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Dental Injuries
Because they help determine facial
appearance and function, traumatic injuries to the mouth,
teeth and Jaw can have significant physical and emotional
effects. Injuries Involving the mouth and teeth often result
from falls, sports-related injuries, fighting, car crashes
and running into stationary objects. Teeth can be dislocated,
broken or knocked out (avulsed). A permanent tooth that is
knocked out can be put back in.
Injury First Aid
Dislocated or Broken tooth
If lips, teeth or gums are bleeding,
apply direct pressure with clean cloth or absorbent pad (or
have victim gently bite down on an absorbent pad).
Arrange for the victim to be seen by a dentist immediately.
Knocked
out tooth
If lips, teeth or gums are bleeding, apply direct pressure
with clean cloth or an absorbent pad (or have victim do it).
Handle the tooth only by the chewing surface (crown).
Place the knocked out tooth in one of the following solutions
Save a tooth Emergency tooth preserving system-A scientifically
designed, FDA-approved system to preserve knocked out teeth
for up to 24 hours.
Fresh whole milk. Teeth stored in fresh whole milk preserves
cells for up to 6 hours.
Cold low-fat milk, contact-lens solutions or Gatorade. These
solutions can serve as an alternative to fresh whole milk
for up to an hour.
Get to the dentist as quickly as possible The faster you act,
the better your chances of saving the tooth. Thirty minutes
or less gives the best chance for success.
Do Not touch the root of
the tooth
(part of the tooth usually in the gum).
Do Not put
avulsed tooth in water! Water is harmful to teeth cells.
Do Not
scrub avulsed tooth or remove any attached tissue fragments
Do Not
allow avulsed tooth to dry.
Do Not
wrap avulsed tooth in tissues, cloth or gauze.
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