Treatment for dental emergency at London dentist
A dental emergency is characterised as a sudden injury to the teeth or gums that could put you at risk of further potentially serious damage if not treated immediately. Further serious damage could include increased pain, lasting damage to tooth structure or the need for costly and time-consuming surgery as a result of not receiving the necessary treatment.
The most common types of dental emergency are toothaches. If experiencing a toothache, you should rinse your mouth out with warm water and floss to remove any lodged food. Using a cold compress against the outside of your mouth can help to alleviate pain. It is always necessary to see a dentist when you have a toothache, even if the pain goes away as this might be the result of a dead nerve.
Emergencies also occur when there is structural damage to the teeth like chipped, cracked or broken teeth. These can be very painful, especially if the nerve is exposed. If the area is bleeding you can use a gauze to stop the flow of blood before arranging to see a dentist as soon as possible. For knocked out teeth, it may be possible to replace it immediately if the tooth slots back in. By then applying gentle pressure with a gauze you can hold it there increasing the chances of it reattaching. If the tooth does not slot back in easily, you can cover it in milk or saliva and take it immediately to the dentist where they may be able to attach it.
Other common dental emergencies include damage to dental repair or orthodontic straightening devices. Lost fillings, crowns or veneers are common and need to be replaced as soon as possible to prevent any further damage. Snapped wires or broken brackets should be fixed as soon s possible so teeth do not begin to slide back out of position.
Whatever the cause of your dental emergency it is always necessary to see a London dentist as soon as possible. Dentists will be on call for emergencies or will provide information on an answering service about what to action you should take.