What to do in a dental emergency

Dental Emergencies may include teeth that have been knocked out (avulsed), forced out of position (extruded), or broken (fractured.) The soft tissues can also sometimes be affected (lips, gums or cheeks). We would recommend seeking dental care and advice immediately. Most dentists will have some system that allows out of hours calls. We at aesthetics provide all our registered patients with the dentist’s mobile number for such emergencies.

AVULSED TEETH

When a tooth is knocked out you should:

>Try to find the tooth
>Immediately call your dentist for an emergency appointment
>Rinse, but do not scrub the tooth to remove any dirt
>Put the clean tooth in your mouth between the cheek and gum
>Don’t attempt to replace the tooth into the socket. This could cause further damage
>Get to the dentist as soon as possible. If it is within a half hour of the injury, it may be possible to re->implant the tooth
>If it is not possible to store the tooth in the mouth of the injured person (e.g., a young child,) wrap the tooth in a clean cloth or gauze and place in a glass of milk

EXTRUDED TEETH

If the tooth is pushed out of place (inward or outward), it should be repositioned to its normal position with very light finger pressure. Do not force the tooth into the socket. Hold the tooth in place with a moist tissue or gauze. Again, it is vital that a dentist see the injured individual as quickly as possible.

FRACTURED TEETH

How a fractured tooth is treated will depend on how badly it is broken. Regardless of the damage, a dentist should always be consulted as quickly as possible to determine appropriate treatment.

Minor Fracture – Minor fractures can be smoothed by your dentist with a sandpaper disc or simply left alone. Another option is to restore the tooth with a composite (white) restoration. In either case, you should treat the tooth with care for several days.

Moderate Fracture – Moderate fractures include damage to the enamel, dentin and/or pulp. If the pulp is not permanently damaged, there are a variety of procedures your dentist can use to restore your tooth to its original shape and function, including the placement of a full permanent crown. If pulpal damage has occurred, further dental treatment may be required, such as root canal treatment.

Severe Fracture – again depending on the extent of the fracture, the tooth may be able to be saved or may be loss. Once the dentist has assessed the situation, they can discuss all the options available to you.

INJURIES TO THE SOFT TISSUES OF THE MOUTH

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 and professional help seeked immediately, whether this is with you dentist or the local hospital.

Bleeding from a tongue injury can be reduced by pulling the tongue forward and using gauze to place pressure on the affected area.

www.aesthetics-dentistry.com 01707 261367