Dental Emergencies can be very traumatizing for the simple fact that many people do not know how to respond. Knowing what do when an accident occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. Time is a major factor. The quicker you can receive treatment, the better the chances are for a favorable outcome. Here are steps to take in case of a dental emergency.
Dental Emergency During Office Hours
Immediately contact our office at (417) 777-8654.
Dental Emergency After Business Hours
If you are patient of record and there is a true dental emergency, immediately call (417) 777-8654. We have an emergency contact number on our answering machine at the office.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention if You Experience Neurological Damages
Symptoms consist of, but are not limited to:
- Breathing Difficulty
- Vision Disturbances
- Dizziness
- Lethargy
- Drowsiness
- Neck Pain
- Tinnitus (ringing of the ears)
- Numbness
- Vomiting
- Loss of Consciousness
- Abnormal Sensory or Motor Function
- Fluid From Ears or Nose
- Eyes Not Symmetrical in Orientation
- Eyes Flicker Back and Forth
- Bruising Behind the Ears
Steps to Saving a Tooth
- Lightly rinse the tooth, making sure not to touch the root surface.
- DO NOT SCRUB THE ROOT TO CLEAN.
- Rinse the blood clot off and any debris.
- Place the tooth back into the tooth socket and the tooth will require splinting so immediately call to be seen.
- If you are unable to replace it yourself, place the tooth in milk. Milk will help slow the deterioration of vital cells.
- Time is key! If the permanent tooth can be re-implanted within the first 30 minutes the tooth has a good prognosis. After one hour out of the mouth the prognosis decreases rapidly. So getting the tooth back into the site is critical.
- If a baby tooth has been knocked out, do not attempt to re-implant the tooth. You may cause trauma to the underlying permanent tooth.
- All other traumatic dental injuries should be seen in office for evaluation.