Blog
11/28/2018
We all hope to maintain beautiful, healthy smiles. However, the unexpected can occur. Whether you get bumped in the mouth playing a sport or you experience a broken tooth while eating, trauma can strike at any time. In Brookline, MA, Dr. Stan Kovtun and the team at Alpha Plus Dental Center offer emergency dental services for common dental injuries.
Common dental injuries
By definition, a dental emergency may include gum lacerations, tooth loss, a cracked or broken tooth, a damaged dental restoration or filling, or tooth pain. Dental emergencies can strike at anytime, even during the most routine activities. Common dental accidents or emergencies include the following:- Sports injuries - Dental accidents during sporting events are common. These may include a fractured tooth, dislodged tooth, or a tooth that has been pushed back. Lacerations to the soft tissues are also possible. One way to reduce the chances of damage is by wearing a mouthguard and helmet during risky sports or recreational activities. A mouthguard protects the teeth and minimizes the potential damage to the lips, cheeks, and tongue.
- Eating hard foods - Chewing on hard items can cause problems. Avoid chewing on ice, popcorn kernels, or hard candy. These items can easily break a tooth, damage a crown, or knock out a filling. Biting fingernails can also damage the teeth or dental restorations.
- Tooth pain or infection - Tooth pain is often the first sign of a problem and a common reason for emergency dental appointments. Signs of an infected tooth include throbbing through the jaw and neck, facial or neck swelling, and fever. An abscessed tooth occurs when bacteria enters the tooth through a dental cavity, crack, or chip in the tooth. It is commonly caused by severe tooth decay, gingivitis or gum disease, or trauma to the tooth. Even if the pain subsides, the infection will not clear on its own. Dental treatment is needed.
Treating dental emergencies
When an emergency strikes, it is important to stay calm. Handling your injury or pain properly is important. Contact our office in Brookline. The sooner your emergency situation is addressed, the better the chance of a positive outcome. While you wait for your appointment, follow these tips to protect your injuries.- For a knocked out adult tooth, only handle the tooth by the crown. The tooth needs to stay moist. If you can, place it into the empty socket, put the tooth in milk, or hold it between your cheek and gums.
- For a chipped or broken tooth, rinse the area immediately to cleanse the area. Hold cold compresses on your face to minimize swelling.
- If you have a toothache, rinse the area with warm water and floss your teeth gently. You may take an oral pain reliever, but do not place it on the tooth or gums.
- If you have soft tissue trauma, rinse your mouth to clean the wound and apply a cold compress.
- For injuries to the lip or tongue, gently cleanse the area. Apply a cold compress to try to minimize swelling. If the bleeding does not stop, go to the emergency room.