There a number of precautions you can take to avoid accident or injury to your teeth and mouth. Here are examples of common mishaps and dental emergency procedures.
- Wear a sports guard when playing active sports or activities that pose a risk of injury to the mouth.
- Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels, hard candy or anything that can crack a tooth.
- Do not use your teeth to cut or open objects. Use the appropriate tool.
First Aid for a Knocked Out Tooth:
Immediately after the accident, locate the tooth. Hold the tooth by the crown (not the root). If the tooth is dirty or contaminated, rinse the root of the tooth in water. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and go to the dentist as quickly as possible. If milk is not available, use water. Don’t forget to take the tooth with you!
If a primary (baby) tooth is knocked out, it should not be replanted as it could damage the permanent tooth bud in formation. Parents should not attempt to place the baby tooth back in the socket and should immediately seek the advice and treatment of a dentist.
If the accident victim shows any signs of head injury, unconsciousness, nausea, or persistent headaches, they should first be evaluated for their head injury by proper medical personnel.
Broken Tooth:
Rinse the mouth with warm water to keep the area clean. Put cold compresses on the face to reduce swelling. Go to the dentist immediately.
Toothache:
Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm water to clean out debris. Use dental floss to remove any food that might be trapped between the teeth. If swelling is present, place cold compresses on the outside of the cheek. Do not use heat or place aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues. See the dentist as soon as possible.
Orthodontic Problems (Braces and Retainers):
If a wire is causing irritation, cover the end of wire with a small cotton ball, beeswax or a piece of gauze until you can get to your orthodontist.
Bitten Tongue Or Lip:
Apply direct pressure to the bleeding area with a clean cloth. If swelling is present, apply a cold compresses. If bleeding does not stop, go to a hospital emergency room.
Objects Wedged Between Teeth:
Gentry try to remove the object with dental floss. Guide the floss carefully to avoid cutting the gums. If not successful in removing the object, go to the dentist. Do not try to remove the object with a sharp or pointed instrument.
Suspected broken jaw:
Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Go to your hospital emergency department immediately.
Our normal business hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30am to 4:00pm.
Emergency patients can be seen in a timely fashion. Existing patients (patients of record) who believe that they have a dental emergency should call the office at our main number 215-646-6334. This telephone number is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you should need to use this service, please tell the answering service operator your name, what doctor you primarily see, the nature of the emergency, any allergies to medication and anything else that you deem pertinent. A return telephone call should take place soon.
Email is not an effective way to contact Pi Dental Center for issues requiring an immediate response.
