What to do in a dental emergency

Dental emergencies can be overwhelming and extremely painful. If you knock out or displace a tooth, or experience a chip or break, act quickly and don’t panic. Never ignore a dental emergency – if you’re in pain or are experiencing an unusual sensation you’re not used to, act immediately and visit your dentist’s office. If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing a dental emergency, call your dentist at Gentle and Caring Dentistry in Maroubra and explain the situation. Your dentist will work with you to determine what to do next.

Knocking out a tooth

If you knock out or displace a tooth due to injury or impact of some kind, it is vitally important to act as fast as possible. Your tooth can be saved if you follow the right steps, act quickly and visit your dentist as soon as possible.

If your tooth finds its way outside of your mouth, act quickly, but don’t panic. Retrieve the tooth immediately. Pick it up by the crown, and avoid touching the root as far as possible. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently in water.  Be careful not to touch or scrape off any tissue fragments.  If possible, place the tooth back in the socket – if this is not possible due to excessive bleeding, swelling or pain, keep the tooth in a glass of milk. Visit your dentist as soon as possible, with the knocked out tooth. If you can get to your dentist within 1 hour, the chances of saving the tooth are much greater.

Chipping or breaking a tooth

If you chip or break a piece of your tooth, try to locate any pieces. Rinse any pieces of tooth, as well as the mouth with salt water. If there is any bleeding in the mouth, apply gauze to the affected area until the bleeding stops. Apply ice to the cheek or lip near the affected area to reduce swelling and relieve any pain. Visit your dentist at Gentle and Caring Dentistry as soon as possible to restore the damaged tooth.

Protect your teeth from impact

If you play contact or semi-contact sports or other activities that may involve impact to the face or head, make sure you wear a mouth guard. Ask your dentist about custom-built mouth guards. These are mouth guards designed and manufactured according to an impression of your teeth to perfectly fit to the shape of your teeth for the best protection. A custom mouth guard will protect the teeth during impact, and help you to avoid chipping, breaking or displacement of the teeth. Not only does a custom-made mouth guard protect the teeth from impact, it greatly reduces impact to the jaw, lessening the chance of breaking or cracking the jaw, as well as reducing the incidence of concussions.

Gentle and Caring Dentistry – your dentist in an emergency

If you experience a dental emergency, visit your dentist at Gentle and Caring Dentistry as soon as possible.  Act quickly and carefully and don’t panic.