Dental problems

If you think that you might need to see a doctor, call to arrange for your care. Ask what steps to take in the meantime.

What steps to take will depend on the type of injury. Here are examples of some injuries and what you can do until you see your doctor or help arrives.

• A tooth that has been completely knocked out. A permanent tooth can sometimes be put back into its socket (reimplanted). So be sure to save the tooth, and place it in milk to keep it from drying out. Take it with you to the dentist right away. The best results occur if a dentist puts the tooth back in the socket within 30 minutes. Chances of successful reimplantation are unlikely after 2 hours.
• Bleeding in the mouth. Return any skin flap to its normal position. If needed, hold the flap in place with a clean cloth or gauze.
• A tongue or piece of tongue that has been cut off. Wrap the piece of tongue in a clean cloth or sterile gauze and put it in a bag of ice to keep it cool. Don't put the tongue directly on the ice. Don't immerse the tongue in ice water. Take the bag with you, and go to the emergency room right away.
• A broken tooth or dental appliance. Find any pieces of tooth or the broken dental appliance and take them with you when you go to see your dentist. Your dentist will want to check for missing pieces of tooth or dental appliance that may have been left in a wound, swallowed, or breathed into the lungs (aspirated).