| The Problem |
Possible Causes |
What to Do Until You See Your Dentist |
| "My crown came off..." |
- Eating sticky candy
- Chewing lots of gum
- Decay causing seal to deteriorate
|
- Use gel-type denture adhesive to hold your crown on until you can see your dentist.
- Please do NOT use superglue.
|
| "My tooth has broken..." |
- Structural fracture from biting on something very hard
- A very large filling which has weakened the tooth
- An old deteriorating filling
- Decay undermining and weakening the tooth
|
- Toothache drops on cotton placed in the hole will often ease the pain. Also, take Advil.
- Use a bit of a drug store product called Den-Temp. This putty-paste can temporarily seal the hole until you can see your dentist.
- Please do NOT use superglue.
|
| "My tooth is painful to bite on and the gum is swollen..." |
- Infection from untreated decay or gum disease.
|
- Call the dentist.
- Hold a mixture of hot salt water around the tooth to help draw the infection out.
|
| "My child just knocked a tooth out..." |
- Bike wreck
- Fall
- Other trauma
|
- Rinse the tooth gently under slowly running water. Hold it by the "crown" — the portion that shows in the smile.
- Gently replace it in the socket as soon as possible. Have the child bite down gently to hold the tooth in place. If the tooth can't be replaced in the socket immediately, it is crucial that it be kept moist by putting it in the child's mouth between the cheek and the teeth — or in a glass of milk. If these two options are impossible, wrap the tooth in a clean, wet handkerchief.
- Please do NOT use superglue.
- Call your dentist and go there immediately.
|
