Do You Know What To Do In A Dental Emergency?
Having to deal with a dental emergency is not something people think about. However, being prepared can make the difference between saving or losing a tooth. And in the case of a toothache, if it involves a bacterial infection, it can be a life-threatening situation.
Here are a couple of common dental emergencies and what to do about them.
A lost filling
Rinse out the cavity with warm water. Apply a temporary filling product such as Dentemp® which can be made into a ball and pressed firmly into the cavity. This can alleviate immediate pain, but it is important that you call your emergency dentist and arrange to have your filling replaced before the situation worsens.
Lost Crown / Cap
Even though a missing crown is not immediately painful, it can become painful in a short period of time as food and other debris gather in the cavity. Unless the cavity is sealed up again, decay and infection can cause the tooth to ache. It is important that you visit your emergency dentist within a few days of losing your crown or cap.
You’re suffering with a toothache
Toothaches can be more dangerous than any physical trauma to a tooth. Rinse your mouth out with warm water and place some kind of cold compress against your cheek for twenty minutes to reduce the swelling. Then let it warm up for 20 minutes and then back to the cold compress.
Don’t put any kind of pain medication against the gum. The pain medication could burn the gum and cause more problems. The greatest risk comes if the toothache is from a bacterial infection. If left untreated, this could become life threatening. See an emergency dentist ASAP.
Source:
Shamblott Family Dentistry