What to Do in a Dental Emergency
In a dental emergency, it is important to remain calm and act quickly. If you handle the issue promptly, there is a real possibility of saving your tooth! Here are a few scenarios you may be experiencing and the steps you can take to salvage your tooth and oral health.
If You Lose a Tooth: If your tooth is knocked out as a result of trauma, it is important to immediately locate the tooth if possible. Pick up the tooth by the crown, or the white outer part you typically see when you smile. If necessary, rinse the tooth in warm water, but do not remove any tissue or scrub the tooth. Finally, store the tooth in milk or gently return the tooth to its place, and make your way to one of our offices within the hour for the best chance of having it returned to the socket correctly.
If you Lost a Filling or Crown: It is very important that you do not use glue or other temporary measures to put your device back in place. Call our office to have your crown or filling restored promptly. If you experience pain, we recommend using over-the-counter pain medication to manage these symptoms.
If you have a Toothache: The first thing you can do is to swish warm water in your mouth or floss in order to dislodge any food particles that could be causing pain. If this isn’t successful, or you can see damage or swelling in the tissues of your mouth, schedule an appointment with one of our offices. Hold a cold compress to the outside of your cheek in order to numb any sites of pain while you wait for your appointment. You can also take over-the-counter pain medication, but do not apply any medication directly onto the site.
If you have an Abscess: An abscess is a very serious condition that should be addressed immediately. Otherwise, there is the possibility that infection could spread to other parts of the body. Call one of our offices immediately if you have an abscess. You can rinse with a mild salt water solution to manage pain in the meantime.