25 Jul Lessen the Impact of Dental Emergencies with These Tips
Dental emergencies and facial trauma can negatively impact people’s lives in various ways. From inhibiting oral function to producing significant discomfort, dental emergencies are typically unpleasant and painful. Fortunately, facial trauma and dental emergencies can be prevented. Consider the following tips to safeguard your oral health.
Use Cold Compresses
If you develop a toothache or experiencing orofacial discomfort after minor facial trauma, using cold compresses the day of and following your injury can help reduce swelling. When tissue swells, the inflammation contributes to discomfort. Controlling inflammation with cold compresses is a great way to reduce discomfort in some situations.
Save Teeth in Milk
If you ever break or knock out a tooth, pick up the tooth and its pieces. Place your tooth in milk or Save-A-Tooth solution, which is available at many supermarkets and pharmacies. Sometimes the pieces of a broken tooth can be bonded back to biological structure and strengthened with a restoration. This prevents the need of extraction while maintaining optimal oral function.
Call Your Dentist ASAP
When emergencies arise, call your dentist as soon as you can. Be sure to provide information on the nature of your injury as well as your symptoms. Your dentist may need to refer you to a specialist such as an oral surgeon in the event of complex facial trauma. If you are bleeding profusely or have severe symptoms, visit your nearest emergency room.
Receive Routine Preventative Care
Foregoing routine checkups and cleanings can increase your risk for dental injuries because you could have weakened tooth structure that could not survive the blunt force behind a traumatic dental injury. You should schedule two cleanings and checkups per year to ensure that the health of your teeth and gums is monitored closely.
Our team offers treatment for facial trauma including reconstructive and corrective surgical procedures. We utilize advanced technology and treatment methods to restore our patients’ appearance, comfort, and oral function. If you have been referred to our practice or have questions about treatment, call our office at your convenience.