Dental Emergency Preparedness
Dr.Aparna Sadineni
Regional Director at Academy of General Dentistry for Ohio & Indiana Constituents, Fellow American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Invisalign Diamond Plus Provider, Cosmetic Dentist, Always Accepting New Patients.
HAVING A PLAN?already in place can make a huge difference if an emergency comes up, and that definitely applies to dental emergencies like oral injuries. How do we plan ahead for unexpected injuries? That will depend on the particular situation.
A Baby Tooth Gets Knocked Out
In most cases, a baby tooth getting knocked out isn’t an emergency.?We usually wouldn’t attempt to replant a baby tooth?because doing so could create problems for the permanent tooth on its way. However, if the tooth wasn’t at all loose beforehand, it’s a good idea to at least give the dentist a call to get advice, and there might be other damage besides to the tooth.
An Adult Tooth Gets Knocked Out
If an adult tooth is knocked out in one intact piece, there is limited time (not much longer than an hour) for it to be successfully replanted by the dentist before the tooth dies.?The faster you can get to the dentist, the better.?You can give a knocked-out tooth its best shot by placing it back in its socket for the trip to the dentist’s office and holding it in place with a washcloth or gauze. If it won’t go back into the socket, you can store it in cold milk.
Make sure?NOT?to do any of these things with a knocked-out tooth:
Doing any of these will kill the root and make the tooth impossible to replant.
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A Tooth Breaks
If a tooth breaks, chips, or cracks in an accident, you should get straight to the dentist.?Try to find all of the broken pieces?and bring them with you in a glass of cold milk. It’s also safe to rinse your mouth with water.
No matter how minor a crack or chip seems, don’t just ignore it.?A crack can function the same way as a cavity, giving bacteria space to grow until it reaches the pulp. The damage could reach the pulp chamber over time and lead to a tooth infection, abscess, loss of bone tissue in the jaw, and even risk an infection spreading to the bloodstream, which is life-threatening.
The Dentist Is Prepared for Patient Emergencies Too
Besides knowing what to do with a broken or knocked-out tooth, it’s also important to know where to go for help in a dental emergency. Give us a call to learn how our practice can help. We hope that you won’t ever be in a situation where you have to make use of this information, but it’s always wise to be prepared.
We’re here to help you keep that sweet little smile healthy and bright!
About Aparna Sadineni, DDS, FAACD, MAGD, FIOCI
Dr. Sadineni?has over 25+ years of experience providing excellent, gentle dental care in a friendly and caring environment. She keeps up to date with the latest advances in the dental field by attending many continuing education courses throughout the country.
Dr. Sadineni achieved Fellow Member status at the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. She strives to achieve the most beautiful, natural-looking results possible, so that when you leave her office, you have a smile you can't wait to share with the world.