What to Do About Common Dental Emergencies
Nothing puts a damper on a good meal, first date, or your Nobel Prize acceptance speech like chipping a tooth or knocking out a filling. Do you know what do when these or other types of dental emergencies rear their ugly heads? Much like other types of medical crises, dental problems have the potential to be serious and should not be put off or ignored. Use this guide for handling dental emergencies to know what to do the next time you have a problem with your teeth.
Chipped Tooth
A chipped tooth is one of the most common issues to come up when talking about handling dental emergencies. If this happens to you, collect the broken pieces of the tooth and clean them. Apply a cold compress to the mouth and see a dentist as soon as possible.
Knocked-out Tooth
Immediately stop the barfight, extreme sport, circle pit, or other activity that has caused your tooth to be knocked out. Find and clean the tooth. Try to replace it in the mouth if this can be done without forcing it. If you can’t make the tooth fit in the socket, place it in a small cup of water and take it to a Roscoe Village emergency dentist. Do this as soon as possible, as your dentist may be able to save and reinsert the tooth.
Extruded Tooth
An extruded tooth is a fancy way of saying that the tooth has been knocked loose. When this happens, apply a cold compress to the tooth and see a dentist as soon as possible. Try not to jiggle the tooth too much with your tongue as this can cause it to fall out.
Lost Filling or Crown
Lost crowns and fillings are another common dental emergency. If the hole in the tooth is deep and causes significant pain, plug it with a piece of sugar-free gum or some over-the-counter dental cement. These should be treated as only temporary fixes, and you should see the dentist as soon as possible.
