A common example of a dental emergency is a knocked-out tooth, when one is knocked loose or out completely due to an injury. When this happens, you need to see us right away! In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about how to respond to a knocked-out tooth and when to see us for dental emergency care.
When a Tooth is Knocked Out
This could happen due to an injury when you play spots, or engage in activities like boxing or martial arts. When the tooth is loose or knocked out, you need to see us right for dental emergency care. We suggest calling us immediately. If you reach us during our normal operating hours, we will try to see you same-day for treatment. If you reach us when we are closed, please leave a message and a team member will reach out to you soon to discuss appointment times to see you, and offer instructions to help protect your smile from further complications until we can provide treatment.
Easing Your Discomfort
First, see if you can recover the tooth. Only pick it up by the crown, or the visible portion of the tooth. Don’t touch the roots! You can try to rinse away dirt and foreign debris, but be sure you leave any tissues attached. Place it in a sealed container of milk or salt water, and rig it to the office with you. You could also restore the tooth to the socket in your bite and gently bite down to keep it in place.
You can stem the bleeding with a bit of cloth or gauze, and use a cold compress against the side of the face to control swelling. An over-the-counter pain reliever could be taken to ease your discomfort.
Treating Your Smile
When you arrive, we will examine your smile and see what care is needed to restore the tooth to the socket and keep your smile whole. If for some reason you could not recover the tooth, we could discuss replacement, from dental bridges to dental implants, so you have a full smile again and avoid the complications of tooth loss. Our team can also discuss a custom mouthguard to help prevent further damage or injuries to your smile.
If you have any questions about how our team provides emergency dental care, or if you want to see us now and use your remaining dental benefits before they expire at the end of the month, then please reach out to us today! We want to help you enjoy good oral health and a full smile.
Call Our Team for Dental Emergency Care
Our team wants to help you when you have a damaged or knocked-out tooth. Contact Robert M. Browne DDS in Prairie Village, KS by calling (913) 901-8585 for our earliest appointment time. We proudly serve patients in surrounding communities and welcome your call.