{"id":1263,"date":"2022-11-30T08:00:51","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T08:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/graystonedental\/?p=1263"},"modified":"2022-11-30T08:00:51","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T08:00:51","slug":"dental-emergency-preparedness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/graystonedental\/dental-care-blog\/dental-emergency-preparedness\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental Emergency Preparedness"},"content":{"rendered":"

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HAVING A PLAN <\/b>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.<\/p>\n

A Baby Tooth Gets Knocked Out<\/h3>\n

In most cases, a baby tooth getting knocked out isn\u2019t an emergency. We usually wouldn\u2019t attempt to replant a baby tooth<\/strong> because doing so could create problems for the permanent tooth on its way. However, if the tooth wasn\u2019t at all loose beforehand, it\u2019s a good idea to at least give the dentist a call to get advice, and there might be other damage besides to the tooth.<\/p>\n

An Adult Tooth Gets Knocked Out<\/h3>\n

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.<\/strong> You can give a knocked-out tooth its best shot by placing it back in its socket for the trip to the dentist\u2019s office and holding it in place with a washcloth or gauze. If it won\u2019t go back into the socket, you can store it in cold milk.<\/p>\n

Make sure NOT<\/strong> to do any of these things with a knocked-out tooth:<\/p>\n

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  • Touching the root.<\/li>\n
  • Letting it dry out.<\/li>\n
  • Scrubbing it clean with soap, alcohol, or peroxide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Doing any of these will kill the root and make the tooth impossible to replant.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A Tooth Breaks<\/h3>\n

    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<\/strong> and bring them with you in a glass of cold milk. It\u2019s also safe to rinse your mouth with water.<\/p>\n

    No matter how minor a crack or chip seems, don\u2019t just ignore it.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n