If you are away on holiday and you experience a dental emergency, you may worry about how to deal with it in the best way. If your crown or filling breaks while you are away, there are several ways to prevent pain and infection and limit further damage.
When your crown or filling falls out, you may be worried about food debris getting trapped in the hole left behind, and this is a real risk that can lead to a buildup of the bacteria that causes decay. However, knowing what to do in a dental emergency, even if you are a long way from home, can help to put your mind at rest and enable you to deal with a sticky situation effectively.
What To Do If You Lose A Crown Or Filling:
If you lose a crown or filling, you should aim to protect the tooth as soon as possible, minimising the damage until you are able to see a dentist. Here’s how:
1. Don’t lose your crown. If your crown has come away from the tooth, you should remove it from your mouth as there is a risk that it could be breathed into the lungs. If you have swallowed it without realising it, do not worry as this is unlikely to pose a risk.
2. See if you can replace the crown temporarily. Depending on the way in which your crown has come away, you may be able to use dental cement to hold it in place temporarily to protect the tooth. You might also be able to cover the crown with dental wax, which could provide a barrier around the tooth. It is important to use this only as a temporary solution, howev-er, and to see a dentist as soon as possible.
3. Protect the tooth. You should avoid sweet foods and chewy substances, as well as very hot or very cold drinks, as these could cause pain due to the heightened sensitivity of the tooth. Crowns usually fall out when the tooth underneath is decayed, so it is important not to eat foods that could cause this to worsen before you can seek advice from a professional.
4. Use pain relief. You may experience pain when a crown dislodges, so it is important to manage this. Clove oil can be one of the most effective pain killlers, rubbed around the tooth and gums, and you may find that over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol are useful, too.
It is important to remember that these measures are temporary and aim to pre-vent further damage while you are waiting for a dental appointment. You should call your dentist as soon as possible and explain the situation, so that you can get an emergency appointment. If you are on holiday for a prolonged period of time, find out where you can get emergency dental treatment so that you do not have to cut your trip short.
Visit Your Dentist In Ballincollig
Are you looking for a family friendly dental practice in Cork? We would love to welcome you to Guiney Dental Clinic, where our professional team can help you with emergency or routine dental care. To make an appointment, call the Guiney Dental Practice today on 021-481 0535.