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The family lingers after a festive
holiday meal for coffee and Aunt Sarah's famous
pecan-and-cherry fruitcake. Unfortunately, Aunt Sarah
didn't remove all the shells from the pecans. You chomp
on a piece and fracture a tooth.
Dental emergencies can happen
anytime. Here's what you can do if you face a dental
emergency this holiday season:
Toothache: If a toothache
develops, clean the painful area using a brush and
floss. Rinse with warm salt water. Do not place an
aspirin on the gums or tooth as this may cause a burn.
Apply a cold compress to any facial swelling. Take
acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol7)
and call a dentist as soon as possible.
Lost (Avulsed) Tooth: If a
permanent tooth is knocked completely out, time is of
the essence. Immediately call a dentist for an emergency
appointment. It is critical to get the person and his or
her tooth to the dental office within one half hour.
This makes it possible to re-implant the tooth with a
high degree of success. If possible, gently place the
tooth back in its socket as a means of transport.
Otherwise, transport it in a cup of milk, salt water, or
saliva. If none of these are available, use a cup of
plain water. You may also place the tooth between the
cheek and gum (unless the injured person is a child who
is too young to keep the tooth in place until treatment
is rendered).
Loosened (Extruded) Teeth:
If a tooth is pushed either inward or outward, try to
reposition it using very little pressure. Do not force
the tooth into its socket. Try to get the injured person
to a dentist as soon as possible. The tooth may be
stabilized and held in place with a moist tissue or
gauze on the way.
Broken (Fractured) Teeth:
First rinse the mouth with warm water to keep it clean.
Immediate dental care is necessary. The treatment will
depend on the severity of the fracture and could range
from smoothing out the chip to bonding with a
tooth-colored resin material, to placing a crown or cap
on the tooth. If there has been pulp (nerve) injury, a
root canal may be necessary as well.
Soft Tissue Injury: The
tongue, lips or cheeks may be bitten, cut or punctured.
If there is bleeding, apply firm pressure with gauze or
a clean cloth. If bleeding doesn't stop within 15
minutes, contact a dentist immediately. Stitches may be
necessary. Otherwise, clean the area with either warm
water on gauze or a clean cloth. Apply an ice compress
to the bruised or swollen area and contact your dentist
for further instructions.
How to find a dentist if you're
out of town
Many families will be traveling
this holiday season. Whether you're visiting relatives
or taking a winter vacation, a participating Delta
Dental dentist is probably nearby. Three out of four
dentists nationwide participate in the Delta Dental
network.
The "Find a Dentist"
feature on Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey's Web site
(www.deltadentalnj.com) enables you to search for
participating dentists by name, location and specialty
throughout New Jersey and Connecticut, and anywhere in
the United States. Or, you may call (800) DELTA-OK
(335-8265).
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