You never know if and when a dental emergency will happen to you, so it’s best to be prepared by knowing what to do in some of the more common situations. Being prepared can be the difference between saving a tooth and losing one. In this post, we talk about steps you can take if a dental emergency happens.
- Knocked-Out Tooth
- Broken or Chipped Tooth
- Toothache or Object Stuck Between Teeth
- Lost Filling or Crown
- Abscess
If your tooth gets knocked out, the first step is to find the tooth. However, it’s imperative that you hold the tooth only by the crown (the chewing surface) because touching the root could damage it and make it harder for us to save the tooth. Once you have the tooth, gently rinse it off with water or milk, taking care to not scrub or rub it, especially with a towel or cloth. If you can, try to put the tooth back into place, but don’t force it into the socket. If you can’t put it back in its place, keep the tooth moist by placing it in a cup of milk. Call us ASAP so we can get you into our office! Less than an hour after injury is the best window for successful re-implantation.
Similar to a knocked-out tooth, if you have a broken or chipped tooth, try to find and save any of the pieces of the tooth. Gently rinse out your mouth and any of the pieces with water. If you are bleeding from the incident, put a piece of gauze to the area and apply a cold compress to the cheek area to reduce any swelling. Then call us for repair.
If you have a toothache or get something stuck between your teeth, first rinse your mouth with a mixture of warm water and salt. Then gently floss the affected area with string floss and/or a water flosser. Follow up with another thorough rinse. If the pain doesn’t go away or the object can’t be dislodged, call us. If there is something stuck, we can safely remove it; whatever you do, don’t use something sharp to try and poke it out!
If you lose a crown, try to put it back onto the tooth using an over-the-counter temporary dental cement or denture adhesive. In a pinch, toothpaste can provide decent results. You can also use dental cement if your filling falls out. Be sure to visit us ASAP for repair to prevent sensitivity and infection.
An abscess is an infection near the root of the tooth. If an abscess is not treated, it could permanently damage the teeth and tissue in your mouth, and lead to tooth loss and a systemic infection. If you think you have an abscess, call us immediately, especially if you have a painful, pimple-like swelling in your mouth. Until you can come see us, rinse your mouth out with a warm salt water mixture a few times a day.
Emergency Dental Care in Westerville, OH
Here at Sean Abidin, DDS & Vanessa Cao, DDS, we offer same-day emergency dental care. So whether you have a severe toothache, broken dentures, or questions about any other dental emergency, call us at 614-882-9828!
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