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Your Ottawa dentist should be the first person you call if you have a dental emergency. Whether you are at home or traveling, it is important to know how to manage a dental emergency. Trauma that is caused by injuries to the mouth and teeth may be significantly reduced if action is taken as soon as the injury occurs. Taking measures such as the application of cold compresses to reduce swelling, and contacting your dentist's office will help in preserving your smile in an emergency. Injuries to your mouth may include teeth that are knocked out, forced out of position and loosened or fractured. What is a Dental Emergency? Injuries to your mouth may include knocked out teeth, loosened, or fractured teeth. Additionally, lips, gums or cheeks are often cut, which are painful and should be treated by your dentist as soon as possible. Immediately visit your emergency dentist within 30 minutes, in order to successfully save your tooth. Common dental emergencies include: * Knocked out tooth
* Tooth pushed out of position
* Fractured tooth
* Injured tissue What should you do if you knock out a tooth? If you knock out a tooth, it is a dental emergency that requires urgent attention. If the appropriate emergency steps are followed immediately after your tooth has been knocked out, your chances are very high that the tooth can be reinserted and preserved by your dentist. Immediately pick up your knocked out tooth by the top (crown) of the tooth. It is important that you do not touch the root of the tooth. Rinse the tooth off very gently to ensure that it is clean and do not scrub the tooth or remove any tissues that may still be attached to it. Be sure to place a towel or washcloth in the sink so that your tooth does not go down the drain while you are cleaning it. If you can, gently place the tooth back into the socket and hold it gently in place while trying to bite down. If you can't place the tooth back in the socket, put it in a small container or in a cup of milk. When You Injure Soft Tissue Injuries that are inside your mouth include tears, puncture wounds and lacerations to the cheek, lips or tongue. Your wound should be cleaned immediately with warm water, and you or the one injured should be taken to the emergency room for proper care. Lacerations to the tongue will cause bleeding, which can be reduced by pulling your tongue forward and using gauze to place pressure on the wound. In some cases, if the bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes, contact your dentist in Ottawa immediately. Stitches may be needed in order to stop the bleeding and help with healing. If there is no bleeding, clean the area with warm water on gauze or a clean cloth. Apply an ice compress to the bruised or swollen area and contact your dentist for further instructions. Since a dental emergency can happen at any time and place, the best thing to do is to be prepared and not to panic. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, contact your Ottawa dentist immediately. The sooner you can visit your Ottawa dentist for proper care, the better your chances are of saving your tooth.
Dr. Leila Ebrahimpoor is an experienced sedation and general dentist. With a focus on quality care and comfort, this Ottawa dentist offers a variety of dental treatments including Ottawa dental implants, tooth whitening and veneers among many other smile-enhancing cosmetic procedures.
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