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What
Is A Dental Emergency?
Injuries to the mouth may include teeth that are knocked out (avulsed),
forced out of position and loosened (extruded) or fractured. In addition,
lips, gums or cheeks are often cut. Oral injuries are often painful and
should be treated by a dentist as soon as possible.
How
soon should I see a dentist?
Immediately. Getting to a dentist with 30 minutes can make the difference
between saving or losing a tooth.
When
a tooth is knocked out:
- Immediately
call your dentist for an emergency appointment.
- Handle
the tooth by the crown, not the root. Touching the root (the part of
the tooth below the gum) can damage cells necessary for bone re-attachment.
- Gently
rinse the tooth in water to remove dirt. Do not scrub.
- Place
the clean tooth in your mouth between the cheek and gum to keep it moist.
It is important not to let the tooth dry out.
- If it
is not possible to store the tooth in the mouth of the injured person,
wrap the tooth in a clean cloth or gauze and immerse in milk.
When
a tooth is pushed out of position:
- Attempt
to reposition the tooth to its normal alignment using very light finger
pressure, but do not force the tooth.
- Bite down
to keep the tooth from moving.
- The dentist
may splint the tooth in place to the two healthy teeth next to the loose
tooth.
When
a tooth is fractured:
- Rinse
mouth with warm water.
- Use an
ice pack or cold compress to reduce swelling.
- Use ibuprofen,
not aspirin, for pain.
Immediately
get to your dentist, who will determine treatment based on how badly the
tooth is broken. Only a dentist can tell how bad the break is.
Minor
fracture:
Minor fractures can be smoothed by your dentist with a sandpaper disc
or simply left alone. Another option is to restore the tooth with a composite
restoration. In either case, treat the tooth with care for several days.
Moderate
fracture:
Moderate fractures include damage to the enamel, dentin and/or pulp. If
the pulp is not permanently damaged, the tooth may be restored with a
full permanent crown. If pupal damage does occur, further dental treatment
will be required.
Severe
fracture:
Severe fractures often mean a traumatized tooth with slim chance of recovery.
When
tissue is injured:
Injuries to the inside of the mouth include tears, puncture wounds and
lacerations to the cheek, lips or tongue. The wound should be cleaned
right away with warm water, and the injured person taken to a hospital
emergency room for the necessary care. Bleeding from a tongue laceration
can be reduced by pulling the tongue forward and using gauze to place
pressure on the wound.
What
can I do to be prepared?
Pack an emergency dental care kit, including:
- Dentist's
phone numbers (home and office)
- Saline
solution
- Handkerchief
- Gauze
- Small
container with lid
- Ibuprofen
(Not aspirin. Aspirin is an anti-coagulant, which may cause excessive
bleeding in a dental emergency.)
The Academy of General Dentistry is a non-profit organization
of more than 37,000 general dentists dedicated to staying up-to-date in
the profession through continuing education. A general dentist is the primary
care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis,
treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to patient's
oral health needs. Learn more about AGD member dentists or find more information
on dental health topics at www.agd.org/consumer. CONTACT:
Susan Urbanczyk, public relations manager, at 312.440.4308 or media@agd.org
or Jennifer Starkey, public relations coordinator, at 312.440.4341 or
media@agd.org.
NOTE:
Information that appears in General Dentistry, the AGD's peer-reviewed
journal, AGD Impact, the AGD's newsmagazine and related press releases
do not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the AGD.
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