Dealing with any dental problems as soon as you can is the smart thing to do. However, some oral concerns require immediate attention, and these are why we have emergency dental services in place.
While there are a number of problems that may require emergency dental services there is also a multitude of others which in reality don’t constitute a dental emergency.
Asa result, it’s important to understand the difference between a standard dental issue that can wait until the morning and a dental problem that could pose a threat to your health or cause you to lose a tooth if you don’t seek out your local dentist offering emergency dental services. With this in mind…
What is considered as ‘emergency dental services’?
Dental problems that necessitate a visit to an emergency dentist include:
- A tooth that has been knocked loose or right out
- A cracked or fractured tooth
- Profuse bleeding from the mouth
- Any prolonged oral pain that can’t be brought under control using over-the-counter painkillers.
Those are probably the more obvious signs of a dental emergency but there are also other problems which also need urgent care and attention. They include:
- Swelling around the face which could indicate an abscess
- Signs of an infection
- Severe toothache
What to do after contacting the emergency dental services
Once you have spoken to a dentist, there are a few things you can do to provide temporary relief from any pain and to save your teeth while you are waiting to receive dental care.
Knocked-out tooth
Teeth can often be placed back into the mouth and saved provided you can get to see an emergency dentist within half an hour of the accident occurring. If you’re involved in an accident that results in your tooth being knocked out, here’s what you should do.
- Try to locate the tooth and if you find it, pick it up by the crown and not the root
- Call your dentist to explain that you have had a tooth knocked out and book an emergency appointment
- Rinse the tooth but do not scrub it
- Store the tooth in a small beaker containing milk to prevent it from coming into contact with bacteria. Alternatively, if you can, try and place it gently back into the tooth socket or store it in the side of your cheek
What to do if you have a loose or misaligned tooth
Sometimes if you receive a blow to the mouth, a tooth may be knocked slightly out of position but not knocked right out. In these instances, a dentist offering emergency dental services can often reset the tooth in its right position. In the meantime…
- Gently move the tooth back yourself to where it should be but be careful not to use force
- Bite down on it gently to prevent it from moving while you make your way to the dentist
Cracked or fractured tooth
A fractured or cracked tooth is a serious matter since it suggests that damage has occurred to the inside and the outside of the tooth. While waiting for your emergency appointment you should:
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clean it
- If the fracture has been caused by facial trauma, applying a cold compress to the swelling will help to reduce it
- Take an over-the-counter painkiller such as Ibuprofen to relieve you of pain
The dentist will need to take an x-ray to see the extent of the damage. If the inside of the tooth (the pulp) is damaged, you may need a root canal. If not, a crown may be sufficient to strengthen the tooth.
Facial pain and tissue injury
Any type of injury within your mouth such as a laceration, a tear to the lips, or puncture wounds are considered tissue injuries and necessitate emergency dental services. However, while you’re waiting to visit a dentist you should;
- Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it
- If any bleeding is coming from the tongue, pull it forward and use a piece of gauze to place pressure on it to try and stem the bleeding
- Take an over-the-counter painkiller to ease the pain
Whatever your dental emergency, try and stay calm and book an appointment as soon as you can.
So we’ve discussed what necessitates a visit to the dentist for emergency dental services and what to do while waiting, but how can you avoid a dental emergency in the first place?
How to avoid the need for emergency dental services
The majority of dental emergencies can be avoided by attending six-monthly check-ups with your dentist. He or she can monitor your oral health and detect and treat any issues in their early stages.
Wearing a mouthguard when playing sports will also help prevent teeth from being knocked out or broken.
If you travel a lot or are planning an extended vacation, it’s always a good idea to have a check-up a month or so before you go. This way any dental treatment you need can be fitted in before you leave, helping to give you peace of mind.
Most travel insurance cover adults and children needing an emergency dental service so remember to read the small print before you leave.
If you have a dental emergency then why not give No Gaps Dental a call. We provide out of hours emergency dental services for all ages and have 15 Sydney locations for you to choose from. Give us a call on (02) 8806 0219 for assistance.