Emergency dentist in Lucerne - what to do in case of a dental accident?
Children are naturally the most affected by injuries in the dental/mouth area: according to statistics, 50% of them suffer a dental accident, but such injuries are also common in teenagers and adults. New trends in sports such as skateboarding or inline skating have even led to an increase in dental injuries in recent years.
Here are the most important rules to follow after a dental accident:
(Click on each rule to learn more)
1. STAY CALM
Keep your nerves and try to process the accident logically.
2. ASSESS THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACCIDENT
- Are there any signs of a cerebral concussion (brief loss of consciousness, dizziness, vomiting)? - immediately go to the nearest hospital or general practitioner.
- In case of bleeding facial injuries: stop bleeding by compression with clean fabric handkerchiefs or gauze. Check whether a vaccination against tetanus (lockjaw) has been performed in the last five years - present vaccination record to the treating doctor or dentist. In case of larger soft tissue injuries or suspicion of bone fractures, immediately go to the nearest hospital.
- Are teeth loose, displaced, knocked-out or broken?
3. IN CASE OF INJURIES TO PERMANENT TEETH, CONTACT THE DENTIST IMMEDIATELY - OUTSIDE OF OFFICE HOURS, CONTACT THE DENTAL EMERGENCY SERVICE. IN THE LUCERNE AREA, THE EMERGENCY SERVICE CAN BE REACHED AT 0848 582 489.
- Tooth is broken: Keep the broken piece and bring it to the dentist appointment.
- Tooth is loose: Avoid loading the loose tooth, visit the dentist as soon as possible.
- Tooth is completely knocked-out: Only touch the crown of the tooth, not the root! Store in cold milk or a tooth rescue box (available in the pharmacy), if necessary, store the tooth in the mouth under the tongue. Treatment by the dentist should take place within 60 minutes, as replantation of the tooth is more promising the faster the treatment is carried out.
- Tooth is knocked in: Consult a dentist as soon as possible.
4. IN CASE OF INJURIES TO BABY TEETH: DISPLACED OR KNOCKED-IN BABY TEETH CAN DAMAGE THE TOOTH GERMS OF PERMANENT TEETH LOCATED IN THE BONE. THEREFORE, TREATMENT IN THESE CASES IS NECESSARY. HOWEVER, MINOR CHIPPINGS OR LOOSENING OF THE FRONT BABY TEETH ARE USUALLY HARMLESS.
- In most cases, accidents involving injury to milk teeth are less serious than can be expected with permanent teeth.
- Loosened milk teeth often become firm again on their own if the root has not already been eroded by the impending change of teeth.
- Knocked-out milk teeth are not usually replanted.
- Milk teeth that have been knocked into the jaw (intruded) may have to be removed to prevent damage to the permanent teeth.
As a general rule, all dental accidents must be reported to the accident insurance company immediately, even if it appears to be a minor injury. Only in this way will the subsequent treatment of possible consequential damage, which was often not recognisable at the time of the accident, be covered by the UV.