tongue.
The wound should be cleaned right away with
warm water, and the injured person taken to
a hospital emergency room for the necessary
care. Bleeding from a tongue laceration can
be reduced by pulling the tongue forward and
using gauze to place pressure on the wound.
What
can I do to be prepared?
Pack an emergency dental care kit,
including:
- Dentist's phone numbers (home and
office)
- Saline solution
- Handkerchief
- Gauze
- Small container with lid
- Ibuprofen (Not aspirin. Aspirin is an
anti-coagulant, which may cause
excessive bleeding in a dental
emergency.)
Aren't
there some folk remedies?
Sure! Click here.
