Dental
Emergencies
Immediate action when a dental emergency occurs
can prevent permanent damage and help ease pain. A common dental problem
is a toothache. Cavities do not cause pain until they have progressed
to the point of possibly jeopardizing the tooth. Toothaches require
immediate attention for this reason. Taking an over-the-counter pain
reliever such as Tylenol™ or aspirin may relieve some of the sensitivity.
Avoid extreme temperature and sweets as this may aggravate the symptoms.
Call your dentist immediately - even if the pain goes away, the sooner
the problem is treated, the smaller the chance of permanent damage to
the tooth or the mouth.
If
the pain is due to a lost filling, the filling should be replaced as
soon as possible in order to prevent further decay from food particles
and bacteria. An abscess or swelling is caused by an infection in the
tooth or gum. An abscess can have a serious affect on your general health
as well as the health of the adjoining teeth or tissues and will not
go away by itself. An over-the-counter pain reliever Tylenol™ or
Aspirin may relieve some of the pain temporarily, call your dentist
as soon as possible.
Do
not place aspirin directly on the gums or in the mouth to dissolve.
Aspirin will burn the tissues of the mouth.
If
a tooth is knocked out, pick it up by the crown, not the root so as
not to damage any nerve endings. Place the tooth back into its’
socket or hold it between the cheek and gums. If there is a risk of
swallowing the tooth, place it in a glass of milk, salt water or a moist
towel. Time is very important in a case such as this - if you see your
dentist within 30 min. there is a good chance the tooth may be successfully
re-implanted. No matter what the emergency, your dentist is the best
person to contact in case there is a problem or question.
Teeth
and Sports Injuries
Sports
injuries can include injury to the teeth and in order to safeguard against
potentially serious and painful injuries certain precautions should
be taken. Mouthguards are a good form of protection and should be worn
by all athletes, young and old.
Mouthguards act as shock absorbers for the teeth and help too avoid
fractured or lost teeth. There are three types of mouthguards, Custom
fitted latex, mouth formed and stock. All three vary in price, effectiveness
and comfort. Your dentist can recommend which one would be most useful
relative to the sport during which it will be worn. Hockey, lacrosse,
football, squash and boxing are sports which all require the use of
a good mouth guard. These sports are high risk as far as dental injuries
are concerned, and necessary precautions must be taken. Volleyball,
baseball, skate boarding and basketball are all sports, which are less
risky. However, proper care should be exercised with these sports as
well. If the jaw or teeth sustain an injury, notify your dentist immediately,
or go to the hospital emergency room if necessary.
A fractured jaw needs to be cared for immediately, as does a tooth,
which has been knocked out if it is going to be successfully re-implanted.
If the jaw is broken, it will be painful, and very difficult to use
the jaw. Immobilize the jaw, you may want to tie a cloth around it,
do not move your mouth. Go to your dentist or emergency room immediately.
If
a tooth has been knocked out, pick it up carefully by the crown, not
the root. Picking it up by the root can injure the nerve endings at
the tip of the root. Place the tooth back into its socket. If that is
too painful place the tooth between the gum and cheek so as to keeps
it wet with your saliva. If there is a risk of swallowing the tooth,
place it in a glass of milk, salt water or damp cloth, in that order
of preference. If there is bleeding or swelling apply ice for swelling
and pressure for bleeding. Exercising good judgment and proper preventive
measures should avoid major injuries. Together with your dentist you
can work to keep that healthy smile. Back
Temporary
Crowns (Caps)
Temporary
crowns are just as they are called, temporary. They are designed to
cover and protect the teeth for a short period of time while the permanent
crown(s) are being made. If you are in the middle of dental work, and
do have temporary crowns it is important that you follow through with
the work within the amount of time recommended by your dentist.
Temporary
crowns can be very irritating to the surrounding gum and should not
be worn for extended periods of time. Additionally, the tooth underneath
the temporary is not as well protected against saliva and plaque as
with a permanent crown and can be more susceptible to cavities. Because
temporaries are temporary they may come out occasionally, be sure to
alert your dentist so that he may re-cement it for you.
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Your
are strongly advised to call your dentist or physician in case
of a dental or medical emergency.
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