
Aug
Dental emergencies are never predictable. This makes having a dentist who is available to treat emergencies is critical. Not only could it be the difference between losing and saving a tooth, but it removes any added stress of having to find an emergency dentist on the fly. Having a dentist you can count on in such a situation is a life saver. Dr. Dean Dietrich and the team at Pleasant Dental® in Dolton, IL are available for patients facing such crisis.
Even if you have an emergency dentist who can see you promptly, there are still emergency measures you should take at home before going into the office. Having a first aid kit which contains items such as aspirin, paraffin, cotton, and gauze is important so you can perform rudimentary first aid before coming to the dentist. This kind of preparation can be a big deal and could help save a tooth. Here are some specific tips you can follow from home when needed.
When you are experiencing a severe toothache, the first actions you can take from home are to rinse the tooth under warm water and floss (gently) between the aching tooth or teeth to see if you can remove any food particles that may have become trapped. Using a cold compress and applying it to the outside of the cheek can bring down any swelling if present. Also, taking medication for pain relief such as aspirin but be sure to not apply it directly to the affected gum or tooth.
When you have broken a tooth, make sure and rinse with warm water and then apply a cold compress to the cheek outside the tooth and get to your dentist as soon as you can.
If you have had a tooth physically knocked out and it can be located, you will want to run it under gently running warm water making sure to touch it as little as possible. Do not scrub it. If you can, place the tooth back into the socket and hold it in place. If this is not possible, get it into a container submerged in milk. There are also tooth preserving solutions you can buy at your local drug store which would work. If possible, get to your dentist within half an hour.
If you need an emergency dentist, please contact Dr. Dean Dietrich at Pleasant Dental® in Dolton, IL by calling (708) 576-1900.