FIRST AID IN DENTISTRY

ARNICA

Very useful for shock of dental treatment. Helps recover from the anaesthetic. Very good for pain, swelling and bruising. (See First Aid)

CALENDULA TINCTURE

Can be used as an antiseptic mouthwash in diluted tincture form (about 1 in 20 dilution of the tincture). Mix with Hypericum tincture and use as mouthwash if there is a lot of nerve pain.

HYPERICUM

Good for treatment of nerve pain and injury to nerves. Can be used instead of a local anaesthetic (use 200c), give before and after treatment. If having a local anaesthetic, take Hypericum AFTER dental work, not before, as anaesthetic may not take. Good when nerve pain shooting along jaw. Can be used in tincture (as Calendula).

PHOSPHORUS

Consider for post extraction bleeding which will not clot, and blood is bright red. Bleeding can be profuse. Also consider for feeling drowsy, mentally dull or ‘spaced out’ if dental work has been done under general anaesthetic (or any operation).

ANXIETY OR FEAR OF DENTIST

(see First Aid – Anticipatory anxiety)

ARG NIT.

Probably the best remedy to try if patient is afraid of dentist. Anticipatory anxiety. May crave sweets, probably will have loose bowel motions from the anxiety, also wind and flatus from anxiety. Patient may feel hot and be talkative in their anxiety.

GELSEMIUM

Another remedy to consider in anticipatory anxiety. Patient tends to be more tremulous, quiet, and droopy than Arg nit. May also have diarrhoea. Feels better for stimulants e.g. tea, coffee.

DENTITION (Teething)

ACONITE

As usual the first remedy to think of if the infant is starting to sicken. In teething, typical symptoms are hot dry skin, red face or one cheek red and hot, the other cold and pale. Infant is fretful, excitable, restless, twitches, tosses in bed, is sleepless and may seem frightened. Convulsions in teething children.  Dark watery stools during teething. There can be fever and runny nose during teething.

BELLADONNA

This can also be a useful remedy during teething episodes when there is a fever. There are the usual symptoms, sudden onset, bright red, hot face, dry skin, dilated pupils, glazed look. Child starts on falling asleep, twitches. Radiates heat but hands may be cold. Child wants to bite people, and is very sensitive to noise, light, jarring.

CALC CARB.

The remedy to consider in delayed or slow teething. It is particularly suited in chubby fair, sweaty, sour smelling babies. Lax muscles, weak bones, can’t learn to walk, slow to teeth and walk. Cough or diarrhoea with teething. A cold occurs with every tooth cut. Convulsions during teething. Often an intolerance to dairy and mother’s milk.

CHAMOMILLA

Probably the most useful teething remedy. The child is very oversensitive to pain, which infuriates him. He is very angry, irritable, anxious, and tosses about in a real turmoil, wants one thing, pushes it away; then wants something else; nothing satisfies him. May throw things in a temper. Can only be calmed by being carried around. He cannot bear the pain. Sweats with the pain. Also likely to have one cheek hot and red and one cold and pale- like Aconite. Teething is very painful, gums are inflamed, child cannot keep fingers out of mouth. Diarrhoea during teething, green stools that can smell like rotten eggs.

COFFEA

Not such a common teething remedy, but can be invaluable when child is not sleepy, exhibits remarkable wakefulness, and is constantly on the move. Child seems quite happy and is not distressed. Teething pains are better from holding cold water in mouth.

IGNATIA

This may be helpful if child is extremely distressed by pain, and is crying, sobbing, and sighing, rather than angry (Cham). May tremble and jerk may wake from sleep with piercing cries during teething episodes.

PODOPHYLLUM

Useful to consider when there is copious diarrhoea during teething episodes. There is far more diarrhoea than you think possible compared to food intake. Profuse gushing offensive stools with teething. Offensive breath when teething.