WHAT TO DO IN A DENTAL EMERGENCY
Dental emergencies can happen any time. If any of your teeth get chipped, cracked or knocked out altogether, knowing what to do will help you to stay calm and avoid making a problem worse.
Read these tips for common dental accidents and make sure you have the number of an emergency dentist in your area if you need urgent advice over the phone or to book a same day appointment.
If your tooth is knocked out
Losing a tooth can be scary, but staying calm and knowing how to handle the situation will improve the chance of a full recovery. There’s even a possibility your tooth could be saved if you can see a dentist within the hour.
If your tooth is knocked out and still intact, carefully pick it up by the crown (the top of the tooth), avoiding touching the roots. Place it back into its socket if it still fits, or put it in a container of milk, saliva or sterile saline solution and take it to the nearest emergency dental clinic as soon as possible.
It’s not always possible to save a tooth, and children’s baby teeth should not be reattached as this could damage the permanent tooth growing beneath. Your dentist will make sure there’s no risk of infection and discuss options for replacing the missing tooth, such as a dental bridge or partial denture.
If your tooth is damaged
The most common reasons for dental injuries are falling over, sports accidents and biting something hard. If your tooth gets chipped or cracked, you should see a dentist as soon as possible to prevent infection and avoid damaging other parts of your mouth.
Depending on how severe the damage is, your dentist may recommend placing a white filling or dental crown to restore your tooth’s original shape, strength and function.
If you have a sudden toothache
Tooth pain can have a number of causes, but if you experience a toothache suddenly and the pain is severe, it’s important to manage your symptoms first before trying to identify the cause.
Rinse your mouth with warm water to remove any leftover food particles, take pain relief medication if needed and place a cold compress or ice pack on the outside of your cheek if there’s any swelling. Make an appointment with your dentist so they can check for signs of an infection.
If you have a tooth pulp infection or a dental abscess, your dentist may recommend a course of antibiotics or root canal therapy to save the tooth.
How to prevent dental emergencies
It’s not possible to avoid dental accidents entirely, but you can lower your risk of injuries by making sure children wear a custom-fitted mouthguard during sports and other outdoor activities, including rugby football, hockey and skateboarding.
Maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth and following a healthy diet can help to strengthen teeth and make them more resistant to injuries and infection.
Contact an emergency dentist in Erskineville
If you need to talk a dentist now, call our team at Sydney Park Dental on (02) 8084 7170.
We’ll advise you about how to manage pain and other symptoms you’re dealing with and can arrange a same-day appointment at our dental clinic in Erskineville if you need to see a dentist right away. We’re open 7 days a week for emergency patients.
References
Queensland Government. Emergency dental [Online] 2015 [Accessed March 2019] Available from: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/services/oral-eye-ear/emergency-dental
Healthdirect. Dental injury [Online] 2017 [Accessed March 2019] Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-injury