It’s not uncommon when playing sports to chip, or break a tooth. Sometimes, things happen in day-to-day life that can cause damage to your teeth. You may suffer a blow to the mouth, take a fall, or have an injury that forces your lower jaw into your upper teeth. You might bite down too hard on something, or the tooth may be weakened by decay. However it happens, if you chip or break a tooth, there are steps you should take right away.
The first thing to do is to find and save any of the pieces of the tooth if you can. You should use warm water to rinse your mouth and the pieces of your tooth. If you are bleeding, hold some gauze on the affected area for ten minutes. A cold compress will help to keep the swelling down. You can also cover the tooth with temporary dental cement until you can see the dentist. Temporary dental cement can be found in many drug stores and grocery stores.
After that initial care, you should contact Dr. Daniel Sahutske at Oxford Lakes Dental Care in Oxford, Michigan. You will need to come into our office as soon as possible for treatment. The doctor will need to examine your tooth to see what course of treatment will work the best for you. The doctor may not be able to see you right away, so if you are experiencing any pain, try an over-the-counter pain reliever, and continue to rinse with warm water to keep the area clean and free of food debris.
If you have a chipped or cracked tooth, contact our office at 248-628-2540 to make an appointment. We’ll give you a thorough examination and decide what needs to be done to restore your smile.