4 Ways To Respond To Dental Injuries Before Visiting A Family Dentist

A sudden blow to the mouth can leave you with a dental injury. It is best to rush to a dental office for help. However, before you walk out, you might want to learn a few ways to save your tooth before visiting your dentist. Below are some ways to handle dental injury as you head to the dental office.

1. Loose Tooth

After impact to your orofacial area, your tooth could partially or completely separate from your gum line. If the tooth is avulsed, carefully pick it up by the crown. Avoid holding it by the root. Gently rinse the tooth if lodged in dirt. Call your family dentist for further instructions. They might recommend carefully inserting the tooth into its socket. However, this is optional if you are in too much pain. Sometimes, your family dentist may instruct you to preserve the tooth in milk and rush to the clinic for reattachment.

2. Chipped Tooth

It is not uncommon for patients to ignore cracked teeth. Apart from their unappealing looks, some patients might not see the need to see a dentist. However, if left unaddressed, cracks extend below the gum line. This can lead to tooth sensitivity, decay, and loss. Therefore, consider rinsing your mouth with warm water immediately after detecting the crack. Collect the pieces of detached tooth fragments and wrap them in a wet cloth. Your family dentist might reattach the fragments. You may need a root canal procedure or extraction if it is too severe. Therefore, visit your family dentist immediately to save your tooth.

3. Loose or Broken Implant Crown

Although dental crowns are hard-to-break, they are not entirely safe from damage. You might need to make an appointment with your dentist if you notice that it has become loose or broken. Resist all attempts to try and use adhesive on the implant. Store the crown safely to avoid having to invest in another mold. The dentist will reattach it, provided you don't wait too long before visiting them.

4. Dislocated Teeth

When the impact on your mouth moves a tooth away from its ideal socket, you'll need to seek treatment immediately. Failing to address luxated teeth can lead to infections and tooth loss. The expert can stabilize the tooth by splinting it into neighboring teeth. Some cases require root canal treatment, braces, or other treatment solutions.

Although some injuries might be too traumatic for the family dentist to save the tooth, you'll need professional treatment for timely intervention. Consider rushing to an emergency dental clinic as soon as possible if you experience these dental injuries. These tips can help increase the chances of saving your tooth. 

For more information, visit a local family dentist.