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What is a
Dental Emergency?
Injuries to the
mouth may include teeth that are knocked out
(avulsed), forced out of position and loosened
(extruded) or fractured. In addition, lips, gums
or cheeks are often cut. Oral injuries are often
painful and should be treated by a dentist as
soon as possible.
How soon should
I see a dentist?
Immediately.
Getting to a dentist within 30 minutes can make
the difference between saving or losing a tooth.
What should I
do when a tooth is knocked out?
-
Immediately
call your dentist for an emergency
appointment.
-
Handle the
tooth by the crown, not the root. Touching
the root (the part of the tooth below the
gum) can damage cells necessary for bone
reattachment.
-
Gently rinse
the tooth in water to remove dirt. Do not
scrub.
-
If possible,
gently place the clean tooth in the socket
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 of
the injured person, wrap the tooth in a
clean cloth or gauze and immerse in milk or
saliva.
What should I
do when a tooth is pushed out of position?
-
Attempt to
reposition the tooth to its normal alignment
using very light finger pressure, but do not
force the tooth.
-
Bite down to
keep the tooth from moving.
What
should I do when a tooth is fractured?
-
Rinse mouth
with warm water.
-
Use an ice
pack or cold compress to reduce swelling.
-
Use ibuprofen,
not aspirin, for pain.
-
Immediately
get to your dentist, who will determine
treatment based on how badly the tooth is
broken. Only a dentist can tell how bad the
break is.
Minor
fracture: Minor fractures can be smoothed by
your dentist or simply left alone. Another
option is to restore the tooth with a
composite restoration. In either case, treat
the tooth with care for several days.
Moderate fracture:
Moderate fractures include damage to the enamel,
dentin and/or pulp (nerve and other live
tissues). If the pulp is not permanently
damaged, the tooth may be restored with a full
permanent crown. If damage to the pulp does
occur, further dental treatment will be
required.
Severe fracture:
Severe fractures often mean a traumatized tooth
with slim chance of recovery.
What should I
do when tissue is injured?
Injuries to the
inside of the mouth include tears, puncture
wounds and lacerations to the cheek, lips or
tongue. The wound should be cleaned right away
with warm water, and the injured person taken to
a hospital emergency room for the necessary
care. Bleeding from a tongue laceration can be
reduced by pulling the tongue forward and using
gauze to place pressure on the wound.
What can I do
to be prepared?
Pack an
emergency dental-care kit, including:
-
Dentist's phone numbers (home and
office)
-
Handkerchief
-
Gauze
-
Small container with lid
-
Ibuprofen (Not aspirin. Aspirin is
an anticoagulant, which may cause
excessive bleeding in a dental
emergency.)
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