A family guide to dental emergencies

Knowing what to do in a dental emergency could make the difference between saving or losing a tooth. Here are some important tips everyone in your household should be aware of . When a tooth is knocked right out, it is vital that we start treating the injury within 30 minutes in order to have a chance at saving it. You should:

1. Find the tooth, hold it by the crown and gently rinse off the root if it is dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any tissue fragments.
2. If possible carefully place the tooth back in the socket, and hold it in place with your fingers or by gently biting down on it. If this is not possible immerse the tooth in milk and transport it to the dentist immediately.
3. Call us immediately for an emergency appointment. Remember, many types of tooth and mouth injuries are avoidable simply by wearing a mouth guard. Ask us about the right protective dental equipment for the athletes in your active household.