When you are faced with an unexpected dental problem or dental emergency, there are certain things that you can do to help your smile. Our Elmhurst dentists are here to give you some recommendations on how to proceed after dental trauma. Keep reading for more information!
Here is an example of a common dental emergency: a patient has her tooth knocked out while playing soccer. What should she do?
The number one thing she can do to help her smile is to see a dentist as soon as possible after experiencing dental damage. Take the time now to determine who you will call in a dental emergency, and to make note of that dentist’s contact information. Make sure that this information is easily accessible on your phone or somewhere else that is simple for you to access in an emergency.
As soon as the tooth is knocked out our patient can place the tooth back into the hole in her smile in order to keep it viable for as long as possible. In some cases, it is possible to reinsert a knocked-out tooth, and have that tooth take root in the smile again. If the tooth does not easily fit back into the patient’s smile, she can place the tooth in milk until she gets to her dental appointment.
When handling a knocked-out tooth, try not to disturb any oral tissues or roots that may be attached to it—these can be critical to successfully reinserting the lost tooth. If our patient is experiencing pain due to her knocked-out tooth, she can use an icy compress to numb the area. She should not, however, place any numbing agents or aspirin directly on the gum tissue.
Make a plan for what you will do when faced with a dental emergency; your future smile will thank you for it! Our Elmhurst dentists are happy to give you any additional information that you may need, please feel free to call us to get started!