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Aug 10, 2017|Dental Emergency

Dental Emergency? Don’t Panic! Mount Prospect Family Dentist Provides Tips for Handling Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can be frightening and often painful. Prompt treatment is almost always necessary to alleviate pain and to ensure the teeth have the best possible chance of survival. ALWAYS contact the Mount Prospect family dentist if you have a dental emergency. We always keep time open in our schedule for our emergency patients!

Here are a few of the more common dental emergencies and how you should handle them until you can get to our office:

Tooth Knocked Out

If a tooth has been knocked out of the mouth, it is essential to contact our emergency dentist immediately since tissues, nerves, and blood vessels can become damaged. If the tooth can be placed back into its socket within an hour, there is a chance the tissues will grow to support the tooth once again. Contact your dentist immediately.

  1. DO NOT touch the root of the tooth. Pick it up carefully by the crown and rinse under warm water.
  2. Place the tooth back in the socket if possible.
  3. If you cannot place the tooth, put it into a cup of milk, saliva, or water as a last resort. It is important to keep the tooth from drying out.
  4. Get to the dentist, quickly and safely.

We will do what we can to replace the tooth in its natural socket, but if the root structure of the tooth is seriously damaged, root canal therapy may be necessary.

Lost Filling or Crown

Once you’ve lost a filling the affected tooth may become highly sensitive to temperature changes and pressure. When a crown comes out to make a dental appointment as soon as possible. Keep the crown in a cool, safe place so the Mount Prospect family dentist can try to reinsert it. If the dentist is not immediately available you can follow these temporary steps.

  1. Apply clove oil to the tooth to alleviate pain.
  2. Clean the crown and reattach with dental cement. This can be purchased at the local pharmacy. DO NOT use regular glue!
  3. If you’ve lost a filling smear the top of the tooth with dental cement to alleviate discomfort.
Cracked or Broken Teeth

Natural teeth are strong, but they are still prone to fractures, cracks, and breaks. If the crack extends into the root, the pain may be extreme. If a tooth fractured or cracked, you must see the dentist as quickly as possible.

Time is of the essence when you have a dental emergency, but we are always here for you!

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