Dealing with a dental emergency can be difficult, especially if you don’t know what to do. A dental emergency can include a cracked tooth, a broken tooth, a tooth having been knocked out, or something else.
If you have experienced some type of dental emergency, the sooner you act, the more you increase the chances that your tooth can be saved and your oral health can be protected as much as possible. Take the following five steps if you or somebody you care about has experienced a recent dental emergency.
Step #1: Protect the tooth as much as possible.
Whether the tooth was knocked out, chipped, or cracked, you want to try and protect that tooth. Some people encourage dropping a knocked out tooth into milk, but there is little evidence that actually is beneficial. Putting it on ice can certainly help.
Step #2: Contact a dentist immediately.
The Dental Centre has emergency services available to just about every Durham area resident, regardless of emergency situation. Contact the dentist and determine whether you need to come in at that time, regardless of whether it’s in the middle of the night or the day.
Step #3: Be clear on the situation that led to the emergency.
You shouldn’t try to diagnose the damage, but rather relate exactly what happened and what you see in the mirror. Tell the dentist this information and he or she will determine the proper course of action.
Step #4: Determine your insurance coverage.
If you have dental coverage, it may very well cover certain emergencies. Be clear on what it covers so that when you get to the dentist you won’t be scrambling to make a payment.
Step #5: Have somebody drive you to and from the dentist office.
You don’t know what type of work will be required and if you are put under anesthesia, it may not be practical for you to drive home. Make sure somebody drives you to and from the dentist office for this emergency.