Advances in modern dentistry have made it possible for people to regain normal function, comfort, aesthetics, speech and health after suffering a dental emergency. Accidents can happen when we least expect it, so it is important to understand what types of injuries require an emergency dental treatment. Kirkfield residents that require immediate medical attention can go to a hospital emergency room, their dentist or the nearest dental office for help. However, they must act fast in order to save their smile. When a tooth is knocked out of its socket, the window of opportunity to save the tooth and have it take root again is slim. Patients must receive help within ten minutes in order to have a fair chance at saving their tooth. While treatment can still be successful if performed within 30 minutes, after just two hours the chances of saving your permanent tooth becomes poor at best. Handling dental emergencies can be a tricky situation, especially when you or a loved one is in severe pain. Becoming familiar with how to handle these accidents will increase your chances of success in the case of an emergency. 

My Tooth Has Been Knocked Out. What do I do?
When a tooth has been knocked out of place as a result of a trauma, it is called a dental avulsion. A dental avulsion involves the complete displacement of a tooth from its socket in the alveolar bone and requires immediate treatment, if possible. If a tooth has been completely knocked out of your mouth, it will generally feel very painful. It may also be accompanied by severe bleeding and the surrounding tissue may be swollen or lacerated as well.

Apply a cold compress to the face near the injured area. Pick up the tooth by the crown only and rinse the root in water if it is dirty. Do not touch the root or remove any attached tissue fragments. If you can, try to gently place the tooth back in its socket and avoid moving it around. For children or uncooperative adults, place the tooth in a container of cold milk, or saline solution and head for the dentist immediately.

How to Handle a Broken or Chipped Tooth
While our permanent teeth are remarkably strong, they can chip, crack or break in a number of different ways. These injuries can happen as a result of simply biting down too hard on something, being hit in the face or mouth, or suffering a hard fall. Having cavities that weaken a tooth or having large, old amalgam fillings that don’t support the remaining enamel of the tooth can also lead to a break.

When a tooth chips, cracks or breaks, it may not hurt; however, your tongue will be able to sense the sharp area fairly quickly. If you feel a lot of pain after a tooth fracture, it is possible that the nerve ending inside the tooth may be damaged as well. Whether you have a chipped, cracked or broken tooth, it is important to seek emergency dental treatment near Kirkfield as soon as possible. Until then, rinse out your mouth well with warm water and apply a cold pack to the cheek or lips over the broken tooth to reduce swelling and relieve pain. If you experience profuse bleeding, apply pressure with a piece of gauze for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. In the event that you are unable to see your dentist right away, you can cover the part of the tooth that is in your mouth with temporary dental cement, which can be found at your local drugstore. For people looking for a new dental office, The Beaverton Dental Office offers new patients an initial comprehensive exam and cleaning for free. Regular visits to the dentist are one of the best ways to ensure that you are meeting your oral health goals.