Effective Treatments for a Cracked Tooth
Have you cracked a tooth? Ignoring it will make it worse. Even if you don’t feel any pain, a cracked tooth should be treated immediately to prevent future issues.
Knocked Your Tooth Out? Take These Steps Immediately
You think your teeth are permanent when you’re an adult — until one of your teeth is knocked out when you have an accident. More than five million people have a tooth knocked out every year. That includes children and adults, who have a nearly equal risk because of sports, bike, and car accidents.
If a child’s baby tooth is knocked out, it’s not a problem; a permanent tooth is going to replace it. However, when you lose a permanent tooth, it’s a dental emergency.
Our board-certified general and cosmetic dentist Dr. Benjamin Kim with A Caring Dental Group offers emergency dental care if you knock out a tooth from a fall or other accident or have another type of dental emergency.
Dr. Kim offers the following guidance on how to give yourself the best chances of saving a tooth if you’ve had an accident and knocked one out.
Remain calm
Knocking your tooth out can cause a shock. That said, it’s essential to do your best to stay calm.
Look for your tooth right away. If you can find your tooth, we can repair it and replace it by affixing it to your jaw again. Call us right away whether you find your tooth or not. If you find it, start to our office and let us know when you’ll arrive. We’ll offer additional instructions and provide emergency dental services to treat situations such as broken or knocked-out teeth.
You need to act promptly to save your tooth. Stay calm to have the best chance of finding your tooth. Coming to our office within the first hour gives you the best chance of having your tooth reimplanted.
Handle the tooth carefully and keep it moist
First, find your tooth. Be careful when you find it. Only touch the crown of your tooth — the visible bottom part of your tooth you can see when you open your mouth. If you touch it at the root, you diminish your chances of saving it.
When you find the tooth, pour bottled water or milk on it, but don’t scrape, scrub, or use alcohol on it.
Don’t let the tooth dry out. If you can, after rinsing your mouth out and rinsing the tooth, place it back inside its socket and hold it in place with your tongue or tuck it in your cheek. Alternatively, put it in a sealed container of milk. Never put a knocked-out tooth in tap water — exposing it to chemicals in the water can damage it.
Get professional dental treatment quickly
Once you have your tooth in a clean, moist environment, come to the office as soon as you can.
The faster we can assess the situation and take action, the better the chances are of saving your tooth.
If your tooth is in suitable condition, we implant it. You’ll need a follow-up visit for us to ensure that your tooth is reattached to your jaw and determine if you need any additional treatment. Because of the trauma, your tooth may be more susceptible to internal decay.
If it’s impossible to save your tooth, we can replace it with a bridge or dental implant so you maintain a radiant smile.
Don’t wait until you have an emergency to access dental care. Call A Caring Dental Group or book an appointment now through our online portal to ensure your oral health.
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