An emergency dental can constitute a multitude of scenarios. For example, when your teeth or any part of your oral cavity is undergoing severe pain from a deep hole, infection, swelling in the surrounding gum and bone, or even an incident where one or more of the teeth have been knocked and become loose or have fallen out completely.
It is important to quickly seek dental emergency treatment to increase the chances of saving the tooth or preventing infection from spreading into surrounding tissues. It can happen to you or your family member at any time.
Yes, it is frightening, but we are here to help; give us a call, and we will try to fit you in on the day. If our clinic is closed (after hours or on the weekends), it is advisable to head directly to the Emergency Department of your local hospital.
Following are some situations where you may need an emergency dentist appointment and the necessary steps you need to take to minimise the damage and manage pain until you can get in to see one of our dentist Sydney.
A severe toothache that won’t go away
It is usually due to a deep cavity in one of the teeth, an infection surrounding an infected tooth, or a partially erupted wisdom tooth. Swishing with some warm salt water solution in your mouth and taking appropriate pain-relieving medications like Paracetamol or Ibuprofen (in some cases) may help to reduce the severity of the pain.
Knocked-out tooth
Time is critical; you have to see a “dentist near me” or a root canal specialist (Endodontist) within 30 minutes to 1 hour in order to save your tooth.
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pick up the tooth by the crown, not the root, to avoid damaging the root
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rinse the tooth gently with water if it is dirty, DO NOT scrub or rub the tooth to avoid damage to the root
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If possible, put the tooth back to the socket. Otherwise, you can store the tooth in cold milk and keep it moist at all times.
Fracture or a cracked tooth
Depending on the severity, extent, and location of the fracture, this condition can cause severe pain, especially if the tooth’s nerve is involved. Taking pain-relieving medication may ease the pain whilst waiting to see your emergency dentist Sydney.
Soft tissue injuries
The soft tissues in your mouth include lips, cheeks, gum, and tongue, and they are generally very sensitive and very well perfused with blood vessels. Injury to them can be very painful and traumatic. It’s important to apply first aid measures to stop bleeding as soon as possible prior to seeing your emergency dentist near me.
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rinse your mouth with warm saltwater
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apply pressure on the bleeding area
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apply an ice pack to control swelling and reduce blood flow.
Abscess or infection
A dental abscess is a pocket of pus caused by bacteria from an infected tooth. Symptoms include intense throbbing pain that may spread to your jaw, ear, neck, swelling, bad breath, and fever.
In most cases, this needs to be treated with a root canal treatment followed by antibiotics. In severe cases, the tooth may need to be pulled out.
Whilst you wait to see your emergency dentist in Sydney, pain-relieving medication may help to ease the pain. In addition, try and eat room temperature soft foods on the other side, and rinsing with warm salt water may help.
How to avoid a Dental Emergency?
Prevention is always better than cure, and this is most true in the case of dental emergencies. Here are some tips to prevent you and your family from dealing with dental emergencies:
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Maintain a healthy and balanced diet. It is good for your general health and provides the nutrients that your bones, teeth, and gums need to renew tissues and fight infection and disease.
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Brush at least twice a day, floss regularly
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Avoid sugary food and soft drink
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Attend your routine check-up and teeth cleaning with your dentist to prevent and find out problems at an early stage
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Wearing a mouthguard whilst playing sports can reduce the severity of the injury, prevent chipped, broken, and knocked-out teeth.
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Try to stop grinding your teeth, or wear a nightguard to prevent sleep grinding.
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Do not use your teeth as a tool to open objects
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Do not bite on hard objects
