Dental emergencies such as a chipped or lost tooth can be a frightening and stressful experience. Here at Blyton Dental we understand the need to deal with these types of situations as soon as possible and aim to see all urgent care patients the same day. Here are some tips to help you prepare for an unexpected dental emergency and what to do while you are waiting for your appointment.
Get prepared
No one expects to fall and knock out a tooth, but sometimes accidents happen. Keeping an emergency dental kit at home can help you temporarily deal with the problem until you get professional treatment. Your kit should include:
· Latex/nitrile gloves
· Paracetamol/Ibuprofen (for sudden severe pain or swelling)
· Antiseptic mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide
· Cotton wool balls/gauze
· Clove oil (a natural remedy for toothache)
· A small container (to keep loose teeth in)
· Sugar-free gum or dental cement (to temporarily fix a loose filling)
Remember that prevention is much better than cure – you can reduce your likelihood of developing severe toothache and other oral health issues by attending regular checkups with your dentist and making an appointment as soon as your symptoms appear. Dental pain can begin intermittently and return later to a much more severe degree if you ignore it.
Lost adult tooth
If your tooth comes out, call your dentist immediately to make an emergency appointment. Pick the tooth up from the crown, not the root, and rinse it with saliva or milk. If possible, try to push your tooth back into the empty socket (the saliva will improve your chances of successfully re-implanting your tooth). If this is not possible, store the tooth in milk and go to the dentist as soon as possible.
Chipped tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to help prevent infection. Use clean gauze to apply pressure to your tooth if there is any bleeding and use an ice pack to reduce swelling. If the chip has left jagged edges in your mouth that may damage your tongue or the inside of your cheek, put sugar-free gum over the sharp corners to protect your mouth. Make a dental appointment as soon as possible – if the chip is large enough to expose the pulp you may be at risk of infection.
Lost filling or crown
If you can feel a loose filling or crown in your mouth, take it out so you don’t accidentally swallow it. Keep the area clean by rinsing with warm salt water and try to avoid foods that might cause pain or further decay. If you have dental cement you can temporarily seal the tooth while you are waiting for your appointment.
Severe toothache
If you have sudden, severe toothache, make a dental appointment immediately. You can temporarily alleviate the pain by dabbing clove oil on the affected area and taking ibuprofen up to four times a day.
For urgent dental treatment, please call the practice on 01427 62899. If you are calling outside of surgery hours a recorded message will advise you of the number of the dentist on call or your call will automatically be diverted.