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Posts Tagged ‘Dental appointment’

What counts as a dental emergency and when should I call my dentist?

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021

Dental emergencies can happen at any time, in any place. If you find yourself needing urgent help, don’t hesitate to reach out. At the moment, when practices are running reduced services and patients are worried about the Covid-19 crisis, people may be more reluctant to seek help. The message from dentists is that emergency help is available. 

What counts as a dental emergency?

There are many different types of dental ailments and some require swifter or more intensive action than others. Minor problems, such as toothache, a small chip in the tooth and tooth sensitivity, need treating, but there’s no need to seek emergency assistance. Call your local dental practice and arrange an appointment to see your dentist at a time that is convenient to you. Severe issues, such as broken teeth, intense pain, which is affecting day to day life or getting worse, severe swelling and excessive bleeding caused by facial injuries, require urgent treatment. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your dentist as soon as possible. It’s also crucial to seek advice from your dentist or your GP if you are worried about symptoms associated with oral cancer, such as abnormal lumps or swelling and mouth sores and ulcers that take a long time (more than 2 weeks) to heal. 

If you’ve been injured or involved in a traumatic accident, which is causing facial swelling that is impacting your vision or your ability to breathe, you are bleeding heavily after an incident, or you experience loss of consciousness or vomiting, call 999. 

What happens when you see an emergency dentist?

Dental professionals understand that accidents happen, and practices have emergency appointments available to ensure that teams can treat patients promptly. If you need urgent help, all you have to do is contact your dental practice and provide some information about your symptoms. If you need assistance during practice hours, you will be given an appointment at the earliest possible opportunity. If you need help outside of standard working hours, you can call NHS 111 or contact your practice and listen to instructions on the answering service. Some practices offer out of hours care. In extreme circumstances, for example, when an individual sustains severe facial injuries, it may be necessary to visit Accident and Emergency. 

When you go for your emergency dental appointment, your dentist will ask you some questions about your symptoms and then examine your mouth to determine the underlying cause and possible treatment options. You may need an X-ray. The priority is to prevent the situation from getting worse and to alleviate pain. Your dentist may prescribe painkillers or antibiotics, depending on the diagnosis. After your appointment, it may be necessary to book another treatment session. If you broke a tooth, for example, you may have a temporary crown fitted and your dentist will advise you to visit again to place a permanent crown on the tooth. 

Summary

Dental emergencies can affect anyone, and they often happen when you least expect them. Times are strange at the moment, but dentists are keen to ensure that patients understand that they can access emergency care. If you have pain that is getting worse, you’ve been in an accident, or your mouth is swollen and the inflammation isn’t easing with medication, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist. 

A Knocked out Tooth can Ruin Smiles in all of Leeds

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

How do people lose teeth?

Many people lose teeth prematurely, which can occur as a result of a sports injury, accident or trauma, fighting or as a result of a severe fracture that may be caused by biting something very hard.

What should you do if your tooth is knocked out?

If you lose a tooth it may be possible to salvage it if you can see a dentist quickly. Keep hold of the tooth and store it in milk and arrange to see your Leeds dentist as soon as possible. Do not try to scrub the tooth, as you may damage the enamel and hold the tooth by the crown to prevent damage to the tooth roots.

What happens when I see my dentist?

If it is possible your dentist will try to save the tooth and try to implant it back in the tooth socket. You could try and do this yourself, but many people feel uncomfortable trying to re-insert their own tooth.

What happens if the tooth cannot be saved?

If the tooth cannot be saved, there are options for filling the gap. Dental implants are widely regarded as the most effective long-term tooth replacement. Implants are titanium screws, which are fixed into pre-drilled sockets in the jawbone. Once the implant has settled, a new crown or denture can be attached and the tooth will look like a natural tooth and function in exactly the same way. Another option is a dental bridge and for people who have lost a number of teeth, dentures may be an option.

The Importance of Dental Check-Ups in Central Leeds

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Dental check-ups are essential, there is no question about that. So why do so many people still place visiting the dentist at the bottom of their list of priorities? Perhaps it is the hassle of making time to fit in an appointment, or perhaps the childhood fear of visiting the dentist really has followed us into adulthood. Either way, there should be no excuses; dental check-ups are imperative for maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing the onset of gum disease and tooth decay.

In this day and age, adults are consuming the same, if not more, sugar-laden food than children and are at just the same risk of developing cavities and requiring, sometimes painful, fillings. There are plenty of dental clinics in Central Leeds and an appointment should be made for every six months in order to keep on top of any problems that may be lurking underneath the surface of your teeth.

It may be that when looking at your teeth in the bathroom mirror you see a perfect set of pearly whites. However, neither the bacteria that causes gum disease or the bacteria that causes tooth decay can be seen by the naked eye, only your dentist will be able to inform you of any problems you have and only your dentist will know the correct treatment to offer you.

So whatever your excuses for not visiting the dentist are, forget them. Your oral hygiene is more important than you realise, it can actually affect your overall well-being and if that isn’t worth taking ten minutes out of your day for, I don’t know what is.