Unlike scraping your knee or spraining your ankle, dental emergencies can be very serious and usually require attention from your dentist. Of course, there are varying levels of severity when it comes to dental injuries. Today, Fresno dentists Dr. Claudia Denes and Dr. Alex Denes want to discuss what you should do in the event of a chipped, loose, or knocked out tooth.
What do I do if I Chip, Crack, or Break My Tooth?
Chipping or breaking a tooth is one of the most common dental injuries, and common causes include biting down on something hard, being hit in the face or mouth, falling, or having a cavity or infection that weakens the tooth. Cracking your tooth might be very painful, or your might not feel anything at all. Many times, patients first notice their chipped or cracked tooth because they feel the flaw with their tongues.
There is no way to treat a cracked tooth at home. If you experience any symptoms of a chipped or broken tooth, including pressure and/or temperature sensitivity, tooth pain, and roughness of the surface of your tooth, we encourage you to call our office at (559) 297-1800 right away. Until you come in for your appointment, Dr. Denes advises the following:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Apply pressure with a piece of gauze to any bleeding areas until the bleeding stops. If the bleeding continues, continue to apply pressure.
- Apply an ice pack to the area on the cheek or lips over the broken tooth to reduce swelling.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if necessary.
What do I do if My Tooth Becomes Loose or is Knocked Out?
A fall or hit to the face are the most common causes of loose or knocked out adult teeth. In the event of a knocked out tooth, it is necessary that you call our Fresno dental office right away. To save your tooth after it has been knocked out, it must be reimplanted in less than two hours after the injury.
When your tooth is knocked out, rinse the tooth with saliva or water, taking care not to damage any of the tissue or dental roots. If possible, place the clean tooth back in the tooth socket, gently pressing down on the tooth until the crown is level with the neighboring teeth. If this is not possible, carefully place the tooth in a small cup of milk. If milk is not available, place the tooth in your mouth and keep it moist with your saliva, but be careful not to swallow it. Immediately make your way to our office.
If your tooth becomes loose, you might experience some bleeding. Stop the bleeding by pressing a piece of gauze to the area. Once the bleeding stops, evaluate the situation. If the tooth is extremely loose, call our office right away and come in. If the tooth is only slightly loose, we’ll instruct you on what to do over the phone and help you reserve an appointment for the next day. Until your loose tooth can be examined, take care when eating and cleaning your teeth.
For more tips about what to do in the event of a dental emergency, call Fresno Dental Studio at (559) 297-1800. We serve patients from Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Mendota, Orange Cove, Reedley, Selma, and the surrounding areas.