Certain situations qualify as a dental emergency, including knocking out or dislodging a tooth, having a bad toothache or facial swelling and bleeding in the mouth that will not stop. If you have chipped a tooth, lost a filling, or damaged a dental appliance, then you will still need treatment, but it should not require emergency dental care. However, these problems might cause some minor tooth sensitivity or other discomfort, so please talk to your dentist, as they can advise you on how best to cope until you come in for your appointment.
If you have a dental emergency, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. We will arrange an emergency appointment for you with a dentist, which will usually be on the same day, especially if you are in pain. We care about your dental health and will help arrange suitable treatment to relieve any pain as soon as possible. You may need to return to see your dentist at a later date to correct the problem responsible for causing your dental emergency.
First, gently floss around the painful tooth and rinse your mouth with warm water to help dislodge any impacted food that may be pushing your tooth out of position. If the toothache persists, contact us to make an emergency appointment, and in the meantime, use a cold compress to reduce any facial swelling. If you have a fever or a high temperature, or notice swelling of your gums, you may have an abscess and will need to seek urgent treatment. We will arrange emergency dental care for you as soon as possible.
Listed below are a few of the most common dental emergencies and some advice on how to deal with them until you can get in to see a dentist at a 1300SMILES clinic. You will also find dentists can provide more personalised advice based on your symptoms when you book your emergency dental appointment.
If you knock out a tooth, then retrieve it, holding it by the crown (the part normally visible in the mouth). Rinse off any dirt but do not scrub away any loose tissues attached to the tooth root. If you feel able, try to reinsert the tooth, making sure it faces the right way but do not force it back into the socket. Otherwise, store the tooth in a small container with milk or water, and come to see us straight away. Sometimes it is possible to reinsert teeth, but only within the first half an hour to an hour after the accident, so please act as quickly as possible.
Some dental emergencies, such as injuries or trauma, cannot be avoided. However, making sure you use a mouthguard during sports can reduce your risk of a knocked-out tooth. Visiting us regularly for dental examinations will reduce your risk of tooth infection and toothache.
We know dental emergencies can be upsetting, but 1300SMILES is here to care for you. Book online through the button at the top of the page.