What is emergency dentistry?

Everyone will tell you ‘accidents happen’ and that goes for dental emergencies too, chips, fractures or lacerations are very common, so it’s comforting to know that there is a twenty-four hour service there to help out when you are in need. Emergency dental technicians specialise in cases that require immediate assistance, day or night, much like the A&E department at the hospital – but specifically for mouth injuries. Whilst it’s always best to let the professionals do the lions share, you can help yourself in an emergency situation by being prepared and knowing a few important steps to take between the accident occurring and arriving at the dentists.

How will I know if my condition is an emergency?

Pain is usually a good indicator of whether or not you should call the emergency dentist, but there are some circumstances where you should still seek a medical opinion, even if there isn’t a significant amount of pain – for example, chips or cracks may appear to be minor and something you can live with, but without treatment they could compromise the tooth and lead to more serious problems down the line. Chipped or broken teeth are a typical case that emergency dental professionals see from day to day, as well as gum injuries, tooth ache arising from gum disease, and knocked-out or extruded teeth. On-going aches and pains are not something that should be ignored either, even if you are used to the discomfort, your teeth are trying to tell you that there is a problem, do yourself a favour and take notice. If you are suffering from unexplained toothache or you have another dental problem causing you concern, give the Pearl Dental Clinic a call anytime of the day or night, they should be able to provide treatment from their emergency surgery within twenty-four hours.

How will they be able to help me?

For patients who have seriously injured or neglected their teeth, it might seem that there’s not much a dentist can do but patch them up and send them on their way, but there are actually lots of ways to treat the various ailments that arrive in any surgery – that might not necessarily mean losing teeth, but will almost certainly ease the pain and worry of dental trauma.

Chipped teeth – as mentioned above, you’re not likely to feel a severe amount of pain if you chip the enamel of your teeth and this kind of injury is usually judged as an aesthetic complaint rather than a medical one, but it’s best to fix the problem as it arises, to stop further deterioration. It’s highly unlikely that your tooth will need to be extracted if you chip it, and your dentist will probably use composite bonding to rebuild the affected area.

Cracked teeth – A crack poses a more serious problem than a chip, because it may expose the delicate inner chamber of the tooth to infection, which in turn requires a root canal or extraction to stop it spreading. If you suffer a cracked tooth, you will be able to feel it but not necessarily see it, your dentist will have to either bond the crack to seal and protect the nerves, or scrape out the canal and fill it with amalgam or another filling material. The level of treatment needed depends on the extent of the damage and how soon you seek assistance after injury. If the fracture is too deep, the tooth may have to be removed altogether to avoid further complications.

Toothache – whether it’s a sudden pain you’ve never experienced before or an old, niggling problem that just won’t go away, there’s generally more to tooth ache than meets the eye, and it’s best to get it checked out before it gets worse. Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures is not something that should last more than a few minutes, any longer than that and you’ve got yourself a serious problem that has to be dealt with. If the pain flares up unexpectedly, call your emergency clinic straight away to make sure they can fit you in, that way the dentist can begin treatment as soon as possible. It’s not always immediately obvious what causes toothache, but common problems include; decay, gum disease, damage to one of the outer layers, infection, or extrusion – twisting in the socket.

Knocked-out tooth – this is something everyone dreads, it’s very painful and can be difficult to deal with, leaving lasting impressions both physically and mentally. Should you be unlucky enough to knock one of your teeth out, there are dental techniques that can help you heal wonderfully and sometimes save the damaged tooth. It’s important that you get to an emergency dentistry clinic within an hour of losing your tooth; otherwise the chances of saving it will fall dramatically. If you can, place it gently back in the socket while you travel to the surgery, but don’t try this if you feel you might swallow it or it’s too painful, carry it in a cup of warm milk to keep it alive until it can be reattached. Your dentist will fit the tooth back into its socket and attempt to cement it in place until it can reattach itself, they may also anchor it to a neighbouring tooth with a splint, until it is solid again. However, this is not always a successful procedure and the root often dies before it can start to grow again, in these cases it can still be functional even if it is essentially dead. A crown may be fitted to protect it, or you might prefer to opt for a dental implant, for a more secure, permanent replica tooth.

Injuries to the soft tissue in the mouth – gums, lips, tongue – can also be treated at a dentist’s surgery. If you incur a painful laceration or puncture wound, carefully clean it and apply a cold compress to reduce any swelling. Try to apply pressure to any areas that are bleeding a lot, but don’t be too heavy handed, you don’t want to cause more damage. Emergency dentistry is directly aimed at these types of problems that can occur at a moment’s notice; they need immediate attention, but perhaps don’t warrant a trip to the nearest hospital.