Advice for Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can strike at any time and differ greatly in their levels of extremity, so here is some advice on how to deal with the common problems that dentists come across.

Partially dislodged tooth

If you have a partially dislodged, or extruding tooth, then you should contact one of the dentists immediately. While on the way to the dentist, you can use a cold compress to reduce some of the pain, while also pressuring the gums around the tooth to reduce any bleeding.

Fully dislodged tooth

If you are unfortunate enough to have fully dislodged a tooth, then you should try to locate this as soon as possible. The greatest chance of being able to save the tooth is to have it re-inserted by a dentist within an hour, or two of it falling out.

Once you have found the tooth it is recommended to rinse in salt water, before placing back in position if you are able. You should then try to get to your dentist’s surgery as soon as possible, giving you the highest chance of having it successfully reinserted.

Fully dislodged teeth from young children should not attempt to be re-inserted, as there is a possibility that this may cause problems for developing teeth below.

Broken, or chipped tooth

While a broken or chipped tooth can be a painful experience, it generally isn’t as serious as other implications you may experience. You should visit one of the dentists in your area as soon as convenient, while using gauze to stop bleeding and a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling.

Lost filling or crown

A lost filling can be an unpleasant and painful experience, potentially making your tooth extremely sensitive. An orthodontic wax, or other types of dental cement can be bought from pharmacies, or supermarkets and used to temporarily fill the hole, though you should be visiting dentists promptly to avoid further issues.

Another problem that can occur is that you lose a crown. While the natural reaction may be to re-insert this yourself, this should not be attempted as there will not be any cement allowing it to stick. The crown is therefore likely to slip off, giving you a risk of swallowing the crown, which can be very dangerous. Try to locate the crown and take it with you to one of the dentists, leaving it up to them to re-insert, or replace.