
Lets face it, accidents can happen, and especially when it comes to our teeth, SMILE and mouths, they can be pretty frightening. Being careful is good a prevention, but being prepared makes you confident about and possible oral health emergency. Its important to know when home care will suffice and when a trip to the dentist is necessary. If you are ever in the situation that makes you feel like you need to speak with your dentist, call the office, your dentist should provide a day to night time number. If you call during non-business hours, voicemail will give instructions about how to reach the on-call dentist. With that in mind, here are some guidlines to help you through common situations:
Toothache/Sore Gums: Rinse with warm water to remove any food or debris; if you notice anything lodged between teeth, floss to remove it. Take an over the counter pain medication (but never apply the medication directly to teeth or gum), see the dentist if the pain persists.
Chipped or Broken Tooth: Save the pieces, if you can, rinse them thoroughly. Apply an ice pack or cold compress to the swollen lip or gum tissue near the chipped tooth to prevent swelling. If the area is bleeding, apply gauze for ten minutes, or until the bleeding has stopped. Call your cosmetic dentist immediately.You can possibly have a dental bonding , porcelain inlay or porcelain onlay treatment done to salvage your tooth.
With recent advancements in full mouth dentistry and cosmetic dentistry, you might not lose your tooth. If there’s enough remaining healthy tooth structure, there are several treatment options that may eliminate the need for root removal. While the success of these procedures depends on the severity of the break, it’s worth asking about options other than complete removal. I highly recommend you contact your cosmetic dentist.
Knocked Out Tooth: Depending on the situation, find the tooth, make sure not to hold it by the root, and rinse it briefly with warm water. If possible, gently reinsert the tooth into the socket and bite down on gauze or cloth to keep it in place. If you cannot reinsert it, place it in a container of milk or mild salt water solution. Call your cosmetic dentist as soon as possible-if treated within 2 hours, the tooth may be salvaged.
Soft Tissue Injuries: Soft tissues such as gums, cheek, lips, and the tongue tend to bleed heavily, only because the tissue contains a great deal of blood flow. To control the bleeding, first rinse with warm, mild salt water solution. Apply pressure with gauze or a moistened towel for 15 to 20 minutes. Afterwards, to reduce swelling and help stop residual bleeding, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth. In the event of a serious soft tissue injury, in which the bleeding is profuse or the damage is visibly traumatic, its best to stay calm, keep applying pressure, and go to the emergency room.
About Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Anthony Mobasser
Dr. Mobasser offers state-of-the-art cosmetic dental treatment to his patients in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, santa monica and around the world. He is one of the pioneers of modern cosmetic and aesthetic dentistry and is one of the best experienced and qualified dentists in the world. Dr. Mobasser offers full-mouth reconstruction, cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers, sedation dentistry, full-mouth reconstruction, porcelain crowns and bridges, implants, TMJ treatment, smile makeover, and more. To complement his dental training, he also holds degrees in mathematics and engineering. Please visit his website at www.celebritydentist.com.