Board logo

subject: Know What To Do During A Dental Emergency [print this page]


When a dental emergency arises, your dentist in Mill Creek sets aside hours every day to treat your emergency immediately. With weekend and evening appointments, you will never have to settle for a broken tooth, or toothache. Knowing what to expect when a dental emergency occurs is essential to saving your tooth. Your dentist should be the first person you call if you have a dental emergency. Whether you are at home or traveling visiting a dentist within 30 minutes or less can be what stands between you and saving your tooth - think fast.

How to Handle Dental Emergencies

If your child knocks their tooth completely out of its socket, time is not always on your side. It is important to get your child and their tooth to a dentist within one hour of the injury otherwise the tooth may not be able to be saved. When a primary tooth is knocked out, it is usually not placed back into the socket because it might damage the developing permanent tooth.

However, if it is a permanent tooth that is knocked out, there are extra precautionary steps needed in order to properly save the tooth. Do not touch the tooth root. The root has a ligament that can be easily damaged and without a healthy ligament, the tooth cannot be replaced into the socket. If the tooth has dirt on it, rinse it off and gently try to reinsert it into the socket and hold it in place. If the tooth will not go back into the socket, put the tooth in saliva or a glass of milk, making sure the tooth does not dry out. Do not wrap a tooth in cloth or tissue and immediately visit your dentist for further emergency care.

When a tooth is pushed out of place, but is still in the socket rinse the mouth with cold water and put an icepack over your mouth. Gently push the tooth back into position and hold it in place. Call your dentist for further instructions and recommendations when it comes to preserving your tooth or teeth during a dental emergency.

You can Prevent Dental Emergencies

Summer sports and activities can pose a threat to your child's teeth. A good investment for children and adults, as well, is a mouth guard. Mouth guards are usually available through your dentist, allowing for proper customizable-protection of your child's teeth. Be alert to situations where someone could trip or fall, such as the basketball court. Teeth are precious and should be protected in any way possible.

Your child's teeth are so precious that you should take every precaution available to preserve their oral health. While the dental health care industry is doing amazing things with artificial teeth, there is nothing that can replace and be the same as your own healthy teeth. Taking just a few precautions and knowing what to do in a situation where yours or your child's tooth is injured, can last a lifetime.

Contact your dentist in Mill Creek for more information on dental emergencies and how to handle them. The winter season is known for accidents, so take precautions as often as possible to prevent injury to the mouth.

by: Gen Wright




welcome to loan (http://www.yloan.com/) Powered by Discuz! 5.5.0