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Your Family's Guide to Handling Dental Emergencies
What should you do if:
You need to act quickly in a dental emergency. Here's what
to do:
If a toothache develops:
1. Clean the painful area using a toothbrush and floss.
2. Rinse the mouth with warm salt water.
3. Apply a cold compress to any facial swelling.
4. Take acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol®). Do not
place an aspirin on the gums or tooth as this may cause a
burn.
5. Call your dentist as soon as possible.
If a permanent tooth is knocked out:
1. Immediately call your dentist for an emergency
appointment.
2. Get the person and the tooth to the dental office within
30 minutes. This makes it possible to re-implant the tooth
with a high degree of success.
3. If possible, gently place the tooth back in its socket
for the trip to the dentist. Otherwise, transport the tooth in
a cup of milk, salt water, or saliva. If these aren’t
available, use a cup of plain water. You may also place the
tooth between the cheek and gum (unless the child is too
young).
If a tooth is loosened and pushed either inward or
outward:
1. Try to reposition it using very little pressure. Do not
force the tooth into its socket.
2. Get the injured person to a dentist as soon as possible.
3. The tooth may be stabilized and held in place with a
moist tissue or gauze.
If a tooth is broken:
1. Rinse the mouth with warm water to keep it clean.
2. Immediately call your dentist for an emergency
appointment. Treatment will depend on the severity of the
fracture. It could range from smoothing out the chip to
bonding with a tooth colored resin material, to placing a
crown or cap of the tooth. If there has been pulp (nerve)
injury, a root canal may be necessary as well.
If the tongue, lips or cheeks are bitten, cut or
punctured and bleeding:
1. Apply firm pressure with gauze or a clean cloth.
2. If bleeding doesn't stop within 15 minutes, contact your
dentist immediately. Stitches may be necessary.
3. If bleeding stops within 15 minutes, clean the area with
either warm water on gauze or a clean cloth. Apply an ice
compress to the bruised or swollen area, and contact your
dentist for further instructions.
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