Emergency Dentist

As careful as you may be, chipping or cracking a tooth can sometimes happen when you least expect it. A chipped or cracked tooth isn’t only caused by a direct impact to the mouth during an accident. These dental injuries can also happen from something as simple as biting into a delicious meal with too much confidence or having a naughty little chew on a block of ice that’s floating in your cool drink.

Chips and cracks in your teeth can vary in severity, but often only a dentist can determine the extent of the damage. So, either way, if you chip or crack your tooth, you need to make an emergency dental appointment without delay. Here’s what to do in the meantime:

• Rinse out your mouth gently with warm salty water which acts as a natural antiseptic
• If your chip or crack in your tooth has left a jagged or sharp edge or point, you can cover it with dental wax (from a pharmacy) to protect your tongue and cheeks
• Use ice on the outside of your cheek to reduce any swelling or pain you may experience

Children typically experience loose teeth more than adults. However, it’s far more of a concern when you develop a loose tooth as an adult. Why? Because it means your permanent tooth is lacking support, likely having slowly detached over time from your gum and jaw bone. Of course, the major problem to avoid here is tooth loss. So, if you feel like one of your teeth has more wiggle room than it should, contact us right away!

Here’s what to do to help your loose tooth in the interim until you can see one of our emergency dentists:

• Avoid chewing on and around your loose tooth 
• Be careful when brushing your teeth not to completely dislodge it
• Don’t wiggle the tooth or play with it with your tongue
• Avoid any contact activities that may result in a knock to the mouth

There are several ways a tooth may be knocked out. Knocked-out teeth are usually a result of a sporting injury or other accident. However your tooth has come out, it’s essential to receive emergency dental care in as little time as possible to be able to save your tooth.

Ideally, you want to see an emergency dentist within 30 minutes of your tooth being knocked out for the best chances of saving it. Knocking out a tooth can be stressful, but it’s important to try and stay calm. Here’s what to do before you head to the dental practice:

• Find your tooth if you can and pick it up, preferably by its crown (the top part)
• Rinse your tooth very gently with saline or your own saliva to get any dirt or debris off it
• Do not rub the tooth or remove any gum or other tissue from it
• Gently place it back in its socket if you can and hold it in place with a piece of clean gauze. 
• If you’re unable to place it back in its socket you can place it on the inside of your cheek and hold it safely there or place it in a small container of saline or saliva to transport it to the dentist

While a broken dental filling may not seem like a major issue, it can cause serious problems if left unattended to. It can allow bacteria to become trapped beneath the filling and cause infection and further damage. If you notice that one of your fillings has broken or fallen out, an emergency dental appointment is a necessity. 

Treatment for a broken dental filling can often be straightforward, usually involving a new filling. Below are some first-aid tips to see you through until your appointment:

• If your filling has chipped or come out completely, remove it from your mouth to avoid swallowing it
• Rinse your mouth out gently with warm salty water
• Use dental wax to cover the area to protect it from bacteria entering or becoming more damaged/broken
• Avoid chewing on and around your tooth with the broken filling

If you’re suffering from a chronic or prolonged toothache or any kind of sensitivity that is out of the ordinary, it’s a great idea to see an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Toothaches and sensitivity can commonly be your mouth’s way of warning you of bigger issues underneath the surface.

It’s always better to pick up on these potential issues sooner rather than later, so it pays to not delay receiving emergency dental care in a case like this. Here are a few tips to get you through until you can see your emergency dentist:

• Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about an over the counter pain relief medication (note, this should not be one that is topically applied to the gums) 
• Complete ice compressions by holding an ice pack against the outside of your cheek on the affected side
• Rinse your mouth out gently with warm salty water

Dentures are made pretty strong these days, but it’s not impossible for them to break. They may break from age and general wear and tear, or they may break in an accident. Either way, broken dentures require an urgent appointment with your dentist. Whatever you do – do not attempt to fix them yourself.

It’s important to follow the below advice while waiting for your dental appointment:

• Remove your dentures (do not try to wear them broken as this can cause other damage to your mouth)
• Clean them
• Store them in a safe place