Dental emergencies are often overwhelming and panic-inducing. That is why our O’Fallon dentists are here with some tips on how to move forward in a dental emergency. We know that with a little foresight, you can greatly improve your oral health outcome in a dental emergency. Keep reading to learn more.
Pain management
Dental traumas are often associated with pain and discomfort. You want to make sure that you don’t put any numbing agents or medications directly on your teeth and oral tissues in these cases, as this can inadvertently cause additional damage to your smile. Over-the-counter medications can help you manage pain until you get to your dentist, and using an ice pack to numb your cheek and jaw is pretty effective.
Retaining oral tissues
If you lose part of a tooth or a whole tooth due to dental trauma, try to keep a hold of as much dental material as possible for your dentist. To keep a whole tooth viable for as long as possible, you can gently place the tooth back into tis socket along the gum tissue. If this doesn’t work, or if it is uncomfortable to do this, then place the tooth in a glass of milk until you get to your dentist’s office. You can also hold on to chipped away portions of enamel, as these can help guide your dentist when designing a restoration or completing dental bonding. You also want to be careful to keep as much dental tissue/nerves/and roots in place as possible: both those that are attached to a lost tooth and those that are in the tooth socket.
We know that dental emergencies are awful, but we are here to help you through it, so that you can reclaim a whole and healthy smile. As always, you can contact our O’Fallon dentists to learn more and to schedule a personal consultation with our team.