How To Deal With Dental Emergency In Travel

Loose braces - braces (also called brackets) are metal or ceramic pieces that are glued to your teeth using a composite resin. It is similar to the tooth-colored material used for some fillings. If you chew something hard or sticky, the resin can weaken or break then bracket can came loose that will poke your gums, tongue or cheek. You can put the orthodontic wax over the bracket to keep it from poking you to provide you some comfort until you see your dentist.

Loose band - Bands are the metal rings that are cemented around back teeth ( and sometimes around front teeth). If a band becomes loose, call for an appointment to have it re-cemented or replace. If the band comes off completely, do not try to put it back on. Save it and you must see a dentist immediately.

Protruding or broken wire - this is a common problem. If a wire breaks or sticks out, it can hurt your cheek, tongue or gum. You can also use the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a better position. If that does not work, put a small piece of orthodontic wax over the end of the wire. Do not cut the wire. A cut wire can be accidentally swallowed or inhaled. Leave it to your dentist. If the wire has cause a sore, rinse your mouth with warm salt water or an antiseptic rinse. This will keep the area clean and reduce discomfort. You can also use an over-the-counter pain reliever to numb temporarily. If the pain doesn't get better or the sore seems to be getting worse, call your dentist.

Loose spacer - Spacers or separators are rubber rings that are put between your teeth. They are left in place usually for a few days. They open a small space between your teeth so that orthodontic bands will slip onto your teeth easily. Sometimes springs or brass wire is used for this purpose. If spacers slip out of position or fall out make an appointment with your dentist to have them replaced. 

Toothache
Rinse your mouth well with warm water and gently floss between the teeth to remove any trapped food. Use cold compress on the outside of the cheek if there is swelling and take a pain reliever. Never place an aspirin directly on the tooth or gum

Fallen Filling or Crown
Fillings are materials used to fill cavities in the teeth. Crowns cover the tops of damaged teeth. Sometimes, fillings or crowns fall out. In some cases, a filling or crown may come loose because there is decay underneath it. The decay changes the shape of the tooth so the crown or filling no longer fits properly.
A lost filling or crown is rarely an emergency. However, it can be painful because the exposed tooth tissue is often sensitive to temperature, pressure or air. If you loose a crown, put it in a safe place and make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as you can. Do not wait too long. The tooth will weak and could be damaged more without the crown to protect it. Also, when a crown is missing for a long time, your teeth may move. if this happens, your crown may no longer fit.

If you have lost a filling or crown and your tooth is sensitive, here's what you can do until you get to your dentist:

• Apply a little clove oil to the sensitive area with a cotton swab. This will give you pain relief. You can buy clove oil in drugstores or in the spice aisles of many supermarkets.
• If you still have the crown, you may be able to slip it back over the tooth but clean the inside of the crown first. Then coat the inside of the crown with dental cement (available in overseas pharmacies) denture adhesive or even petroleum jelly (e.g. Vaseline). These are not permanent solutions, but they will help to hold the crown in place until you can see your dentist. You should not use any household glues, as they are not safe to put in your mouth. They can damage the tooth and crown.
• If you have lost the filling or crown, you can put dental cement directly on the tooth surface. This will help to protect and seal the area until you're able to see your dentist.

Broken Teeth
If you have a broken tooth see your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist can figure out if the break was caused by cavities, and if the tooth's nerve is in danger. Adults with a damaged nerve usually will require root canal treatment. In children, sometimes the damaged nerve can be saved if the dentist is able to treat the problem right away.
General Tips For Emergencies (until you get to the dentist's office)

• Save the pieces. Your dentist may be able to cement the tooth back together.
• Rinse your mouth well with warm water. If you saved the pieces of the tooth, rinse them well.
• Put gauze on any bleeding areas for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops.
• Apply a cold pack to the cheek or lips over the broken tooth. This will help reduce swelling and relieve pain.
• If you cannot get to your dentist right away, cover the part of the tooth that is in your mouth with temporary dental cement or petroleum jelly.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Before You Embark on your Travel Plans
Don't put it off. Make sure any and all of your current dental problems are treated to completion prior to leaving the country. Tell your dentist about your travel plans and ask what problems, if any, need to be addressed before you leave. It's always a good idea to get in a cleaning prior to departure.

Remember to get those cavities filled before you leave.

Finally, when you really need to see a dentist while travelling, what should you look out for?

Are infection control barriers in place?
When you've found a dental office, ask them about their infection control policy and practices. Infection control refers to the prevention of transmission of disease-causing organism.
Infection control practices include the use of:

• Protective barriers, such as gowns, eye shields and eye wear, gloves, masks, and barrier tape.
• Thorough cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of all instruments.
• Use of vaccines and antibiotics to increase an individual's ability to resist disease causing microorganism.

Are the Instruments sterile?
Make sure that any instrument to be used prior to surgery (ie. tooth extraction) has been heat sterilized and wrapped in a sterile container.

Do the staffs change their gloves between patients?
Make sure your dentist and all the assistants involved in treatment don new gloves between each patient. Make sure they're not reusing or washing them between patients. They are meant for single-use only.

Make sure your dentist washes his or her hands before donning their gloves. Experts in the transmission of infectious disease agree that the simple task of hand washing is still the single most important element in preventing the spread of disease.