What To Do In A Dental Emergency

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There are numerous reasons why you may have a dental emergency – a knocked out tooth, abscess, gum infection or lost crown. However, knowing what to do in such situations is vital to relieving the pain and seeking the right treatment that in some cases the difference between losing and saving a tooth.

 

Naturally, some dental emergencies will require more immediate treatment than others, but living with the constant pain and discomfort of a dental issue can be unbearable. Therefore it’s always advisable to book an appointment with an emergency dentist in Dublin as soon as you can.

 

 

Knocked out tooth

A knocked out tooth is a serious dental emergency and requires immediate treatment. The sooner you receive treatment, the better the chances of your tooth being re-implanted back into the tooth socket rather than replaced with a dental implant.

In the case where you have lost a tooth, you should:

–        Call your dentist and explain the dental emergency

–        Pick the tooth up by the crown – avoid touching the roots

–        Gently rinse with water and place in a small container or ideally a glass of milk

–        Apply gauze to the tooth socket to stop the bleeding

Loose, broken or chipped tooth

Another dental emergency may be if you have a loose, broken or fractured tooth in which case you should contact your dentist as soon as possible to have it treated.

With loose or misaligned teeth, you may be able to bite down n the tooth or apply gentle pressure to put it back in place until your dentist can do a proper assessment.

When it comes to broken, fracture or chipped teeth, the immediacy of the treatment will depend on the severity of the damage. For instance, with a small chip that doesn’t hurt you may be able to wait to see your dentist in normal opening hours, but still make sure it’s treated sooner rather than later.

More serious breaks and fractures that are causing pain will constitute as a dental emergency, therefore you will need to arrange an emergency dental appointment straightaway.  In the meantime you should rinse out your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress if there’s any facial swelling or trauma to the mouth.

Abscesses And Facial Swelling

If you’re experiencing facial swelling or pain in your mouth, gums or teeth, it may be that you have an infection or abscess at the root of the tooth or between the teeth and gums, which in extreme cases can be life threatening if left untreated as the infection can spread throughout the body.

With any type of abscess or facial swelling that’s infected, you should always seek dental treatment right away. They will be able to identify the cause and treat the infection itself to reduce the pain and minimise tissue damage.

Lost crowns and fillings

Losing a crown or a filling falling out can be incredibly painful, as it leaves the inner core of the tooth exposed. This situation can be considered a dental emergency – although, depending on the level of pain, you may be able to last a few days before seeing your dentist. Either way, you should always seek treatment quickly to prevent further damage to the tooth and gums. It’s also important if possible to save the crown and take it with you to the dentist. You can also temporarily replace it over the tooth using toothpaste or dental cement while you wait for your appointment.

 

Whatever your dental emergency, the key thing to remember is that getting emergency dental treatment as quickly as you can makes all the difference. Even minor dental problems will require treatment, and getting that sooner will help prevent further damage, pain and more dental treatments!