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A hard fall or blow to the mouth may leave you with a broken or lost tooth. Accidents happen, and while not all injuries can be avoided, it can pay off in the long run to be prepared if you do injure your teeth. Your West Covina dentist is specially trained to handle all types of dental emergencies. Talk to your dentist about ways you can prepare for an injury to your mouth, teeth or gums. Your Tooth is Fractured: Now What? If one or more of your teeth are broken, rinse your mouth out with water to keep the area clean. Apply a cold compress to your mouth and face to reduce swelling. If you are bleeding, apply pressure with gauze until the bleeding has ceased. Call your dentist for additional instructions. The type of treatment provided by your dentist will depend on the extent of breakage and the presence or absence of pain. If the fracture is into the nerve area of the tooth and pain is severe, the nerve may need to be removed before the tooth can be restored. The process of removing the nerve is called a root canal treatment. Once the damaged nerve is removed, the tooth's function can be restored, typically with a crown. When a Tooth is Knocked Out If trauma to your mouth causes your tooth to fully dislodge (fall out), you'll want to move fast and get to your dentist to increase your chances of saving the tooth. Locate the lost tooth, and if dirty, hold it by the crown to gently rinse off any dirt or particles. If possible, place the tooth back into its socket or place the tooth in a cup of milk. Go to your West Covina dentist with the tooth right away. Your tooth's best chance for survival occurs within the first 30 minutes after it has been displaced or knocked out. Other Dental Emergencies Dental emergencies can occur when your tooth cracks, breaks, becomes partially dislodged or is displaced completely. To prevent injury to the teeth and mouth, always wear a mouthguard during contact sports, and avoid hard foods that may crack, chip or fracture your tooth. With prompt attention, a permanent tooth may be re-implanted into the tooth socket to remain healthy and normal in function and appearance. Other dental emergencies that may require professional care from your dentist include a toothache, a jaw injury, a bitten tongue, lacerated oral tissues and loose or broken wires from braces. Trauma to the mouth in any form can cause damage that may not be obvious, but could result in loss of one or more teeth. Always check with your dentist after any injury to the teeth or mouth.
Sean Hartmen writes for Dr. Gregory Robins, an experienced West Covina, CA dentist. Offering dental care for all phases of dentistry, including cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Robins, cosmetic dentist in Montebello, and his caring dental team are qualified to handle every dental need.
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