Whether it’s from a contact sport or an accident, for your child or yourself, it’s important to know how to handle a dental injury. You just need to remember these 3 easy steps that can increase the likelihood your tooth will be saved!
1. Stay calm and take action.
Serious dental injuries can be very painful, so it’s often hard to stay calm and collected. But it’s important to avoid panicking, and to take action to help save your tooth and maximize your chances of recovery.
Knocked out tooth – If your tooth has been knocked out completely from its socket, you need to take immediate action to save it. Recover the tooth, clean it gently with water if necessary, and replace it in the socket. Make sure it’s sitting the right way. This increases the likelihood that the tooth will survive until surgery.
Loose or displaced tooth – If you have a loose tooth or your tooth has been displaced, try to avoid touching it with your tongue. It’s best not to eat or drink until you have seen a dental specialist who can determine the severity of your injury.
Cracked or broken tooth – To maximize the chance of saving a cracked, broken or chipped tooth, you should make a dentist appointment within 12 hours of the incident at Honest Teeth and, if possible, be seen on the same day as your injury. If there is significant bleeding, rinse your mouth with warm water and apply pressure to the area with a piece of gauze. If you’re unable to see your dentist within 12 hours of the injury, you can use dental cement (available at most drugstores) to cover the tooth until your appointment.
2. Treat pain and swelling with ice and anti-inflammatories.
Over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be helpful for managing pain and reducing swelling. You should avoid the use of topical pain medications like Orajel. This will simply numb the area, and could lead to further damage. Oral swelling can also be treated with ice packs, but you should limit ice usage to the exterior of the mouth. Never place ice directly on a damaged or missing tooth.
3. See a dentist as soon as possible!
This is the most important step of all. No matter what dental injury you have suffered, it’s absolutely essential to see a dentist as soon as possible. If you can see a dentist on the same day as your injury, your chances of a full recovery are much better.
With same-day, evening and weekend availability, Dr. Meinerz of Honest Teeth works to accommodate all of life’s situations. And with his expertise and dedication to high-quality treatment, you can trust him to resolve your dental injury quickly and with care.
4. Visit Honest Teeth today!
If you’re in the Elm Grove or Milwaukee area, stop by our practice for all your dental needs! Call us at 262.784.7770 or book an appointment online today!