How to Handle a Dental Emergency on Vacation

Louisville, KY

Vacation is a time that families and friends look forward to — a time to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The last thing anyone wants to think about is the potential of an emergency while on vacation. But sometimes accidents happen, and our Louisville family dentists know that in the event of a dental emergency — such as a toothache or a knocked out or broken tooth — people can save a lot of time and energy by being prepared and having an action plan. Emergency dental care can mean the difference between saving a tooth and facing a more expensive tooth restoration.

Be sure to look ahead of time at emergency dentists and medical facilities in the area where you’ll be vacationing and in the towns/cities along the way. Add all emergency contact numbers to your phone to plan ahead, and be sure you’re carrying updated dental insurance cards.

What constitutes a dental emergency?

Sometimes dental work can wait. Other times, an accident requires an emergency trip to the dentist. Our dentists in Shepherdsville encourage an immediate trip to an emergency dentist in the following cases, whether you’re at home or on vacation:

• One tooth or multiple teeth become loose or fall out
• A crown comes loose or a filling falls out
• Experiencing trauma or impact injury to gums or mouth
• A tooth is chipped or fractured
• Unexplained swelling in the gums or mouth
• Sudden or excruciating pain in the teeth or mouth

Steps to take in a dental emergency

Before heading to the emergency dentist in the event of a chipped, broken or lost tooth, our Jeffersonville dentists share the following tips to help your visit go a bit smoother and increase the chances of saving your tooth.

Broken/Cracked Tooth — Rinse the mouth and apply a cold compress to help with inflammation on the way to the dentist.

Lost Tooth — In some cases, a dentist can save the original tooth, even if it’s been knocked out and especially if no more than 30 minutes have passed between the event and reaching the dentist. (This is why it’s important to know contact numbers ahead of time.)

Here are steps to take to try to save a tooth that has fallen out:

• Step 1: Locate the tooth.
• Step 2: Rinse the tooth with cold water.
• Step 3: Gently try to put the tooth back in its socket. Don’t force it.
• Step 4: The American Dental Association recommends traveling to the emergency visit with the tooth in a glass of milk or tucked between the gums and cheek.

Dental Emergencies in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Louisville and Shepherdsville, Kentucky

No one wants to think about an emergency, especially while on vacation. Emergencies can be scary anywhere but especially in an unfamiliar place. Plan ahead of time by researching emergency dentists in the area where you will be traveling, carrying your dental insurance card, and packing tooth care products and a first aid kit that includes gauze and over-the-counter pain relief. It’s always a good idea to pay a visit to your dentist before a trip, too. Let us help you prepare your mouth and teeth for vacation. Call Exceptional Dentistry at (888) 918-3336 or reach us online today.