When many people hear the word emergency used in conjunction with dentistry, they immediately equate the scenario to being one that is uncomfortable.
And there is some truth to that- the majority of emergency dental visits are linked to discomfort in a tooth or the jaw.
But if you find yourself with a dental emergency that isn’t linked to discomfort, what do you do?
Far from an oxymoron, dental emergencies also include issues such as chipped or cracked teeth, lost fillings or crowns, swelling to the jaw, gums or oral area and broken orthodontic braces. And as you can see, these are not all necessarily as uncomfortable as an abscess.
Here at Harley Street Dental, our emergency dentist in Harley Street can handle all manner of emergency care and will aim to resolve any issue you may have. We are proud to be able to offer same-day emergency appointments, allowing you fast relief, shortening the chance of secondary complications. Perfect!
But while you are waiting for our surgery to open to see our emergency dentist in Harley Street, here are some steps you can take to ensure the appointment goes more smoothly. Remember, this is not intended for those suffering from either acute dental pain or abscesses.
Cracked or chipped tooth
OK, so this is unlikely to have happened in the middle of the night!
But, as soon as you are aware that one of your teeth is chipped or cracked, try to save as many pieces as you can and call our emergency dentist in Harley Street.
If there is any bleeding, apply a piece of clean gauze to the area, and apply a cold compress to the outer cheek to keep swelling to a minimum.
Lost filling
An irritant that may cause minor discomfort, a lost filling can occur at any time.
If you have prepared for this moment in advance (well done you!), then you can apply some temporary dental cement to the area, to prevent bacteria from getting access to the tooth’s pulp.
If you don’t have any dental cement, place a piece of sugar-free gum where the filling was and wait for your appointment with our emergency team.
Lost crown
If your crown falls out, place it in a Tupperware container to keep it safe.
If possible, dab some clove oil onto your tooth and use some dental cement to cover it over. You can even use the dental cement to temporarily place the crown back onto the tooth but under no circumstances use super glue to do this!
Swelling
Swelling can be temporarily managed by placing an ice pack on the cheek, neck or jaw where the swelling has occurred.
Take over the counter anti-inflammatory pain relief to reduce the swelling and contact our team promptly.
Brace related issues
If a piece of your brace snaps and is cutting into your inner cheek, take a cotton wool ball and place it over the sharp end. Contact our team and your orthodontist to resolve this issue.