First, we want to thank all those that made our open house/fundraiser such a success. Grizzly Peak Winery, Rogue Creamery, Patterson Dental and all the individuals that donated time were key to the success of our last event! Now on to our article: What do I do if I get a tooth knocked out? What if it’s a baby tooth? What if I don’t know what kind of tooth it is? In order to manage these kinds of emergencies we need some knowledge, planning, and even some prevention before the situation actually presents itself.
First the best way to manage an emergency is to stop it from happening. As we are all getting into the full swing of summer we are usually more active. If we are playing sports, running, cycling, and lifting weights we should consider a custom athletic guard. Gone are the days of the floppy hunk of rubber that we boil and bite. The athletic mouth guards that we provide are so comfortable that people wearing them often forget that they are even in their mouths. Not to mention that there is significant research that notes that athletic guards improve athletic performance, strength, and endurance.
Okay great, but what should you do if there is trauma without the guard? First make sure that there is no other trauma to head, neck, or brain. If the trauma is more extensive then you need to seek emergent care at a hospital; now you need to seek care of your dentist ASAP. If you have tooth trauma and it is completely knocked out/avulsed then it is important that you act quickly because believe it or not, if it is an adult/secondary tooth, it can often be re- implanted but only if you act quickly. Place the tooth in a “tooth saving medium” such as save-a-tooth which you can purchase from our office or place it in milk, or even in your mouth. Do not rinse the tooth off in water. Do not touch the root surface. Now it is a race against the clock to improve the prognosis for re-implantation so get to the dentist ASAP. Once you get to the dentist, they will determine the extent of the damage and advise you regarding continued care.
Feel free to stop in and say hi or give us a call if you have any questions. We are conveniently located in the ACE hardware parking lot. From all of us at Jones Family Dental, we wish you a fun and safe summer.
