Preparing for A Dental Emergency
Preparing For a Dental Emergency
It seems that accidents happen when we least expect them. When tooth damage is involved, it’s good to know what to do. Knowing the steps to take when a dental emergency transpires can save the damaged tooth, ward off infection, and decrease the risk of extensive and expensive treatment.
Step 1: Discover Your Dental Home
It’s extremely important to have a dental home just in case of a dental emergency. Find a dental practice that is right for you and stick with them. When bad accidents happen, it’s a relief to have a dental practice you trust by your side.
Establishing a dental home means you are probably familiar with the hours and whether they provide emergency services. A relationship with a dental practice helps when an emergency occurs and will provide great care and support.
Step 2: Stay Prepared
To be prepared, you need to know what steps to take if and when an emergency occurs. Specifically, when a dental emergency happens, time can be extremely important in whether the tooth is saved.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry tells us how to deal with specific emergencies:
- Baby tooth knocked out? Contact their dentist ASAP. Due to the possibility of damaging the developing permanent tooth, it most likely will not be replanted.
- Fractured or chipped tooth? Get in touch with your dentist immediately as it important to get treatment as soon as possible. Rinse with water and search for any broken teeth fragments. Put the fragments in water or cold milk and bring to the dentist.
- Permanent tooth knocked out? Again, seek treatment immediately from your dentist. Many teeth that are knocked out can be saved if you can see your dentist 30 minutes to an hour after the accident occurs. Rinse the tooth with water and place gently back into the socket. If you cannot put back into the socket, put in cold milk, saliva, or water.
We Are Here For You
When a dental emergency occurs, we are here for you. Any more questions? Let us know!
Thank you to our awesome patients!