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When to call the emergency dentist, and what he or she can do
Dental emergencies can be frightening and painful. When an urgent situation arises, it’s important to see a dentist as soon as possible. Dental Care Group practices offers same-day emergency dentist appointments whenever possible.
Many things constitute a dental emergency, and it is always better to be seen sooner rather than later. Below are some common emergency situations, along with what your dentist may do.
Unbearable toothache
You must never ignore toothache, because pain is our body’s way of telling us something isn’t right. Mild or intermittent toothache can be temporarily managed with over-the-counter painkillers, and should prompt you to book the next available appointment with your dentist.
If painkillers don’t help or the toothache is unbearable, then it’s time to call the emergency dentist. Pain is usually a sign of decay or infection. If tooth decay has caused your problem, the dentist can often remove the decayed area and place a filling at the same appointment.
If your pain is caused by infection, you will probably need a few appointments to fully solve the issue. At the first appointment, the dentist will do everything they can to get you out of pain. You may need to attend future appointments for root canal treatment, which can help to save your tooth.
Knocked-out tooth
If you knock one or more of your teeth out, you must see an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Sometimes, your dentist will be able to re-implant the tooth in the socket; you may be able to do this yourself –be careful to only touch the crown of the root because touching the root can damage it, clean it with saliva, and attempt to put it back in the socket. Don’t ever force it in, though, as this can cause further problems.
If you have been able to put the tooth back, bite down on a clean paper towel for 15-20 minutes, and call the emergency dentist.
Should you be unable to put the tooth back in the socket, cover it in saliva or milk in a clean container and bring it to your dentist.
Never try to put a child’s baby tooth back in as this can damage the adult tooth beneath. Instead, bring your child to the dentist straight away.