Emergencies are a fact of life; the last time you had to make a trip to the ER demonstrated this. Dental emergencies are no different. Routine checkups and good oral hygiene can prevent problems that result from cavities or gum disease, but not those that are the result of an accident. Knowing what to do and who to call are vital in a dental emergency. In many cases, it can make the difference in Dr. Luu’s ability to save a damaged tooth.

One of the most common emergencies involves a blow to the mouth. This can result is a tooth being knocked out, broken, or dislodged but remain in the socket. All three require prompt emergency treatment from Dr. Luu. If possible, ask someone to call for you while you care for your mouth.

Knocked out tooth

If the tooth was knocked out of its socket, pick it up by the crown, this is portion of the tooth visible above the gum line. Do not rinse tooth; there may be some tissue still attached and this must be intact for Dr. Luu to be able to save the tooth. To keep the tooth healthy until you can see Dr. Luu, place in it a container with milk or a saline solution. To control the bleeding in your mouth rinse out your mouth with warm water and fold up a sterile gauze pad place it over the empty socket and gently bite down. The sooner you see Dr. Luu, the better the odds are that she can save your tooth.

Broken tooth

Caring for a broken tooth is similar to caring for one that has been knocked out. Store tooth in milk or saline. Rinse your mouth with warm water and place sterile gauze pad on the tooth and bite down gently until the bleeding stops. Seek dental care as soon as possible.

Partially dislodged (extruded) tooth

If the blood vessels and nerve are intact, do not disturb the position of the tooth. Dr. Luu may be able to save the tooth. It is important that the tooth be treated as soon as possible.

General emergency care

To minimize the swelling, place an ice pack on your jaw. If you do not have one, a package of frozen vegetables wrapped in a hand towel will make a good substitute. Do not let anything frozen contact your skin directly or it could result in frostbite. To control the pain, you can take a non-aspirin over the counter pain reliever, but let Dr. Luu know what you took and how much. It is recommended you bring the bottle to the office with you.

When a tooth is knocked out, broken, or dislodged, time is of the essence. The sooner you seek dental care the better your odds are that the tooth can be saved. Residents of Glendora, CA are lucky to have a nearby dentist who is so dedicated to their oral health that she is available to care for their dental emergencies, even after hours. If you have a dental emergency call Gentle Care Dentistry at +1 626-466-9596, Dr. Luu’s answering service answers the phone at any hour of the day or night. Dr. Luu will be immediately notified. It is recommended that patients put Dr. Luu’s number in their first-aid kit so it is easy to find and store it in your cell phone in case you are away from home when an emergency occurs.

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