Dr. Lanzillotti will be on call 24 hours a day and seven days a week for our patients. If you are suffering from a true dental emergency, please do not hesitate to call us. If we are away, we will arrange coverage with a trusted colleague who can be accessed by calling our main office number. Please inform the covering doctor that you are a patient of ours and describe the problem.
Self Help Solutions
Denture sores
Denture sores can be a minor inconvenience and they can also be extremely painful. In most cases the patient needs a simple adjustment that will relieve pressure on the affected area. In a pinch you can temporarily help to relieve the problem with the application of a product called Benzodent. This ointment comes in a small tube and can be purchased at the pharmacy.
Broken denture
Should you suffer a mishap and find that your denture has broken or a tooth has fallen off you generally need immediate attention. Should you be away and find it impossible to make arrangements for an appointment you may be able to repair your problem with a little “super-glue”. You should practice putting the pieces back together to make sure you can do it properly when you actually have the glue on the broken edges. Clean the pieces as best you can and dry them off well. Put a little super-glue on each piece and hold them together until they harden. Don’t use too much glue as it will impede the proper fit and make a mess.
Knocked out tooth
This is an especially unsettling problem because it is most generally always a front tooth. Your immediate action will increase the chance of being able to save the tooth. When the tooth is knocked completely out you should locate it and place it in a cup of milk or water if milk is unavailable. Pick it up by the crown of the tooth and do not attempt to clean it off. The crown of the tooth is the part that you see when you look in someone’s mouth. Contact us immediately and explain to the answering party (or service) what has happened. The sooner the tooth is re-implanted the better the chance the tooth can be saved. The prognosis goes down dramatically after one hour.
Broken tooth
A broken tooth may seem like cause for alarm. If it is a front tooth it obviously becomes a cosmetic concern. Broken back teeth can be very sharp and cause ulcerations to the tongue and cheek that can be painful. One may also note temperature sensitivity as well. In some cases the tooth can break in such a manner that the nerve is exposed. This can be a bit more of a problem. In many cases you may be able to purchase some orthodontic wax and place it in the fractured area. This will protect your tongue until you can see your dentist. Should you break a front tooth you really need to see the dentist as soon as is possible and practical.
Bleeding after an extraction
Minor bleeding after an extraction is not uncommon. Some oozing can occur up to 24 hours after the procedure. When you have an extraction, you should have been given some gauze to take home with you. If you fold a piece or two into quarters and bite on it with gentle pressure for 15 minutes the site will generally clot. Also, a warm tea bag can be a good compress and can stop the bleeding. Excessive bleeding is reason to call the dentist who performed the extraction.
Toothache
A toothache can come in many different forms. It may range from a minor dull ache to an excruciating pain. Please feel free to call us should you have a problem. In a pinch you may take a combination of Tylenol and Ibuprofen according to the directions on the bottles. Please make certain that you are not allergic to either medication or should you develop any reaction to these, stop taking them at once. Do not take antibiotics that were not prescribed for the specific problem. Antibiotics are specific for differing types of problems. Allergies are common and you may waste time taking an antibiotic that will not really help the problem.
