There are many reasons why you might have a chipped or broken tooth. Perhaps you fell and hit your mouth, or perhaps you were playing sports and got hit in the face. You can even chip a tooth by biting down on food with too much force.
In some cases, chipping or breaking your tooth can be considered a dental emergency, and you’re going to want to get seen immediately. In less severe cases, you can wait until morning or regular business hours before seeing the dentist at Harmony Dental Care in Oshawa, ON.
Knowing when to go to see a dentist at Harmony Dental Care is important but knowing what to do during a dental emergency is also very important.
What to Do
After the accident occurs, you should always begin by washing your mouth out with warm water to clean it from blood and bacteria. If your whole tooth has been knocked out, you should rinse the tooth off as well. You should always try to reinsert the tooth back into the socket. If you are unable to do this, place the tooth in a cup of milk.
If you have a break or a crack, you should hold a piece of gauze over the injured area to stop the bleeding. You will probably need to keep this gauze in place for at least ten minutes. If this doesn’t work, you can always use a tea bag. These are known to work great for stopping bleeding. You should also apply a pack of ice to the side of your face in order to reduce the swelling. Take an analgesic other than aspirin for pain.
When to Come into the Clinic
Call Harmony Dental Care right away from an emergency appointment if you have a knocked-out tooth or if you feel like there is severe damage. Fractures require immediate attention – even if there’s no pain! For minor chips, you can wait until business hours to schedule an appointment.
How We Can Help
In most minor cases, the dentist at Harmony Dental Care can repair your tooth by simply polishing the area. Larger cracks can require inlays, onlays, or caps to restore the tooth to its normal shape. If you have damaged the pulp, you might also need root canal therapy. If a tooth has come out completely, we will attempt to reinsert it. The sooner you make into our clinic, the better the chances are of saving your tooth.
