Author: PV Smiles Reem Kidess | Posted on with comments
What is a Dental Emergency?
The answer to this question may vary from dental office to dental office, but the most common dental emergencies are:
- Lost filling or crown
- Severely cracked tooth or denture
- Unmanageable pain
- Tooth knocked out
How do I Prepare for a Dental Emergency?
Lost filling or crown – If you lose a filling, rinse the cavity out with warm water and fill it with a temporary filling product that can be found at a local pharmacy. If your crown falls off, you can use the same type of filling product to replace the crown. Be careful consuming food and beverage and make an appointment with your dentist right away.
Severely cracked tooth or denture – If you use dentures, you should have a spare on hand to use for emergencies. If you don’t, emergency dental repair kits can be found at the local pharmacy. For a severely cracked tooth, be very careful to not chew with it. For both instances, contact your dentist for an appointment.
Unmanageable pain – This is usually indication of an infection and you should be seen by your dentist as soon as possible. You can also use over the counter oral/topical medication to manage the pain until you can be seen by a dentist. For general tooth sensitivity or pain, using a toothpaste designed to combat tooth sensitivity can sometimes help alleviate symptoms.
Tooth knocked out – Gently place the tooth back in the socket or if it won’t stay, place it in a glass of milk to keep it moist. Do NOT scrub the tooth before doing either of these because it may damage the fibers needed to reattach it. Contact your dentist to be seen immediately.
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