Georgetown Office

Gentle Dentistry
301 North Church Street
PO Box 1748
Georgetown, SC 29440, 29442
(843) 520-4746
Smilesgtown@gentledentistrysc.com

Knocked out Tooth

If you knock out a permanent tooth, you should:

• Find the tooth
• Hold it by the crown (the white bit that sticks out of the gum)
• Clean the tooth with either water or saliva
• Put it back into position (adult teeth only); never try to re-insert a baby tooth (see below)
• Bite on a handkerchief to hold the tooth in place
• Go to see a dentist as an emergency

If you are unable to put the tooth back in position, put it in milk and see a dentist immediately. The sooner a knocked-out tooth is re-implanted, the more likely it is to embed itself back into the gum.

If your child knocks out a baby tooth, you shouldn't try to re-implant it because you may damage the adult tooth growing underneath. Take your child to see a dentist immediately.
 

Loose Cap/Crown

 Although a loose cap or crown is not an emergency dental situation, it is something that should be taken care of as quickly as possible.  In the mean time get to the drugstore to buy a product called Fixodent. Although Fixodent is intended to be used as an adhesive for dentures, it can also be used to help keep a crown or cap tight on a tooth for at least several hours.  It’s very important to retain the crown/ cap, until you’ve seen your dentist.
 

Abscess

An abscess is something you want to eliminate rather than cope with. You can distinguish an infection from a minor toothache by answering a few important questions:

•  Are your gums swollen and sore?

•  Is there a funny taste in your mouth?

•  Is there drainage from a sore?

•  Are you running a fever?

•  Does it hurt to chew?

•  Is your tooth sensitive to hot or cold?

If you have a combination of any of those symptoms, it is possible you have an abscess and need to see a dentist as soon as possible.
 

Toothache

            If you have toothache for more than one or two days, visit your dentist as soon as possible to have it treated. The longer you leave it, the worse it will get. If your toothache isn't treated, the nerve inside your tooth will eventually become infected. This can usually lead to a dental abscess, with severe and continuous throbbing pain. Pain medication, such as ibuprofen, may reduce the pain and discomfort while you're waiting for an appointment.