An athletic injury that affects the head, face or directly impacts the mouth can sometimes exert enough force to badly fracture, crack or cleave a tooth near the gumline. The immediate distress and discomfort of a moment like this is an obvious sign that the individual needs emergency treatment.
In a moment such as this the person may also benefit from some simple first aid measures while you seek treatment from a dentist like Dr. Steven Wolfson.
If needed gently rinsing the mouth with a little lukewarm saltwater might help clear away blood from your mouth. It might also help to soothe wounded soft tissues in the area. Rinsing with antiseptic mouthwash is a bad idea, as it can cause discomfort and soft tissue irritation.
Immediate discomfort might be addressed by taking a standard dose of an over the counter anti-inflammatory medication or rubbing a small amount of topical oral analgesic on the nearby tissues.
Once you arrive at Steven Wolfson, DDS our dentist will quickly assess the injury to develop an effective treatment plan.
If the sensitive pulp or root of the tooth has been badly traumatized he might need to perform endodontic therapy. Also known as a root canal, this treatment plan will excise the affected structures before rebuilding an abutment capable of supporting an eventual dental crown restoration.
If you live in the Houston, Texas, area and you or someone near you has just suffered a significant dental trauma, you should call 713-789-1225 to seek emergency treatment Steven Wolfson, DDS.