98 Where There Is No Dentist 2012
b) If you can not use anesthetic, tell the patient that it will hurt
somewhat. Gently push the tooth up into the socket. As you push it
up, use a slight turning movement
back and forth.
The biting edge of the loose
tooth should be at the same
level as the teeth beside it.
Hold it in place with your
fingers for about 5 minutes.
c) Soften some beeswax and
form it into 2 thin rolls. Place 1
roll near the gums on the front
side of 5 teeth: the loose tooth
and the 2 teeth on each side
of it. Press the wax firmly, but
carefully, against these teeth.
Do the same with the second
roll of wax on the back side of
the same teeth, again near the
gums.
It is good if the wax on the
back side is touching the wax
on the front side. This helps
the wax hold the teeth more
firmly. To do this, you can
push the wax between the
teeth with the end of your
cotton tweezers.
Keep the wax in its position
for at least 3 weeks.
Tell the person with the injured tooth to return to see you several
times. The tooth may die several months or even several years later (see
page 47). If that happens, you must take out the tooth, unless you can do
root canal treatment.
If it is possible, take an X-ray of the tooth 6 months later and then again each
year. Look at the X-ray picture of the root to be sure an infection is not eating
it away. To do this, compare the root with the roots of the teeth beside it.