How to Handle a Dental Emergency Part 1

First of all I would like to welcome you to The Crow Family Dental Blog.  Each month we are going to pick a topic that may interest you as the patient...If you would like more information on a specific topic, have questions, want to see pictures...let us know. Our assistants, hygienists, front office, and Dr Crow will be more than happy to assist you in any way.

Would you know what to do if you encountered a dental emergency?  As much as we "cringe" at the thought...It is definitely something to be aware of.  We are going to start off this blog by talking about how to handle different dental emergencies. Our first topic will be discussing how to deal with a tooth that has been knocked out.
 
If this is a baby tooth...our recommendation would be to take your child to the dentist for evaluation. If the tooth has completely come out, do not try to insert it back into the socket. Yes, it is "just a baby tooth" but accidents that cause damage to the primary tooth can be damaging to the permanent tooth underneath as well.

If this is an adult tooth, unlike a baby tooth, we would recommend trying to place the tooth back into the socket and stabilizing with clean gauze. Try to avoid holding the tooth by the root. If the tooth is dirty, rinse the debris away with water. Care should be taken to not scrub the root or remove any attached bits of tissue. If you or your child are not able to insert the tooth back into the socket, carefully place the tooth in a container submerged in milk or saliva. Do not leave the tooth dry. Time is of the essence to get to the dental office and don't forget to bring any pieces of tooth structure that may have broken off.

Next blog post will address what to do with broken teeth, bitten tissues, and a broken jaw.