When you sustain an injury to your face or jaw, this could knock a tooth loose, or your injury could even knock one out completely. When this happens, you need to seek emergency dental care right away! In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about how we respond to a loose tooth.
Your Injured Tooth
When you sustain an injury and a tooth is loose, don’t panic! You should call us or have someone else call us right away. If your injury occurs during our regular business hours, then we will try to see you same-day if possible. If your call comes in outside of normal business hours, then leave a message and a member of our team will reach out soon with possible appointment times and tips for easing your discomfort. We want to see you right away so we can offer care and prevent major complications from occurring.
Easing Your Discomfort
When your tooth is knocked loose, you should rinse with warm water and use a piece of cloth or gauze to stem the bleeding. To prevent facial swelling, you can apply a cold compress or ice pack to the side of the face. You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease your discomfort too. If your tooth is knocked out completely, then you need to recover it quickly. Pick it up by the crown portion, never touch the root. You can rinse away dirt and debris under gently running water, but be sure you keep any tissues in place. Put the tooth in a sealed container of milk or salt water, and bring it with you to the office.
How We Restore Your Smile
When you arrive, we will ask about the circumstances behind your injury and then examine your smile in detail. With digital imaging systems, we can assess the state of your loose tooth and plan care to help secure your tooth. If the tooth is knocked out completely, then we can restore it to your smile. To help prevent further injuries, we could discuss the use of custom mouthguards to be worn when you play full contact sports or engage in other factors that could lead to injured teeth.
If you have any questions about how our team protects your oral health and smile with emergency dentistry, or if you sustain an injury and need to see our team, then contact our office right away.
Learn More About Emergency Dentistry
With emergency dental care, our team is ready to address common dental injuries and safeguard your smile. To schedule an appointment and address your loose or knocked-out tooth, just contact Robert M. Browne DDS in Prairie Village, KS by calling (913) 901-8585.