It’s something many of us will go through during life, but which few of us really want to think about. We’re talking, of course, about dental emergencies. Unpleasant, frightening, usually pretty painful, it’s no surprise that few people other than dentists want to dwell on the topic of emergency dental treatment. However, it’s important that you know what to do if and when an urgent situation does occur – whether for yourself, your child, a friend or loved one.
At Garden View Dental Care in Beaconsfield, spots are reserved for patients needing an emergency dentist every day. Whatever your emergency, the advice is the same:
- Don’t panic – try to calm your child or loved one if they are distressed
- Use paper towels or a tissue if you are bleeding
- Call the emergency dentist immediately for help
Numerous situations require the attention of an emergency dentist. From knocked-out teeth to unbearable toothache, anything that causes a lot of pain, damage, or alarm must be dealt with urgently. Below are some common emergencies, along with what a dentist may do:
Unbearable toothache
All toothache requires a dentist’s attention. It won’t get better on its own, and is usually a sign of either decay or infection. When tooth ache is unbearable, that may mean the infection has become serious, meaning you will probably need root canal treatment in an attempt to save the tooth.
Root canal treatment requires two or more appointments as the infection must be entirely cured before the tooth can be permanently filled. At your emergency appointment, your dentist will focus on getting you out of pain.
Knocked-out tooth
Your dentist may be able to reinsert the tooth into the socket and temporarily strap it to surrounding teeth in the hope it will heal back in place. You can attempt to do this yourself, but don’t force it, and only touch the crown of the tooth. Bite on a clean hankie if you are successful; if you can’t do it, put the tooth in a container with milk or your own saliva.
Broken teeth
Teeth break for all manner of reasons. Your dentist can repair broken teeth with white fillings, composite bonding, inlays, onlays, or crowns.
