Spring is finally here in Overland Park and that means there will be ample opportunities to get outside, get some exercise, and enjoy all that Overland Park, and Kansas City at large, has to offer. What attracts people to the Johnson County area are the boundless variety of attractions and activities; such as the American Museum of Natural History, the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead and the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, plus the abundance of parks, ball fields, and recreational facilities.
We here at Klug Family Dentistry wish all those in Johnson County a very happy Spring. We hope your ball teams are all batting a thousand, that your pools are nice and cool, and that you all remain safe and healthy throughout the year.
But we also realize that while you are getting out there and enjoying all those activities there may also be the potential for unexpected dental emergencies.
Dental emergencies can sometimes happen. When they do occur, they can be quite frightening, and often very painful. Prompt treatment is almost always necessary in order to alleviate pain and to ensure the teeth have the best possible chance of being restored.
Any dental emergency such as an injury to the teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should never be ignored. Disregarding dental problems can increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and expensive treatment later on. Teeth that have been fractured by trauma, grinding or biting on hard objects can pose serious health risks. In other instances, fillings, crowns and other restorative devices can get damaged or fall out of the mouth completely.
When you are experiencing severe pain, it is crucial to call the dentist as quickly as possible. The pain caused by dental emergencies will almost always get worse without treatment, and dental issues can seriously jeopardize physical health.
Here’s a quick rundown of what to do for the most common dental emergencies:
Knocked-Out Teeth
Children’s Baby Teeth
If the child’s baby tooth is completely knocked out, chances are it cannot be re-implanted. If this happens, the missing tooth will be replaced naturally when the child’s permanent (adult) tooth grows in. If a tooth has become loose, chances are that it will come out on its own but in either case you should call the dentist right away.
A Permanent (Adult) Tooth
If a permanent adult tooth has been knocked out you have a one to two hour window in which your tooth has a chance for re-implantation – only the dentist will be able to tell you for sure. Use the following steps to protect the tooth and see the dentist right away.
Procedure For the Injured Person:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it. Using a warm cup of water with a half-teaspoon of salt added will help cleanse the mouth. Apply gauze to the area and use firm pressure to stop the bleeding. Try to find the missing tooth right away.
- When the bleeding stops, apply a cold compress to the injured area to minimize swelling. If bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of constant, firm pressure, see your dentist immediately, or if that is not possible go to the emergency room.
- Place the tooth in a small container and cover it with milk (the calcium in milk helps to protect it), or water with a pinch of salt, or else the saliva from the injured person. The latter can be done by placing the dislocated tooth back into the person’s mouth until they can be gotten to the dentist.
For A Broken Tooth:
- Hold the tooth only by its crown (the enamel, visible portion). If the tooth or root is dirty, place a towel or dishcloth in a sink (so the tooth cannot fall into the drain), and gently rinse the tooth and root. IMPORTANT: DO NOT SCRUB it or remove any gum tissue that may still be attached to the root.
- If it is possible, gently place the tooth back into its gum socket facing the correct direction (making sure that you do not force the tooth back in place). If this is not possible, place the tooth in a small container and cover the tooth in milk, water with a pinch of salt, or saliva from the injured person.
Severe Tooth Pain
- The most common causes are debris lodged under the gum line, a lost filling or crown, a cracked or broken tooth, or an infection. Only a thorough examination by your Dentist can determine the underlying cause of severe pain.
- Until you see your Dentist, apply ice to the painful area for 10-20 minutes of every hour. To alleviate pain, take acetaminophen as directed on the packaging label.
Tooth Abscesses
- Abscesses are infections that occur around the root of a tooth or in the space between the teeth and gums. Abscesses are a serious condition that can damage tissue and surrounding teeth, with the infection possibly spreading to other parts of the body if left untreated.Because of the serious oral health and general health problems that can result from an abscess, see your dentist as soon as possible if you discover a pimple-like swelling on your gum that usually is painful. In the meantime, to ease the pain and draw the pus toward the surface, try rinsing your mouth with a mild salt water solution (1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water) several times a day.
Soft-tissue Injuries
Injuries to the soft tissues, which include the tongue, cheeks, gums, and lips, can result in bleeding.
To control the bleeding, here’s what to do:
- Rinse your mouth with a mild salt-water solution.
- Use a moistened piece of gauze or tea bag to apply pressure to the bleeding site. Hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes.
- To both control bleeding and relieve pain, hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes.
- If the bleeding doesn’t stop, see your dentist right away or go to a hospital emergency room. Continue to apply pressure on the bleeding site with the gauze until you can be seen and treated.
If you’re experiencing extreme pain or other dental emergencies, call our office for an emergency appointment. Usually we will be able to see you the same day. For emergencies that occur after regular business hours or on the weekend, office voicemails have instructions on how to contact the dentist.
If you feel that your situation may be life-threatening or medical emergency, please call 911.