We are thankful for the entire dental community, the unsung heroes that battle the cavity creeps on a daily basis!
Here’s some emergency info just in case all that good food results in a broken or lost tooth. Call the office immediately – and follow the directions on the voicemail for a doctor to contact in case of emergency!
If you can stand it, here’s some DIY instructions:
– If the tooth is loose (even extremely so!) but is still attached in any way, leave it in place. Do not remove it!
– If it is out of its socket completely and unattached, but still in the victim’s mouth, it is best to have the person hold the tooth in their mouth, if possible, until a dentist can attempt re-implantation.
– If the tooth is out of the mouth, do not let it dry out. Handle it as little as possible. Do not attempt to disinfect the tooth, or scrub it, or remove any tissue attached to it.
– If the tooth is recovered from the ground or other soiled area, rinse it off in lukewarm water. Preserve it in milk until a dentist is available. If milk is not available, lukewarm water will suffice.
Time out of the socket is critical in the long-term success of re-implantation. After 30 minutes, the success potential begins to decline. However, re-implantation is still possible after several hours, so the attempt can still be made even if the tooth has been out for a long period.
Remember, even if re-implantation fails, you have a variety of other options. For more information on emergency dental care or tooth replacement, you know what to do.
–Source: Internet Dental Alliance, Inc.
