Dental emergencies happen on the daily, and no matter how careful you might be with your teeth, some accidents are bound to happen. Knowing what to do in the event this could happen to you or any of your loved ones is vital. In some serious cases, if you do not know what steps to take right after an accident, you can wind up losing the tooth involved.
What To Do In Case of a Dental Emergency
Take Immediate Action
The moment after a dental accident, it is vital to take immediate action especially if there’s any blood involved. Before even getting to your dentist, attend to the issue right away to avoid any infections and further bleeding. If your teeth was accidentally knocked out, the best thing you can do is preserve the tooth. There are tooth preserving products that help keep it fresh, but if you don’t have that, try placing the tooth on the root and have it sit. This will help your teeth not to shift. In the event you bite your lip or tongue and it starts to bleed, apply a cold compress on right away.
Contact Your Dentist
Once you’re able to place temporary aid on the affected area, it is crucial that you contact your dentist shortly after. Try to place an emergency check up with them if possible or work with any other dentists open to walk-ins. If you just allows the tooth to heal on its own, you are risking your teeth and oral health of various infections and disease. The treatment your dentist decides to do will also help to protect and strengthen your gum and overall oral health.
Consult Your Dental Insurance Provider
If you don’t have extra money lying around to pay for emergency dental care but you do have insurance, you will be able to cover the expenses. Most policies do cover emergency dental care among other things which is why it is an investment worth taking advantage of. The cost of any dental work that insurance covers is quite costly, with many dentists not open to payment plans for those without coverage.
Having dental insurance may not seem as important as other coverages, but it really comes in handy for situations like this. Most people don’t realize the value of dental insurance until they see the bill of their dental work. The amount you can save with insurance definitely makes paying a monthly fee 100% worth it.
When you know what to do in case of a dental emergency, not only will you be able to prevent further damages from happening but you will also cut your losses short. Above all, having awareness on what to do will only benefit you in the long run. Preventative measures after any dental emergency is also always a great way to lower your chances in experiencing anything like it again. Regular checkups, daily maintenance, and cleaning can truly go a long way in protecting your teeth.