Do you know what to do in a dental emergency? Accidents do happen.They can happen anytime, anywhere - at home, school,work, during recreational activities, and on vacation. Preparing for a dental emergency may not seem to be a top priority; however, knowing what to do before an accident occurs can be the difference between saving or losing a tooth.Try to remain calm and do not hesitate in contacting your dentist; 24-hour emergency care should be available to you. In delaying treatment, the result could be the loss of the tooth. Manalapan Laser, Cosmetic,& Family Dentist,Dr. Steven A.Burman, offers this information on what to do in case of the following situations: • Toothache: Be sure that no food is stuck around the tooth with gently flossing.Rinse your mouth vigorously with warm salt water.Do not place anything, especially aspirin, on the tooth or surrounding gums.A cold compress can be applied to help control swelling. For pain, acetaminophen may be helpful. Contact the dentist as soon as possible. • Knocked-out permanent tooth: Time is of the essence to save the tooth. Contact the dentist immediately. After finding the tooth, rinse it gently with cool water or milk, but only if it is dirty. Do not scrub or remove anything attached to the tooth (such as gum tissue). If possible, the tooth should be placed back into its socket. If this is not possible or you are unsure of how to reinsert the tooth, then place it into milk (or cool water if milk not available) and brought to the dental office Do not try to replace a lost baby tooth. • Broken tooth:Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area and use a cool compress on the injured area to minimize swelling. Contact the dentist immediately.Any tooth fragments should be saved and brought with you to the dental office. • Bitten tongue, cheek or lip: Place firm (but gentle) pressure (with a clean cloth or gauze) on the bleeding area. Call the dentist. If swelling occurs, place a cold compress over the area. If you cannot reach the dentist and bleeding is severe (or does not stop within 15 minutes), go to the emergency room. • Objects caught between the teeth: Try to use dental floss to gently remove the object.Be careful not to cut (or irritate) the gum tissue (cheek or lip tissue too).Do not use sharp tools to try and remove the object.Rinse with warm water to soothe and clean the area once the object is removed. If you are not able to remove the object, or if you are in pain, call the dentist.Do not try to remove the object using anything other than floss;paper,pen caps,matchbook covers, and even toothpicks can cause more damage. Instead, carry pocket-size dental floss for foods that may get stuck between the teeth while dining out or at the movies. • Possible broken jaw: Do not move the jaw.Try to keep the jaw stable by using a tie, handkerchief, bandana, or bathrobe tied under the jaw and up (and over) the head. If there is swelling, cold compresses should be applied.Go immediately to the emergency room. • Cold/canker sores: Cold or canker sores can usually be relieved with over-the-counter medications.Because some serious diseases may begin as sores, it is advisable to see a dentist if the sores do not heal within a reasonable amount of time. • Problems with braces and retainers: Contact your orthodontist; he/she knows best how to care for your appliance. However, if a wire is causing irritation, the end can be covered with a piece of gauze or wax until you can get to the office.With a wire that is stuck in the tongue, lip or cheek, do not try to remove it.Also, try to keep the mouth still until you get to the office. If a bracket becomes loose or breaks off (keep it and bring with you to the office), the orthodontist will need to repair your braces.The dentist can help you, in most situations, if your orthodontist is not available. Patients of Dr.Burman know he's always available for emergency situations; he's on-call for his patients, 24 hours via a pager system.He is a family practitioner who knows and understands that emergencies happen and he encourages his patients to contact him whenever they feel he is needed. Visit Dr.Burman'sWeb site at www.stevenburman.com or call the office at (732) 972-9950 to learn more about his practice of family dentistry and advanced dental technology used to make visits more comfortable, safe and efficient.