Nobody expects an emergency to happen with their mouth, and even the thought can send shudders down your spine. But sometimes the errant baseball comes your way, or you happen to be in a car accident. With only a few simple things to keep in mind, you can save yourself time and money in the restoration of your smile.
The more you normalize the concept of an emergency, the more likely you are to stay calm when things become hectic. Today, your Cerritos, CA dentist outlines the steps you need to take in the event of an urgent dental health concern!
Try To Remain Calm
We can almost imagine the silence that comes immediately after a dental emergency occurs. It takes your brain a split second to comprehend the severity of the situation. And then your body releases hormones and endorphins that can send you into a frenzy.
But the first thing to try to do is to keep your head about you, no matter how hard. Take a quick breath and try to assess what has happened in order to best determine your next course of action.
If you have any questions as to the severity of your injury, you should immediately get to the emergency room as soon as possible. They have the tools to help you if you have issues with stopping bleeding, up to stitches and blood transfusions. Saving your smile is a priority, but your survival is of the utmost importance.
Try Not To Lose Things
In the fracas, you might have trouble figuring out where all the bits of your smile have landed. But as best as you can, try to gather as much of your natural biological material as possible and keep it safe. The possibility of reattachment is much higher in people who appropriately maintain the remnants that have been knocked free.
Try to rinse your mouth out with warm water, in order to dislodge any dirt or foreign material from the wound. Here you will also want to make sure to keep an eye out for any tissue that dislodges itself as well.
Place those pieces of your teeth in a very safe place that you can transport to your oral health care professional. Place them in a container or in a bit of fabric, or into a cup filled with milk or salt-water. Never use normal water for this, as it can cause further damage to the structure and limit our ability for reattachment.
Time To Move
If you are bleeding at the site, bite down firmly on a bit of clean fabric. Surgical gauze is the best solution, and you should keep some at home with your first aid items. But we understand that situations can arise at any location, and you may not have this available.
If this isn’t handy, a clean t-shirt or handkerchief will work. Washcloths are also very absorbent and may be a comfortable solution for you in this time.
After you have ensured your immediate health, and gathered as many loose pieces of your biological matter, head to an emergency dentist as soon as you safely can. Time is of the essence, but please do not travel unsafely in order to get help.
The sooner we can see you, the more likely we are to be able to find a suitable solution for your problem. So please do not wait overnight or through a weekend if at all possible. This can have serious consequences to your smile.
ABOUT YOUR CERRITOS, CA, ORAL SURGEON:
Dr. Shawn Hofkes and the staff at Cerritos Dental Surgery are highly qualified to address complex issues, including those that require oral surgery to correct. To schedule an appointment or consultation with Dr. Hofkes, contact us today by calling 562-584-4082. We proudly welcome patients of all ages from Cerritos, CA, and all surrounding communities, such as Lakewood, Long Beach, Buena Park, and more.
