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Know What to Do in Dental Emergencies

Know What to Do in Dental Emergencies

by | Jan 14, 2020 | Blog

dental emergencies
It’s good to know in advance where to go and what to do in the event of dental emergencies, so you are prepared.

There can be a variety of types of dental emergencies and some are more urgent than others. Some of the most common dental emergencies include knocked out teeth, a cracked tooth, toothaches, displaced filling or crown, bitten tongue or lip, something stuck in the mouth and facial trauma or injuries. Here are some tips to keep in mind if you experience any of these issues.

Where to go

In all dental emergencies it is best to see your dentist or an oral surgeon as soon as possible. Most dentists and oral surgeons have someone on-call for emergencies, so keep their emergency number on-hand or call their office and it will likely provide you with a number to call in case of an after-hours emergency. Seeing your dentist will provide you with a more immediate solution–saving you time and money over a visit to the emergency room.

(If you are on vacation or out of town, it is still best to contact a local dentist for your dental emergency. A quick Google search should help you find one.)

What to do

Here are a few tips on what to do in the most common dental emergencies until you can get to a dentist or oral surgeon:

  • For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, if possible, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root until you can get to the dentist. If that is not possible, place the tooth in between your cheek and gums or put it in salt water or milk until you can get to the dentist/oral surgeon. Never attempt to wipe the tooth off because the attached remnants of the ligament holding the tooth in the jaw are vital to the successful replanting of the tooth. Time is of the essence with this situation, so the sooner the tooth is re-inserted into the dental socket, the better chance it will survive.
  • For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put a cold compress on the face as needed to keep any swelling down.
  • For a toothache, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently floss to remove any food caught between the teeth that may be causing the pain. Take a pain reliever to help with the pain until you can see a professional.
  • If a filling or crown breaks or falls off you can likely wait a few days to have it fixed or replaced, but call your dentist to let them know the situation and decide.
  • For a bitten tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress. If the bite is severe, stitches may be necessary and you will want to get to the dentist right away.
  • If an object is stuck in your or your child’s teeth, you can try to gently remove it with floss, but do not try to remove it with sharp or pointed instruments.
  • For facial trauma or injury it may be necessary to go to the Emergency Room depending on the severity and if there are any other bodily injuries. You may consider calling your dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon to meet you there.

The oral and maxillofacial surgeons at Bay Oral Surgery & Implant Center in Green Bay, Marinette and Niagara, Wisconsin are uniquely qualified to manage and treat various forms of facial trauma and injuries. They are on staff at local hospitals and provide emergency room coverage for facial injuries, which include facial lacerations, intra oral lacerations, knocked out teeth, fractured facial bones (cheek, nose and eye socket), and fractured jaws (upper and lower).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What to Expect if Your Child Needs Oral Surgery

What to Expect if Your Child Needs Oral Surgery

by | Oct 15, 2019 | Blog

Whether it’s due to an accidental injury or a planned tooth extraction, oral surgery may be necessary for your child at some point. And knowing what to expect for your child’s oral surgery will help reduce any anxiety you or your child may be feeling.

The most common oral surgeries performed on children and adolescents are tooth extractions, frenectomies, exposure of impacted or non-erupted permanent teeth, or for accidental injury or trauma to the teeth or face. If your child has recently been referred for oral surgery, here’s what you can expect from Bay Oral Surgery & Implant Center.

Before the procedure

If oral surgery is needed, it will most likely be recommended by your family dentist during your child’s regular dental checkup appointment. Your dentist will refer your child to an oral surgeon for more specialized treatment. When your dentist refers your child to an oral surgeon, they will provide the surgeon with all of the details regarding the situation and what treatment plan is recommended.

The next step will be visiting the oral surgeon. For children under age 12, or for children with health concerns, the oral surgeon will want to see your child for an exam prior to the procedure. This will ensure they have an accurate medical history and can review the procedure with you. They will explain what to expect, the steps of the surgery, the type of anesthesia that will be used, and answer any questions you may have. They will also provide you with pre-op instructions.

After the consultation, Bay Oral Surgery will check on your insurance coverage for the recommended treatment plan.

In the event of an emergency situation (ex. your child falls and injures a tooth), you should contact your dentist or an oral surgeon immediately and this process will be expedited.

During the procedure

On the day of the procedure you should have your child follow the pre-op instructions provided by the oral surgeon. A parent or legal guardian must accompany your child to the appointment and remain in the clinic for the length of the procedure. During the surgery your child will be under the specialized care of the oral surgeon and surgical assistants. The length of time for the procedure will vary depending on what is being done, but most oral surgeries take about an hour or less.

After the procedure

When the surgery is complete, Bay Oral Surgery will provide you with post-op instructions to follow specific to your child’s procedure. (You can also view our video series of post-op instructions on our website, here.) A parent or legal guardian will need to escort your child home. Your child should try to rest for the remainder of the day. You will be advised to have your child eat soft foods, such as soup and yogurt, until their mouth is feeling better. A follow-up appointment with your oral surgeon is usually not necessary unless recommended by the oral surgeon.

At Bay Oral Surgery & Implant Center we want to answer your questions and make sure you feel comfortable with the entire process, so we encourage you to ask any questions before, during or after the surgery. To get started, schedule your consultation here.