Ask Dr. Casey

Question: What should I include in a Dental Emergency Kit?

Here are the top 7 dental emergencies and what to have on hand to fix them.

  1. Temporary or perm.Dent Crown (Cap) comes off a tooth:
    Fixodent or Polygrip - Actually a denture adhesive, but it makes great ~temporary cement that allows for fool proof recementing of loose temporary crowns (caps) and bridges
  2. Lost filling:
    Dent-Temp - Moderately strong cement that includes a powder and lIquid that you mix and then insert in the "hole"; it can also be used as a second choice for crown and bridge recementing if Fixodent or Polygrip does not work. For a porcelain veneer that has come off - use Krazy Glue gel.
  3. Toothache:
    Benzodent - A topical anesthetic that can be applied to the gum.
    Advil (Ibuprofen) - Adults can take as much as 4,200mg every four hours. Make sure your physician allows you to take this; otherwise, Tylenol or Anaprox.
    Antibiotics - Have your DDS or MD call in a prescription for Penicillin, Erythromycin or Tetracycline and take it in your kit. Call your DDS from the road for advice on which one to take should you have pain and/or swelling.
  4. Knocked out tooth:
    Use an empty prescription bottle with a screw top to place the tooth in along with neutral saline solution (check the contact lens aisle) that they sell in the pharmacy (better than putting it in milk). See a DDS as soon as possible to see if the tooth can be re-implanted. Do not scrub the tooth or root with a tooth brush; you can remove important cells needed for re-implantation.
  5. Braces, brackets or wire. break or come un-done:
    Dental wax - press wax against wire or bracket to prevent poking into the cheek or lip.
  6. Foreign body Jammed Under gum and/or between teeth:
    Floss and Peroxide - Try to floss out the debris and then flush out with a mixture of half peroxide and half water. Apply Benzodent.
  7. Denture breaks:
    Denture Repair Kit - Comes with a pink powder and a liquid to mix up an acrylic material to repair cracked dentures or to re-attach a denture tooth to the prosthesis.

Important tip: Travel with a copy of your most recent dental x-rays. If your dentist has digital x-rays, they will be on plain photo copy paper; otherwise, a duplicate set on x-ray film will work just fine. This way if you wind up in a grass hut seeing the local witchdoctor/dentist/voo-doo man, they will at least know what kind of dental work you have in your mouth and which teeth are real and which are prosthetic .. such as bridge work, implants and crowns.

Dr. Todd Casey is a general dentist whose practice is geared towards cosmetics and overall family care. He is in practice with his father, Dr. George Casey, and they have been serving the greater Oakton/Vienna area for the last 30 years. If there are any questions you may have about dentistry you may contact their office at 703-938-7773 or visit www.caseyfamilydentistry.com.

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