Common Dental Emergencies and What You Need to Do
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Life is quite unexpected. No matter how you go about your day, there are various uncontrollable factors that may impede your plans. Thankfully, modern human society has progressed to a position where the impact of such factors can be reversed quite easily.
Consider – Dental Emergencies. An extremely painful and long-term concern, dealing with potential trauma to teeth is quite difficult. Beyond the initial pain, failing to quickly address this concern allows oral bacteria to infect the wound and spread into more parts of the body.
No longer are issues like an unexpected trauma to teeth a cause for larger concern. According to an expert cosmetic dentist in Kings Mountain, damage to teeth can be seamlessly fixed via dental procedures. They also stress on the importance of immediate first-aid. If possible, certain steps can make repairing the damage much easier. If you ever find yourself in such a scenario, here is a quick guide on what to do…
Avulsed Tooth
A chance sporting incident, major fall, or an unfortunate accident might result in an avulsed tooth – a tooth completely being knocked out of the socket. Time is of the essence, so focus on –
- Locating the tooth and picking it up by the crown.
- Rinse the tooth to clean off any dirt (Avoid scrubbing or removing tissue fragments).
- Keep the tooth moist by placing it in a container of milk.
- Rush to the dentist to surgically reinsert the tooth or for an emergency root canal.
Dislodged or Loose Teeth
Trauma to the teeth may not always knock them out completely. It may result in dislodging or generally loosened teeth. While painful, here is what you need to do first –
- Try to keep the tooth in place by gently pushing it in position.
- Bite down gently on a clean cloth for stability.
- Avoid any hard-to-chew to chew foods meanwhile.
- Reach out to a dentist to splint the tooth to adjacent teeth and allow for healing.
Cracked or Broken Teeth
If you’ve bitten down on something particularly hard, or taken a minor fall to the face, there’s a chance of having cracked or broken a tooth. While severity can vary, here’s what you need to keep in mind –
- Use warm water to rinse the mouth and clean the area
- Opt to apply an ice ice pack or cold compress to the face to reduce swelling and pain.
- Try to preserve any pieces of the broken tooth.
- If the chipped tooth is particularly sharp, prevent further injury by covering it with gum.
- Visit the dentist at the earliest to consider bonding, crowns, or root canal therapy.
Lost Filling or Crown
While not as severe as losing or cracking teeth, a lost filling or crown is a cause for concern. After all, they’re meant to protect the teeth from further decay. Here’s what you need to do –
- Retrieve the filling or crown and keep it in a small container.
- Avoid chewing on the affected side and refrain from sugary foods.
- Schedule a dentist appointment at the earliest to have the filling or crown replaced.
Dental emergencies tend to be quite frightening. You may even find yourself severely confused at the moment. Worry not! A dental expert has all the tools and knowledge necessary to help you make a speedy recovery. No matter if you’ve simply lost a crown or faced severe trauma to the tooth, quick intervention can help save your oral health and set you on the path to healing. Remember, dental emergencies strike unexpectedly! So, keep the contact info of a local dental expert handy!
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