Vinyl or latex gloves. Dental floss. Dental wax. Gauze. Pain relievers. Milk.
What do those things have in common?
Any or all of them could come in handy in the event of a dental emergency. We will explain some of the ways you may use them in a moment.
If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please call 801-997-1137 to receive care at Holladay Dental Studio in Holladay, UT. Our dentist and our staff know that faster treatment is better in these situations.
We will make every effort to see you the same day. If you call outside our regular hours, follow the instructions and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
In any dental emergency, you will want to try to get the situation under control, and today’s post will review some the ways you can do that in three different scenarios.
The Stray Softball
Your daughter has taken to softball like a duck to water. She wants to practice whenever she can, and you want to support her.
You are pitching while she works on her hitting. She sends a line drive screaming back at you. Before you can react, the ball strikes you in the mouth. You fall to the ground stunned.
Your daughter runs up and asks if you are OK followed by another question. “Is that your tooth?” she says.
You look, and yes, it is your tooth, or it used to be.
At this point, you need to get cleaned up and get to the dentist. Your immediate focus should start by picking up the lost tooth by the crown (not the root), so you can rinse it clean. You also should rinse your mouth with water, and soak up any blood with a piece of gauze.
Place the clean tooth back in its socket. If it stays, leave it there until you see the dentist. If won’t stay, then you will want to store it in a container of milk to bring with you to our office.
In the meantime, feel free to take a pain reliever if needed or place an ice pack on the affected area to numb the pain and reduce swelling.
In some cases, we may be able to place the tooth where it was. In other cases, you will need to replace the tooth. A good option to do this is placing a dental crown on a dental implant since this will replace the entire tooth.
Is Something Stuck?
You have been dealing with a sore tooth for a few days, hoping it would go away on its own. It hasn’t. It’s gotten worse, and now you can’t stand it.
The first thing you should try is using dental floss around the offending tooth. Sometimes a piece of food can get caught. Dislodging may solve the problem.
If it doesn’t, then you need to call us right away. You may have an infected tooth, in which case you will need professional dental care to resolve this particular emergency.
Again, pain relievers and an ice pack can keep your pain manageable until you can be treated.
Ending your pain will likely mean removing the infection, which may necessitate a root canal treatment. If this worries you, know that we offer dental sedation, so you won’t feel anything during the procedure.
Home Improvement Gone Wrong
Every weekend, you try to take some time to do some yard work to keep things well maintained. Your kids are playing in the yard when one of them trips and falls face first into a tree.
You run over to check, and when he opens his mouth, you can see the blood. You also know that he is holding part of a tooth in his hand.
You will want him to rinse his mouth first. You will want to put on latex or vinyl gloves to protect your hands. If needed, used gauze to soak up any blood.
When the bleeding stops, you should use more gauze or dental wax to cover the tooth. Broken teeth may have sharp edges. Covering the tooth will reduce your son’s risk of cutting his lips, tongue, or cheeks accidentally.
Make The Call
If you are in need of emergency dental care, don’t delay. Get help as soon as you are able by calling Holladay Dental Studio if you live in Holladay, UT, or near the Salt Lake City area.
Whenever you call, we will do our best to provide the help you need in the fastest time possible. Call us at 801-997-1137.