Gentle Dentist, Dental Emergency

    I.  Types of Dental Emergencies
 
        A.  Chipped or broken teeth
            1. Rinse mouth with warm water, rinse any broken pieces, if bleeding, apply gauze until it stops (10 min or so), cold compresses to outside of mouth to keep swelling down and
                relieve pain
            2.  See dentist ASAP
        B. Knocked out tooth
            1. Retrieve tooth, hold by crown, DO NOT SCRUB OR REMOVE TISSUE FRAGMENTS
            2. DO NOT FORCE TOOTH INTO SOCKET
            3.  If cannot re-insert tooth into socket
                a. Milk
                b. Water with a pinch of table salt
                c. Cell growth medium (Save a Tooth)
           4.  See dentist ASAP, best chance of saving tooth is if avulsed tooth can be returned to socket within one hour of being knocked out
        C. Toothaches
            1. Rinse with warm water, floss to dislodge any possible food particles, cold compress for swelling
            2. NO ASPIRIN ON GUM!!!!!!
            3. See dentist ASAP!

        D. Lost filling
            1. OTC dental cement and see dentist ASAP
        E. Lost Crown
             1. Bring crown with  you
             2. OTC cement or denture adhesive to hold crown in place, NOT SUPERGLUE.
        F. Abscess
            1. Definition-infections occurring around tooth root or in space between teeth and gums
            2.  See dentist ASAP if pimple like swelling occurs in the mouth
       G.   Soft  tissue injury
            1. Mild salt water solution rinse
            2. Moist gauze/tea bag with pressure to bleeding site
                a. 15-20 minutes
            3.  If bleeding persists, see a health care professional immediately, continuously apply pressure until seen and/or treated