A dental emergency is undoubtedly stressful and panic-inducing. Staying calm is unlikely for your nervous system at this point, but that unfortunately is what you need to do. A good way to get through the situation is to channel the anxious energy into doing what you need to do to fix the mishap.
What is the right thing to do though? This article delves into everything you need to know about emergency dental care, including what you should and should not do.
Identifying a Dental Emergency
The first step is to identify a dental emergency so that you have a clear picture of what to do. Knowing what is and isn’t an issue that requires immediate attention makes a big difference.
Here are some common signs of a dental emergency requiring quick and effective care.
- Loss of a tooth by injury
- A severe toothache or discomfort
- A chipped, broken, or cracked tooth
- Swelling and pain in the gums
- Excessive bleeding in the gums
- Loss of a filling or a crown
- Broken or damaged braces, dental bridges, or wires
- An odd taste in the mouth similar to metal or blood
- A dental abscess
- A toothache or swelling along with a fever
- Some form of trauma to the mouth
The above signs typically call for emergency care. Even if you are unsure about your situation, it is best to treat it as an emergency to be on the safe side.
What to Do During a Dental Emergency
Once you have realised that you need emergency care, rather than panicking, try to take the next steps to relieve the symptoms or get professional help.
Get an Emergency Dental Appointment
First, try to get through to your registered private dentist Cardiff. Depending on the time of your emergency, the doctor may be in or out of their office.
If available, their staff may ask you a few questions about your situation; answer them as accurately as possible. They may either give you instructions on how to manage the emergency on your own or book you an appointment, in which case they will also tell you what to do until the time of appointment.
In case your registered dentist is not available, your next step is to find an emergency dentist Cardiff. There are a few ways to do that.
- Request the administrative staff at your registered dental clinic to provide contact details of an alternative open emergency dentist in the locality that you can consider
- Look up emergency dentists online and find a practice that offers immediate treatment
- Call NHS at 111 and get effective care instructions to relieve your symptoms or find an emergency dentist. Alternatively, you can also go to their website and follow instructions to get immediate help.
Apply Pressure to Stop Any Bleeding
During an emergency where bleeding is involved, your priority should be to stop the bleeding first, especially if it seems to be unusually intense. For this, use a clean washcloth to apply pressure on the injury site, whether it is a knocked-out tooth or any other type of wound. Ensure to lean forward while doing so and not backward in order to avoid blood flowing down the throat. Applying consistent pressure for a few minutes should help you manage the blood flow.
This dentist in Jenkintown PA also adds that a cold compress or ice pack can be applied to the outside of the mouth or cheek near the injury site. This helps to reduce swelling and manage pain. Even if the bleeding seems to have stopped completely, it is essential to contact an emergency dental professional immediately for a thorough examination and to prevent any further complications.
Take Thoughtful Steps to Manage the Pain
If you have severe pain, you can try to relieve the pain until your appointment. For this, you can apply a cold compress or an ice pack to the outer portion of your cheek or jaw targeting the pain area. This will help reduce the swelling and ease the pain.
Painkillers are another option you can consider, but be sure to take the right medication. If you are unsure, seek help from your emergency dentist in Cardiff over the telephone and request their staff to guide you.
In most cases, Ibuprofen is an effective painkiller as it also helps reduce swelling.
Aspirin on the other hand should NOT be consumed as it is a blood thinner, and it may aggravate the bleeding.
Care for a Knocked-Out Tooth
In case you have a knocked-out tooth, you can rest assured that any qualified private dentist Cardiff will reattach it for you. However, you must take care to bring the tooth in good condition to your doctor’s office.
Here’s what you should do:
- Do not touch or pick the tooth up by its roots, as there may be very delicate periodontal cells that can be easily damaged on touch. Instead, grab it by the crown.
- Place the tooth in a small jar of milk to prevent it from drying out. Do not try to wrap it in tissue or put it in your pocket.
What Your Emergency Dentist Can Do for You
Emergency dentists typically perform a range of treatments to care for the patient depending on the issue and scope of emergency. They will also discuss the treatment options and give you a full disclosure of information including the costs so that you can make the best choice.
Super Smile Dental offers a wide range of care services for all types of emergencies including cracked or broken teeth, knocked-out teeth, dental abscesses, dental cysts, tooth cusp damage, and more. They also offer same-day appointments to help distressed patients promptly.
They are one of the few emergency dentists offering immediate care covering everything from oral pain relief to dental implants Cardiff.
Wrapping Up
As distressful as it may be, a dental emergency requires patience and level headedness above everything else. By identifying the level of emergency you can start taking the necessary steps to resolve the situation as fast as possible. This includes managing the bleeding, the pain, and the broken tooth if any. In addition to taking these steps on your own, you must also contact an emergency dentist in the locality for further treatment. Depending on the complexity of the emergency they will offer professional help with everything from pain relief to dental implants in Cardiff.
For same-day emergency appointments and prompt care for a wide range of dental emergencies, contact Super Smile Dental.
Author Bio: Harry Ambrose
Harry Ambrose is one of the leading practising dentists at Super Smile Dental, Cardiff. He has treated a multitude of patients with diverse oral ailments throughout his career. With a view to promoting oral & dental health among the masses, he utilises blog posts to share his knowledge and provide guidance.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/super-smile-dental-cardiff
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