How to Handle Dental Emergencies During the Holiday Period

"Bring Prosthetics if They Fall Out When Visiting the Dentist"
"Apply Pressure to Stop Bleeding if Lips or Tongue Tear"

May is a month with many holidays such as Children's Day and Buddha's Birthday, and dental emergencies during the holiday period can be overwhelming. Together with Professor Kim Wook-sung from the One-Stop Collaboration Center at Seoul National University Dental Hospital and Professor Han Jeong-jun from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, we explore how to respond to dental emergencies.

Professor Han Jeong-jun, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seoul National University Dental Hospital [Image source=Seoul National University Dental Hospital]

If dental materials such as restorations or prosthetics that were treated in the past fall out or break, it is advisable to bring the material to the dental clinic. This is because the detached dental material can sometimes be reused.

If the position of the tooth has not changed and only the crown part of the tooth is broken, you can visit the dental clinic with the broken tooth fragment soaked in saline. If the broken tooth fragment can be used, the treatment can be much easier. On the other hand, if the position of the tooth has changed, it is necessary to visit the dental clinic as soon as possible to reposition the tooth and receive follow-up treatment.

In particular, regarding permanent teeth that have been completely knocked out, Professor Kim Wook-sung said, "This is the most urgent situation among dental traumas," and added, "You should find the knocked-out tooth, hold it by the crown part, not the root, and place it back into the socket where it was knocked out."

He continued, "If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it with milk, saline, or saliva and place it back into its original position," emphasizing, "Then visit the dental clinic as soon as possible to receive follow-up care."

When toothache is severe, you can take measures such as ▲taking painkillers ▲holding cold water or ice in the mouth ▲avoiding very hot or irritating foods. However, since these measures provide only temporary relief, it is important to visit the dental clinic to identify the cause of the toothache and receive appropriate treatment.

If the lips or tongue are torn, check the bleeding area with sterilized gauze and apply pressure to stop the bleeding. You can also use a clean cloth instead of gauze. When applying pressure to stop bleeding, it is better to check after about 10 minutes rather than checking too frequently whether the bleeding has stopped.

Professor Han Jeong-jun said, "Most tears on the lips or tongue that are limited to the surface generally heal well without sutures," but added, "However, if the wound is deep, the wound edges are separated, or contaminants are present in the wound, it may not heal well and could be at risk of infection, and in rare cases, lip deformity may occur."