|
We offer after-hour emergency services to our patients. When the office is closed, call the office to get Dr. Coles' home phone number or, if Dr. Coles is unavailable, for the Peace Arch Hospital who will direct you to the dentist on call. But before you can get hold of us there may be something you can do to get by until you are able to reach us:
Knocked-out Tooth
If a permanent tooth is knocked completely out, immediate care is required. If possible, place the tooth back in the socket. It will go easily back into place. If you can't get it back in, keep it under your tongue or in a glass of milk or water to keep it moist. You can rinse the tooth with water or milk, but do not touch or scrub the root, otherwise this may damage the cells on the root surface which are needed to help the tooth reattach. If a tooth is only knocked out of alignment, similar rules apply. Try to push the tooth back into its proper position as soon as possible and see us right away. Remember, the sooner the tooth is put back in place, the better the chances of it healing successfully.
Broken Filling
In most cases, treatment can be delayed until a convenient time is available. Rough edges can be smoothed off with an emery board and the hole can be filled with warm wax or sugarless gum. A product called Dentemp available in some drugstores is a good do-it-yourself temporary filling material.
Loose Cap
When a cap (crown) becomes loose or falls off, it should be replaced on the tooth until we can re-cement it. For a little more security, first place a small piece of sugarless gum or a dab of Vaseline in the crown to help hold it on. The cap should not be left off the tooth for more than a few hours or it may not be possible to glue it back in place. When a cap is loose it is very easy to get decay underneath and you run the risk of swallowing the loose cap while you eat. Be careful! You should see us as soon as possible to get it put back in place permanently.
Broken Tooth
This can be very painful and any sharp edge could cut your cheek or tongue. If you were hit in the mouth and your lips, cheek or tongue are cut, check if any fragments are stuck in the wound. See us as soon as possible because the fractured tooth may become sensitive and if the nerve is exposed it can become very painful and infected.
|
