Falling down on ice is an unfortunate incident most Chicagoans are very familiar with. There are a number of things that can occur during this frigid fall, but what happens if you knock out one or more of your adult teeth?
As we collectively brace for the 2nd half of winter, we want you to be prepared for this jarring scenario. Before you search for a clinic in Chicago that specializes in emergency dentistry, here are four steps you should take to prevent further damage to your oral health.
- Check Yourself For Bleeding Or Additional Head Or Neck Damage
- If you’re experiencing tooth damage from a fall, then there’s a good chance you’ve hit more parts of your head or neck.
- If you’re facing any symptoms like numbness or weakness on one side of your body, blurred or double vision or loss of vision in one eye, slurred speech, or severe vomiting, then you’re likely concussed. You should see a medical professional immediately.
- Once You Can Safely Stand, Locate Your Missing Tooth
- Finding your dislodged tooth as soon as possible is the first major step you can take to potentially have it installed back in your mouth.
- Please do not touch the root of the tooth. This could infect the tooth with bacteria that could prevent it from being placed back in your mouth. Hold it by the crown of the tooth to pick it up safely.
- This same logic should be applied to the new gap that exists in between your teeth: do not touch the gums where your tooth once was located.
- Wash and Preserve The Tooth Once It’s Located
- Do not wash or scrub your dislodged tooth because soap or water could damage the root of your tooth. You should only rinse the tooth in milk or your saliva.
- To temporarily preserve it, you put your tooth in a bag of milk or in the empty socket where it was previously located. Hold the tooth in place as you drive to the nearest emergency room or emergency dental clinic.
- Timing Is Everything
- You have roughly 30 to 60 minutes from the time your tooth was dislodged to have the best chance of saving it. Properly storing a lost tooth in milk or the empty socket in your mouth can also increase the odds of saving your tooth.
- Once the root begins to dry out or it becomes infected with bacteria, there is a low chance your tooth can be placed back in your mouth by a dental professional.
Urgent Dental Care In Chicago’s Lincoln Square Neighborhood
If you fall on ice and lose an adult tooth, then you need to find an emergency dental practice that can help you immediately. Cornerstone Dental of Lincoln Square is more than happy to help you during your dental emergencies in Chicago, IL.
Contact us immediately after you’ve lost one of your adult teeth and our emergency dental care team will do our best to help you save it.
If our emergency dentist is unable to save your tooth, we have a variety of cosmetic dentistry services that can restore the look and functionality of your old tooth.
