Not
all dental troubles require an emergency trip to the dentist, but if
you know how to handle those it could mean the difference between saving
and losing a teeth. An injury in the head can result into a broken
tooth or a fractured jaw. This is an emergency, requiring immediate
medical attention. But a tooth with an abscess and severe pain, swelling
and fever is also an emergency and will require immediate attention.
In case of emergency, there may be something you can do depending on the
circumstances. The following are some of the types of dental
emergencies and what you can do before you can contact your dentist or
emergency department of a hospital.
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POST OPERATIVE / TOOTH EXTRACTION COMPLICATIONS
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Allergy, Nausea, vomitting, headache,
drowsiness, palpitation, diarrhoea, fever, sinking felling, shock, cold
sweat, fainting or any other abnormal symptoms after dental surgery or
tooth extraction. Contact the emergency department of a hospital
immediately.
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SWALLOWING OF BROKEN TOOTH, CAP, PROSTHESIS AND FILLING
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Anyone of them can go to the windpipe
and choke the person resulting into asphyxia and ultimately death.
Contact the emergency department of a hospital immediately.
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An abscess is caused by an infection in your tooth or
gum. Symptoms include pain, swelling and discharge of pus. Take a pain
killer tablet and consult the nearest available doctor.
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Only severe bleeding is a real emergency. This may be
the result of a recent surgical procedure (e.g. extraction) or trauma.
Apply pressure to the bleeding area with a teabag or gauze pad.
Do not remove cotton pad again and again. Keep it pressed till you contact your dentist.
Do not rinse or gargle. Do ice fomentation. Get your blood pressure checked.
Contact your dentist or emergency department of a hospital.
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Cover end of the wire with cotton ball, wax or gauze and see your dentist.
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When a cap (crown) becomes loose or falls off, it can
be placed back over the tooth until re-cementation can be done. For a
little more security, place a small piece of sugarless gum in the crown
for retention. The cap should not be left off the tooth for more than
several days or it may not be possible to put it back on. You should go
to your dentist as soon as possible to get it recemented because it is
very easy to get decay under a loose cap.
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In most cases, treatment can be delayed until a
convenient time is available. Rough edges can be smoothed off with an
emery board and the hole can be filled with warm wax or sugarless gum.
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BROKEN, CHIPPED, LOOSENED TOOTH
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Bring all fragments, for we may be able to bond them
back for you. If soft tissue (lips, cheek, tongue) are lacerated, check
if the fragments are embedded in the wound. Even if the fragments are
lost, see us as soon as possible because the fractured tooth may become
sensitive and the infected nerve may cause pain.
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If a permanent tooth is completely dislodged from the mouth, immediate
care is required. If possible, place the tooth back in the bleeding
socket, or under your tongue (to keep it moist), or even in a glass of
cold saline or milk (not water). You can rinse it with saline or milk
(not water), but do not touch or scrub the root;otherwise this may
damage the cells on the root surface, which are vital to the success of
reimplantation of the tooth. Contact your dentist at once. Remember, the
sooner the tooth is put back into its socket, the better the prognosis.
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SUSPICION OF JAW FRACTURE
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Do not move the jaw. Secure the jaw in place by tying a
bandage or towel around the jaw and over the top of the head. Go
immediately to a hospital emergency room, or call your dentist.
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This requires attention as soon as possible and should
not be delayed for more than several hours. Sudden swelling is usually
the result of infection. Begin rinsing with a solution of water and
salt, and you may apply a cold pack to the outside of your face.
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A severe unrelenting toothache requires immediate
professional help. Placing an aspirin/clove oil on the tooth or gum
should NEVER be attempted. It won't work and may make things worse.
Chemist store remedies are mostly not effective.
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The following tips may reduce your chances of injury / emergency:
- Always wear seat belts / helmets while riding an automobile.
- Wear proper safety gear when playing sports.
- Never bite hard items like, popcorn kernels, ice, nutshells, betel nut, etc.
- Don't chew pencils or try to open things / bottle with your teeth.
- Don't wear ill-fitting prosthesis / cap.
- Have regular dental check-ups to ensure that your prosthesis / cap / bridge / braces, etc. are in proper condition.
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