FREE CONSULTATION 0113 245 4868 Ask us about 0% Finance
Book Online

Posts Tagged ‘Dental emergency Central Leeds’

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Wednesday, October 26th, 2016

2839654_blogUnfortunately, dental emergencies are fairly common, so it’s advisable to learn how to act in an emergency situation.

Examples of dental emergencies

Examples of dental emergencies include broken teeth, avulsed teeth (teeth that have been knocked out), jaw injuries and severe dental pain.

If you are involved in an accident and you lose a tooth or your tooth is badly broken, it is advisable to contact your dentist as quickly as possible. In some cases, if you can get to the practice very quickly, it may be possible to save an avulsed tooth. If you have lost a tooth, try to wipe it clean while holding it by the crown at all times and then place it between your gum and the inside of your cheek or in a glass of milk.

If you have a broken tooth, you may need urgent treatment to repair it and prevent any further damage. When you see your dentist, it is likely that they will order an X-ray to determine the extent of the damage and identify the best course of action.

Dental pain can be very severe and it may come on very suddenly. If you have serious dental pain, contact your dentist. It may be that you have an infection or an abscess that requires treatment. If you have bearable yet persistent toothache, arrange to see your dentist as dental pain usually indicates an underlying issue, such as a cavity.

Emergency appointments

We always try to cater for patients with dental emergencies as quickly as possible. If you need urgent treatment, contact the practice and we will do everything we can to see you and treat the problem swiftly. If you suffer a jaw injury, such as a fractured jaw, you will need medical attention, so visit your local Accident and Emergency department.

What To Do If You Knock Your Tooth Out

Tuesday, September 20th, 2016

2143132_blogEven the most careful among us suffer accidents from time to time. Oral injuries can be incredibly painful, and if left untreated can go on to cause further problems – decay, disease and eventually loss of speech function or the ability to eat normally. It goes without saying that damage to teeth must be treated quickly and effectively.

Evulsed teeth

Serious damage can result in a tooth being completed knocked out. This is called evulsion. The first thing to do is to make a dental appointment as soon as possible, preferably immediately. If you can find the tooth that has been evulsed, gently clean it by rinsing it, but do not remove dirt by scrubbing it. When you are cleaning the tooth, hold it by the crown. Never hold the root of the tooth, as this may damage the delicate cells still attached, which are needed to re-implant the tooth. After the tooth has been cleaned, put it in your mouth between the cheek and gum. If the tooth cannot be stored in the patient’s mouth – for example, as would be the case with a small child, store it in some milk. If you are able to see the dentist within half an hour of the damage being done, it is possible that the tooth could be re-implanted, which is why you should endeavour to see the dentist as quickly as possible.

Extruded teeth

When a tooth has suffered slightly less severe damage and merely been knocked out of place, so it is protruding inward or outwards, try to re-position it to normal position using very gentle pressure. Above all, do not force the tooth into position. Attempt to hold the tooth in position with dampened tissue and again, try to see a dentist as soon as possible, ideally within thirty minutes.

Emergency Procedures That Can Help You

Monday, October 19th, 2015

3520145_blogIn the case of a dental emergency swift, appropriate action is the best way to respond. The American Dental Association recommends that you take the following action if a dental emergency strikes:

  • If a tooth is knocked out, rinse it with water and gently re-embed it. Do not scrub or remove any attached tissue fragments and always hold the tooth by the crown. Time is precious in the case of a knocked out tooth because minute by minute more root cells die. Go straight to the dentist or A & E to save your tooth.
  • If you break or chip a tooth, swill your mouth with warm water and hold a cold compress to the face to reduce swelling before seeing your dentist.
  • Treat a bitten tongue or lip by gently cleaning with a cloth and apply a cold compress to the swelling. If bleeding is heavy or doesn’t stop, see your dentist or go to A and E.
  • If you have a persistent, painful toothache then rinse your mouth with warm water and gently floss around the tooth to remove any food that may be trapped around it. Take a painkiller and see your dentist.
  • For a jaw injury or fracture hold a cold compress to the face and go straight to your dentist or A & E department.
  • If your brace suddenly breaks or wires are sticking into your mouth and gums, cover with gauze and go straight to your dentist.
  • If a dental emergency strikes while you are travelling, check the yellow pages under ‘dentist’.
  • If a crown or filling comes out, use sugar free chewing gum to cement it back in place and go straight to your dentist or A and E department.

Emergency procedures used by dentists

Sometimes your dentist may ask you how you want your dental emergency to be treated unless there is a serious risk of infection.

  • For a knocked out tooth your dentist will re-implant it. Failure to have your tooth professionally reimplanted within the first 30 minutes to 2 hours of the tooth falling out may result in root canal treatment, veneers or dentures.
  • Permanently lost teeth will be replaced by dentists. Failure to have lost teeth replaced may result in damage to your speech and ability to chew. Nowadays dental implants are used which provide stable support for artificial teeth.
  • For a chipped or cracked tooth your dentist will consult you on how you want it to be corrected. Veneers, crowns and fillings are all common procedures and you won’t be able to tell the difference!

How to Prevent Dental Injuries

Monday, June 1st, 2015

2112592_blogWe’re big fans of the motto, ‘prevention is better than cure’ and we encourage all our patients to follow some simple steps to try and reduce the risk of dental injury and protect those pearly whites. Sometimes, accidents and injuries are inevitable but often, taking a few precautions here and there can really make a difference. here are some top tips to avoid dental injuries:

  1. Always wear a seatbelt: it’s illegal not to wear a seatbelt in the UK and you should always have your belt fastened if you are driving or are the passenger in a moving vehicle. Wearing a seatbelt helps to prevent life-threatening injuries, such as head injuries, and it will also help to protect your teeth.
  2. Wear a mouth guard when playing sport: sporting activities are among the leading causes of dental injuries, so make sure you are wearing a protective mouth guard if you are playing a sport. Even if you just like to throw a ball around from time to time, it’s advisable to invest in a gum shield as you never know when an accident may occur. We strongly advise wearing a mouth guard for the following sports:
    • boxing and kickboxing
    • martial arts
    • wrestling
    • rugby league
    • rugby union
    • hockey
    • ice hockey
    • lacrosse
  3. Take care when eating hard foods: take extra care when biting down on hard sweets, chewy toffees and foods such as popcorn, which may contain hard pieces.
  4. See your dentist for regular check-ups: your risk of injury will be heightened if your teeth are damaged or weak and seeing your dentist will help to reduce the risk of these problems. Ideally, we recommend six-monthly check-ups.
  5. Don’t use your teeth for anything they’re not designed for! One of the most common causes of chips and breaks is using the teeth to try and open bottles and other objects. Resist the temptation to use your teeth in this way to avoid injuries and prevent unexpected trips to the dentist.

 

Broken Tooth? We Can Fix Your Dental Problems!

Wednesday, April 15th, 2015

3520145_blogIf you’ve broken a tooth in an accident, have fallen or suffered an unexpected dental injury while trying to chew on a hard food, we are here to help. With our amazing restorative treatments, we can patch up your damaged teeth and give you the confidence to smile again in no time!

What causes a broken tooth?

 

There are lots of possible causes of broken teeth, including:

  • fighting
  • trauma
  • falls
  • biting down on hard foods or objects
  • using the teeth to open bottles etc.
  • sports injuries

If a tooth is broken, there is a risk of further damage and infection and it is best to see your dentist to find out about treatment options. Repairing a tooth will not only reduce the risk of further damage, it will also improve the look of the tooth.

What can we do for a broken tooth?

The treatment we recommend will probably reflect the degree of injury. If the tooth is chipped, composite bonding is an excellent solution. This simple procedure takes just an hour and there’s minimal discomfort involved. If the tooth is more extensively damaged, a crown, onlay or inlay may be recommended. Inlays and onlays are often described as middle ground between fillings and crowns and are beneficial if damage is not severe. If the tooth is damaged significantly, a crown may be fitted to strengthen the tooth. Crowns sit over the top of the tooth and they are custom-designed for a perfect fit.

If you’ve suffered an injury or have been troubled by dental pain and you think you may have a broken tooth, call us today and arrange an appointment. We can provide you with treatment to repair the damage and prevent you from feeling any discomfort.

Why You Needn’t Worry About Your Broken Tooth

Sunday, March 29th, 2015

3534882_blogIf you have a troublesome broken tooth, you don’t need to worry. With our amazing restorative treatments we can patch you up and have you fighting fit again in no time.

Treating a broken tooth

There are many possible causes of a broken tooth, including sports injuries, falls, accidents and biting down on hard foods or other objects. Sometimes it’s obvious that a tooth is damaged, but in other cases the signs may be more subtle and a dental X-ray will be used to confirm a fracture.

If you have a broken tooth, there are various options open to you including a filling for a minor chip, an inlay or onlay for more extensive damage or a crown for a severe fracture. Your dentist will carry out an X-ray to ascertain the degree of damage and then talk to you about your options once they have the results. At this point, your dentist will explain what the different treatments are, how they work and you can ask as many questions as you like. If the tooth is damaged it’s a good idea to repair it quickly to reduce the risk of any further damage going forward.

Preventing dental damage

Sometimes, accidents are inevitable. However, there are often steps that can be taken to minimise the risk of an injury, including:

  • wearing a mouthguard if you play sport
  • maintaining good oral hygiene
  • seeing your dentist for regular check-ups
  • avoiding using the teeth to bite down on hard objects, such as trying to remove bottle tops
  • always wearing a seatbelt
  • taking care on slippery surfaces and wearing suitable footwear

Signs of a broken tooth

Possible symptoms of a broken tooth include sudden dental pain, heightened sensitivity and a feeling of weakness in the tooth, which may become more intensive if you try to use the tooth, for example to chew.

If you need attention for dental damage, we are here to help! Call us today to book your appointment and banish pain for good.

 

How to Deal with a Knocked Out Tooth

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015

3534882_blogDental injuries are fairly common and it is estimated around a quarter of UK children will damage a front tooth. If you have a tooth knocked out playing sport or you fall and lose a tooth, there is a possibility of saving the tooth. Here are some simple steps you can follow:

Dealing with a knocked-out tooth

If you’ve lost a tooth, try to find it and then wipe it clean. Be very gentle, avoid scrubbing and hold the tooth by the crown (the white glossy part) to avoid touching the delicate root. If you can, try to reinsert the tooth into the socket and then call your dentist. If you have somebody with you, it may be easier for them to re-implant the tooth for you.

If you can’t reinsert the tooth, place it in a glass of milk or saline solution or hold it carefully between the inside of you cheek and your gums. This helps to keep the tooth moist.

If you are able to see a dentist very quickly after the incident, it may be possible to save the tooth. Your dentist will place the tooth back in its socket.

Advice for children

The milk teeth are designed to fall out from the age of around 6 years old. If a child loses a tooth before this age in an accident or fall, don’t attempt to re-insert the tooth. Reinserting the tooth may damage the adult tooth growing underneath.

If you need urgent dental attention, our team is ready and waiting to help. Call our friendly receptionists and explain the situation and your symptoms and they will work quickly to get you an appointment as early as possible. We can also offer advice about dental injuries and dealing with tooth pain over the telephone.

Getting clued up for a basic Dental Emergency in the City of Leeds

Sunday, October 13th, 2013

2143132_blogYou never know just when a problem will crop up in your mouth in the city of Leeds; there are some quite nasty ones out there, such as getting and an abscess breaking out, or having a tooth knocked out and in these situations, take route one to the hospital or a dentist as fast as you can. However, there are situations that are classed as minor emergencies and you need to be ready for them should they occur, because they are manageable until you can get along to your dentist for treatment. Losing a fitting of some-sort, getting an ulcer, a toothache, a breaching wisdom tooth or having a chipped tooth will be irritating and can leave your tongue and gums sore, but there are some simple ways to fight these until you can get seen. Consult with your dentist as well on this so that you will always be ready for the worst. Having some painkillers in the bathroom cabinet, some herbal products, medicated mouthwashes and the use of salt water should get you by until your dentist can patch you up again. The thing is that you try and remain calm and don’t panic when something goes wrong.

 

Working through a Dental Emergency in Central Leeds

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

2839658_blogIf something goes wrong with your mouth in central Leeds, you can be forgiven for getting into a bit of a panic and it can be quite a worry as to what to do exactly. The thing is, you would be very wise to do a little bit of homework beforehand so that you understand the nature of a dental emergency and how you could handle it, because with some conditions, knowing what to do could possibly save the day for you. For example, if you have a tooth knocked out, it can be set back in if you are fast enough and get to a dentists or a hospital. Similarly, an abscess can become life threatening so again, you’ll need to seek instant help in order to get antibiotics inside you to neutralise the poisons in your blood. However, there are some things that you need not panic about too much: if a veneer falls out, a crown or filling comes loose, yes- it can be uncomfortable and with a chipped tooth for example, it can cause lacerations to your tongue and gums, but these are minor emergencies that can be combated by painkillers and maybe some clove oil until you can get along to see your dentist. You can always go on-line for advice or better still, talk to your dentist and find out more about the nature of a dental emergency.

Coping with Dental Emergencies in Central Leeds

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

When is an emergency not an emergency? The answer to that is when it blatantly isn’t. But when you come across one for the first time in central Leeds, you can be forgiven for hitting the panic button when you have no idea what is going on. However, as is human nature, once bitten, twice shy and you hopefully will be prepared and ready the next time, should another problem crop up. Dental emergencies are no different but you should have a bit of a chat with your dentist to decipher what is serious and what isn’t, at least so you are not getting them out of bed at3 o’clockin the morning over a cracked veneer. Small emergencies can easily be dealt with at home until you can be seen: chips, a filling falling out, a veneer dropping off, toothache or a wisdom tooth coming through can be easily dealt with if you stock up with some painkillers and some herbal remedies until your dentist is free- it’s down to commonsense and understanding the nature of an emergency- again your dentist can tell you what’s what on this front. But there are some real emergencies that can crop up, such as tooth loss or an abscess. These are rather more serious: tooth loss can quickly breed infection; an abscess can be life threatening- so these need to be dealt with as soon as they can.