When you take dental care into your own hands, the result is unnecessary pain and suffering followed by a dent to your wallet. Many times, what could have easily been taken care of in one appointment may now require several visits. Multiple visits to the dentist generally results in more time off work, not to mention difficulty eating, trouble sleeping and general irritability from a toothache or mouth pain.
According to Dr. Sandy Venditti, dentist and author of ʺPearls of Wisdom,ʺ she has seen several examples of patients attempting to solve their own dental emergencies. One frightening example is of a patient who attempted to extract his own tooth with a pair of pliers. He downed a few shots of whiskey and decided to rip the tooth out himself. The patient fractured the tooth below the gum line and was in more pain than when he started.
What could have been a simple extraction turned into a longer more complicated expensive surgical procedure. Also, his healing time was longer because of the more extensive surgery. Venditti notes that the use of unsterile pliers could have easily introduced bacteria into his system.
From time to time, crowns become loose and come off. This can be embarrassing especially if you are out in public. If it's a front tooth, Venditti recommends adding a little bit of toothpaste or denture adhesive to the inside and re-cement it back in place until you can see your dentist. If the crown is not properly positioned back in the mouth, it will alter your bite making it difficult and often painful to chew. It may even result in jaw joint pain, inadvertent clenching or grinding.
Whatever you do, do NOT use super-glue! Super-glue irritates the tooth and gums resulting in sensitivity or even a throbbing toothache. There may be some tooth decay near the margins of the crown which resulted in the crown falling off. Re-cementing the crown and not taking care of the tooth decay will result in sensitivity to hot or cold and may even balloon into a throbbing toothache. So instead of just needing a new crown, you may now need a root canal. Plus, the dentist now has to drill off the crown adding to the expense and appointment time.
The best thing to do if you find yourself with a crown in hand is to see your dentist right away. It's difficult to reposition a crown back in place by yourself, especially if the tooth in question is in a hard to reach area. Most crowns tend to be fairly small in size making them hard to hold. There is also the possibility that you may accidentally swallow it or worse, have it go into your lungs resulting in a trip to the ER.
Venditti has even seen patients who have filed their dentures down with tools from their shed. While it may feel more comfortable, this will introduce unwelcome bacteria into your mouth. The spot that was filed down will be rough to the touch and make it prime real estate for more plaque and bacteria (not to mention contribute to foul smelling breath). If you take too much off, the dentures may feel loose and require a professional to realign them, which adds to your cost.
Dentures need to be adjusted from time to time due to changes in your jaw bone and facial muscles. This doesn't take long at all and most dental offices will fit you in the same day.
Take the time for bi-annual dental checkups. Also, make a checkup prior to any travel plans. A dental exam is like an oil change for your car, after so many meals and snacks a check-up is needed to make sure your teeth are fit for the next 1000+ meals. Also, your dental professional will be able to spot things that need attention before they become a dental emergency.
Source:
Dr. Sandy Venditti, www.drsandyv.com
MC Ortega is the former publicist for the late Walter Payton and Coca-Cola. Ortega is a senior communications and messaging executive specializing in media relations, social media, program development and crisis communications. Also, Ortega is an avid traveler and international shopper. Ortega resides with her partner, Craig, dog, Fionne and extensive shoe collection. Ortega also enjoys jewelry design/production and flamenco dancing.