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Dental damage, whether it’s from a knocked-out tooth or gum injuries, can leave you with debilitating pain and an embarrassing appearance. Fortunately, by knowing which steps to take during a dental emergency, you can improve the chances of a successful recovery and a glowing smile. Here are a few tips for handling urgent dental issues and how the dentist can help. 

Steps to Take During a Dental Emergency

When something bad happens to one or more of your teeth, remain calm. If you are bleeding, bite down on a few pieces of clean, dry gauze. Treat any damaged areas carefully to prevent additional pain and dental damage. If you have a chipped or avulsed tooth, find the fragments or missing tooth and keep them moist by placing them in a glass of milk. Don’t handle knocked out teeth by the roots, as the blood vessels that supply the tooth are very small and delicate.

If you have a cut or injury to the gums, lips, cheeks, or tongue, you may require stitches. In this case, don’t take any aspirin, as this thins the blood and makes it more difficult for the dentist to complete the treatment. 

Why Getting to the Dentist Quickly Matters

dentistKnocked-out teeth have more than a 90% recovery rate when they are inserted within 30 minutes, but waiting longer than that could lessen your ability to heal. Since problems can happen after hours, many dentists have protocols in place for emergencies. Have a friend or family member drive you to the dentist in case you require sedation, which will make it difficult to operate a vehicle safely.

 

While dental emergencies can be stressful, treatment doesn’t have to be. At BridgeView Dental Group in Kodiak, AK, their experienced dentists focus on compassionate, effective dental care. They help patients with everything from chipped teeth and dental concussions to emergency endodontic treatment and reinsertions. For urgent treatment, call (907) 486-3257. Visit their website for more information about their services. 

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