What have you learned lately?
I learned yesterday:
- slip and slide's aren't that safe (SIGH)
- that one chance wrong move / slip can knock out a tooth
- that said tooth hole can bleed an amazing amount and then stop
- that 15 out of 16 dentists within one hour of us are closed (with the majority closed
for summer holidays)
- that the U of A. hospital has an emergency dental place - open 7 to 10 on fridays
- that the root of a permanent tooth is about 3/4 of an inch long
- that you should put a knocked out tooth in milk until you get to a dentist (and if you aren't home by any milk - smile - carry it in your mouth in your cheek, til you get to one. Didn't do that, but it's an interesting piece of trivia....)
- that knocked out teeth don't happen often, but it does happen (The head dentist of the office we went to, had never seen one in ten years of dentistry)
- that you shouldn't touch the root, only touch the tooth itself
- that a tooth needs to be put back in within two hours for it to work
- that if it happens, putting the tooth back in immediately and holding it there is the best idea (didn't do that, either - wasn't sure about the root / fragments and how much it would hurt Jewel)
- that reattaching a tooth only has about a chance of attaching with no complications. Please join me in praying that it works. (sigh)
I've actually learned too much - Jewel has a wire behind it (to the side teeth) holding it in and also had to get a stitch or two. She can't chew very much and nothing with her incisors... No swimming for a month.
- Oh, and they recommend a tetanus shot after - sigh, we have had fun.
I'm sharing this because I'm quite dismayed at the service by the dentists in our town and in surrounding areas. Only 2 left emergency numbers for *their* patients. I just can't imagine why there wouldn't be more information for a dental emergency. And 15 out of 16 closed?
(With a big number gone for summer holidays - only 2 or 3 open on fridays - most open Mon to Thurs - and only one I found in ______ open til 5:00 on Fridays - thank the Lord!)
You might want to find out how your dentist is available for a dental emergency.... If we had gone to the U of A., there wouldn't have been a chance to reattach it at all. It would have taken too long, although they are there to help.
What have you learned lately?
