Associated Dentists of K C

If it is an actual emergency, activate the Emergency Medical System, 911

If Patient, nursing home staff,  POA  initiates call , reach Dr Nelson at:  913 498 8899  or 816 305 0961  or 816 942 8942

If you cannot reach Dr. Nelson, and the emergency situation dictates, call EMS or transport patient to nearest medical facility (Hospital, Emergency room, )

All callers need to leave call back number, name of patient, date of birth, allergies, patient location and brief description of problem.

Most dental emergencies are not true emergencies, but do involve pain, swelling or bleeding,  post operative .

Until you reach Dr. Nelson,  Consult standing orders  for patients medical treatment of pain, follow the doctors recommendation. 

For bleeding, apply pressure to the affected area with 2x2, or 4x4 gauze.  If bleeding continues, moisten a teabag (lipton, nestea, etc..NOT herbal) and have patient bite on teabag (tannin) to stop the bleeding.

Here's a quick summary of what to do for some common dental problems.

Toothaches . First, thoroughly rinse mouth with warm water. Use dental floss to remove any lodged food. If your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue.

Chipped or broken teeth. Save any pieces. Rinse the mouth using warm water; rinse any broken pieces. If there's bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken/chipped tooth to keep any swelling down and relieve pain.

     Take an over-the-counter pain reliever (such as Tylenol or Advil) if needed.

Objects caught between teeth. First, try using dental floss to very gently and carefully remove the object. If you can't get the object out, see your dentist. Never use a pin or other sharp object to poke at the stuck object. These instruments can cut your gums or scratch your tooth surface.

Lost filling. As a temporary measure, stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity (sugar-filled gum will cause pain) or use an over-the-counter dental cement.

Lost crown. If the crown falls off, call for an appointment as soon as possible and bring the crown with you. If you can't be seen right away and the tooth is causing pain, use a cotton swab to apply a little clove oil to the sensitive area (clove oil can be purchased at your local drug store or in the spice aisle of your grocery store). If possible, slip the crown back over the tooth. Before doing so, coat the inner surface with an over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive, to help hold the crown in place. Do not use super glue!

Abscess . Abscesses are infections that occur around the root of a tooth or in the space between the teeth and gums. Abscesses are a serious condition that can damage tissue and surrounding teeth, with the infection possibly spreading to other parts of the body if left untreated.

Because of the serious oral health and general health problems that can result from an abscess, we need to see you as soon as possible. In the meantime, to ease the pain and draw the pus toward the surface, try rinsing your mouth with a mild salt water solution (1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water) several times a day.

Soft-tissue injuries. Injuries to the soft tissues, which include the tongue, cheeks, gums and lips, can result in bleeding. To control the bleeding, here's what to do:

Rinse mouth with a mild salt-water solution.

Use a moistened piece of gauze or tea bag to apply pressure to the bleeding site. Hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes.

To both control bleeding and relieve pain, hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes.

If the bleeding doesn't stop, go to a hospital emergency room. Continue to apply pressure on the bleeding site with the gauze until you can be seen and treated.