Dental emergencies happen when we least expect it. One minute, you’re playing with your friends on the court and the next, you have a knocked-out tooth. In today’s blog, we’re looking at how we address common dental emergencies, such as knocked-out teeth. We’re also talking about ways our Astoria, NY, patients can protect their smiles from injury.
Responding to Your Knocked-Out Tooth
When you knock-out the tooth, you should first recover it as quickly as possible. Pick it up by the crown, the part that’s visible, and don’t touch the root. Rinse your tooth under running water to remove any dirt, but try to keep soft tissue in place. Put the tooth in a glass of salt water or milk and bring it with you to the office. You can also place the tooth back into the socket and gently bite down to hold it in place while in route to see us.
What If I Chip or Break a Tooth?
If you simply damage a tooth, you can bring the pieces with you when you see us. If you cannot recover any lost pieces of your tooth, that’s okay, we can still repair your smile. In the time between the injury and your visit, you can take a pain reliever to ease discomfort and use cloth or gauze to control the bleeding. To prevent swelling, hold a cold compress against the side of your face. When you see us, we can repair the tooth. The quicker you see us, the less likely you’ll be to develop tooth decay and infection due to a damaged tooth exposing sensitive inner structure to bacteria.
Lifelike Restorations
We have a number of options for addressing damaged teeth. For example, bonding and contouring may restore the tooth in a single visit. We also have lifelike dental crowns and veneers. If you lose a tooth and cannot recover it, we can fill the gap in your smile with dental bridges or dental implants. In the future, you can take steps to protect your smile. For example, simply wearing a mouthguard helps lower the chances of a tooth becoming cracked, chipped, or knocked-out. In addition, even if you don’t notice damage after an injury, consider scheduling a checkup regardless. Did you know most dental fractures are practically invisible to the naked eye, but still pose the risk of complications for your tooth’s health? If you have any questions abut our emergency care, or about protecting your teeth, then contact our team today.
Have You Lost a Tooth?
If you need emergency care, then talk to our team about repair and restoration. For more information on our emergency dental services, schedule a consultation with us by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
