subject: Dealing With Dental Emergencies [print this page] Even when in agonizing pain from a dental emergency, you can't just call 911 for help. Whether you have a toothache or tooth injury, you can do a few things on your own to handle the emergency until you can get to a professional for relief.
Before doing anything in an emergency, call your dentist. Most offices have answering services that provide general care instructions in an emergency and will contact your dental professional to relay your situation. This article looks at several things you can do during an emergency when you can't get in contact with your dental office.
Lost Crown, Filling, Or Tooth
If you suffer a dislodged dental crown, call to make an office appointment as quickly as possible. Slip the crown back in place, securing it with toothpaste or denture adhesive until you can get to your cosmetic dentist. Never use glue to affix a crown, especially not any type of superglue. In the case of a lost filling, simply place sugarless gum in the filling hole until you can get to the office for a permanent repair.
If you lose a tooth, rinse the tooth gently with water, but don't remove any tissue still hanging onto the root. Place the tooth back in the socket when possible. If you can't replace the tooth, put it in a small container with either a cup of water with a pinch of salt or some milk. The tooth will have a better chance of recovering if you place it back into the socket immediately. See your regular cosmetic dentist as quickly as possible.
Traumatic Injury
For traumatic injuries, rinse your mouth with a mild salt water solution and stop any bleeding with moistened gauze or a tea bag by applying pressure to the area injured. You can help control the pain and reduce swelling with a cold compress. For extreme bleeding that won't stop, large cuts possibly requiring stitches, or intense, unbearable pain, head to your local hospital emergency room and contact your cosmetic dentist.
Toothache And Abscess
Toothaches and abscesses have the potential to be extremely painful. You can manage the pain until you can get to your cosmetic dentist to determine the cause and receive treatment with a few simple emergency procedures.
Apply a cold compress on the outside of your mouth at the affected area. Do not follow the common home remedy of placing an aspirin on your affected tooth because it can actually burn your gums and make things worse. Aspirin will also thin your blood, so it's best to avoid it in this situation. Taking acetaminophen as directed can help ease the pain. Rinse your mouth with a mild solution of salt water and gently floss to clean the area and remove food particles. Call your cosmetic dentist immediately to make an appointment.
Dental emergencies occur to people every day and most of these people have no idea what to do. If you ever experience an emergency, these tips will help until you can get treatment from your regular dental professional.
by: Chris Harmen
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