People risk breaking their teeth or otherwise injuring their mouths while eating, playing, exercising, and participating in other seemingly harmless activities. It's important to understand what to do in case of a dental emergency so that your tooth can be repaired when you are able to see a dentist.
What are dental emergencies and how can I avoid them?
Dental emergencies can occur when your tooth breaks, cracks,
becomes loosened, or is knocked out completely. Sometimes dental crowns come
off of teeth. Lips, gums, or cheeks can be cut.
Dental emergencies can be avoided by taking simple
precautions, such as wearing a mouthguard during sports activities to prevent
teeth from breaking or being knocked out, and avoiding hard foods that may
crack or break your teeth—whether you have your natural teeth or you wear
dentures. Oral injuries often are painful and should be treated by a dentist as
soon as possible.
What should I do if a tooth is knocked out?
If your tooth is knocked out, immediately call a dentist for
an emergency appointment. It is important to see your dentist within an hour of
when your tooth is knocked out for the best chance of the tooth surviving the
trauma. Handle the tooth by the crown (the top), not by the root (the
pointed part on the bottom).
Touching the root of the tooth can damage cells that are
necessary to reattach the tooth to the bone. Gently rinse the tooth in water to
remove dirt. Do not scrub the tooth! 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, wrap the
tooth in a clean cloth or gauze and immerse it in milk or saline solution (the
solution used for contacts). If a baby tooth is knocked out, the tooth
should not be replanted. The patient should be seen as soon as possible to make
sure there are no remaining pieces of the tooth.
What should I do if my tooth is pushed out of position?
If your tooth is loosened and pushed out of position, call
your dentist right away for an emergency appointment. In the meantime, attempt
to reposition it to its normal alignment using very light finger pressure—but
don't force it!
How should I handle a chipped or fractured tooth?
There are different types of tooth fractures. Chipped teeth
are minor fractures. Moderate fractures include damage to the enamel, tissue,
and/or pulp. Severe fractures usually mean that a tooth has been traumatized to
the point that it cannot be recovered.
If you fracture a tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water
and use an ice pack or cold compress to reduce swelling. Take ibuprofen, not
aspirin, for pain. Your dentist can smooth out minor fractures with a sandpaper
disc. Alternatively, restorative procedures may be needed to fix the tooth.
If you wear dentures and a tooth breaks or chips, wear your
spare dentures until you can visit your dentist. If you do not have a spare set
or cannot get to the dentist's office soon, use cyanoacrylate (heavy-duty,
quick-drying "super" glue) to glue the tooth or the piece of the
tooth back into place. Remember—this is only a temporary measure until your
dentist can properly repair your tooth and should only be used for dentures!
Never attempt to glue a natural tooth or part of a natural tooth back into
place!
What should I do if the tissue of my mouth is injured?
Injuries inside the mouth include tears or cuts, puncture
wounds, and lacerations to the cheek, lips, or tongue. The wound should be
cleaned immediately with warm water, and the injured person should be taken
directly to an oral surgeon for emergency care. If you can't get to an oral surgeon,
the patient should be taken to the hospital. Bleeding from a tongue laceration
can be reduced by pulling the tongue forward and using gauze to place pressure
on the wound.
Can I somehow prepare for dental emergencies?
Yes, by packing 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.)source: http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=E&iid=185&aid=3799
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