There are many common dental emergencies caused by dental disease or dental trauma that can be of serious cause for concern. In times of dental trauma it is important to know what action you can take to increase your chances of successful treatment and reduce the pain you may be suffering. It is also important that you know how to get hold of a dentist even in unusual hours or circumstances.
In case of a dental emergency during practice hours, your dentist will be able to fit you in around their other appointments but should your emergency take place on a weekend or during the night you need to know what to do. Most dental practices will have telephone information about how to contact the on-call dentist during the night on their answering service. But it is always a good idea to have this information to hand in case of dental emergencies. In most cases, the sooner you get treatment, the more likely it is to be successful.
Some very common dental emergencies include knocked out or broken teeth. These can be very painful and result in the need for extensive and often expensive dental treatment. If you suffer a knocked out tooth, you can try and replace it immediately. Never force the tooth back into position but it may slot back in naturally. If this is the case you will need to hold the tooth in place with a wet gauze or tissue. A wet teabag will also suffice in most circumstances. Applying a cold compress to the outside of the cheek will help to numb the pain, as it will for other tooth aches and breaks. If the tooth cannot be replaced, cover it in saliva or milk and see the dentist as soon as possible. Even hours could be vital when it comes to replacing a knocked out tooth
For naturally occurring toothache you can try over-the-counter painkillers but it is important to see the dentist as soon as possible even if the pain has gone away. This is because it could be the result of an infection that may require immediate treatment. Your City of Leeds dentist can provide you with more information about what to do in case of an emergency.
Tags: dental emergency, infection, toothache
