backwoods dentistry

Mark Williams

Mark Williams

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You take a fall and crack a tooth wide open. Now what are you going to do ?. Anyone have any remedies for survival type dentistry? Would it be a good idea to pack your BOB with some type of temporary filling material? Never posted in this forum, just thought it might bring up some good discussion.
 
clove oil is a pretty effective temporary remedy for a lost filling or exposed tooth nerve. My dentist used it when they did my wisdom teeth...

There are also dental emergency kits available at most outdoors stores that can provide emergency fillings etc....
 
Having recently broken a tooth and having to wait to get it treated, I HIGHLY recommend adding a dental kit. You can get the temp filling and eugenol (clove oil) kits anywhere for a few bucks and they weigh nothing and are small so do yourself a favor ADD IT TO YOUR KIT!

Also you might want to check out these books:

Where there is no doctor.

Where ther is no dentist.

Both by Hesperian Press

They are for W.H.O. and other N.G.O. workers in 3rd world countries. THere are some of the best "do it yourself" medical books out.
 
since i travel outside the country to some pretty remote places, i carry a compact dental kit i bought from sportsmans guide, i have also bought them from campmor. i have not had to use them, but the seem to have enough suplies, temporary filling material, clove oil, and tools to apply the same to get you enough time to get back to civilization.
alex
 
Hercules Club, also known as Indian Toothache tree (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis) is a tree with oil glands that will numb your mouth. And not a little, it really works. And there is always good ole willow bark (Salix caronlinana) for pain. I guess you could only really manage for pain in a long term scenario.

Or, you could just knock it out with an ice skate.

P.S. give me a break on the latin spelling, I was doing it from memory.
 
I've heard of guys using JB weld to patch up teeth...

I personally wouldnt try it, all the chemicals in a two part epoxy!
 
Hotrod said:
I've heard of guys using JB weld to patch up teeth...

I personally wouldnt try it, all the chemicals in a two part epoxy!
Click to expand...

Believe me, if I had to go much longer than I did, I would have gladly used JB weld!

I have a high tolerance for pain, but that crap was baaaaaaaaaad!

p.s. The eugenol in the kits only worked the first time I used it, then it lost it's effectivness. The dentist told me that this is very common.

He had me take an alternate of Tylenol and advil every 2 hours keeping 4 hours between each med., and this worked really well for the 3 days I had to wait.

So I keep both in my kit now.
 
"Where There Is No Dentist" is a terrific resource!

3M makes a product "Cavit" which is a great temp filling. I've used it in the ED and on myself in the field. I'll have to hunt around for a source.

Mark give me a shout if I can help... I'm right across the water from ya!

MP
Addendum: http://www.nols.edu/store/wmi/firstaid_cavit.shtml

(note: the picture of the tube is alot bigger than the actual tube...)
 
dont know how true this is but iv read wild strawberry roots can be used to clean your teeth with.maybe they are quite alkaline? dont know how used use them though, i suppose you would just chew them...

the sas guide suggests using pine or similar trees resin to plug a cavity....
 
It's simple. You use an ice skate and a large rock to knock the tooth out.

Haven't you seen Castaway? :D
 
The best defense against a backwoods toothache/abcess is preventive. But, we all know that. Following through is the hard part.

But, to be prepared for an outdoors accident...it is important to have something along to stick on it, around it, or in it. And, some over-the-counter pain medications should be included, Ibuprofen being the best.

As far as knocking one out...I think the metal Michael, of Burchtree Bladeworks, leaves on the the end of his BUSK model knife handle to hammer with would fit perfect on a tooth. :)
.
 
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