Dental emergencies can be frightening and often uncomfortable. Knowing what to do when a dental emergency arises can help to minimize the damage and get you feeling better as soon as possible. In this article, some of the most common dental emergencies and how to best deal with them will be explored, so you will know what to do should you be faced with an emergency dental situation.
Dental abscesses
When it comes to dental emergencies, one of the most common and potentially dangerous is an abscess. An abscess is a localized infection that occurs in the tissues surrounding the teeth. It can be extremely painful and may cause swelling and drainage from the area. Left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems.
If you do experience a dental emergency, such as an abscess, don't hesitate to call your emergency dentist Dublin. They will be able to provide treatment and help you get relief from the pain.
There are a few things you can do to help prevent an abscess from developing, such as brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing at least once a day and seeing your dental team for a check-up and cleaning every 6 months.
Lost filling
Losing a filling is never a fun experience. It can be quite painful and it's not something that you want to have to go through more than once. If you're unlucky enough to lose a filling, there are some things that you can do to make the experience a little bit easier.
Take over-the-counter pain relief and be sure to contact an emergency dental team to have another filling fitted as soon as possible. Not doing so can result in the tooth becoming infected. Try to keep the tooth clean before visiting your dental team by rinsing it gently with salt water. If it is still uncomfortable to brush the tooth, refrain from doing so.
Loose tooth
There are fewer things more concerning than noticing that one of your teeth is wobbly or loose and if this has occurred following a blunt force trauma to the face, then it is well worth contacting your emergency dental team to try and have the tooth refitted with either a crown or a splint. However, if your tooth or teeth are wobbling due to untreated gum disease, then your dental team will have to make the final call on whether or not it is worth replacing the tooth until the gum disease is under control.
Ulcers
Ulcers in the mouth are common, especially when you are under stress or have been ill. But if you notice that you have a recurrent ulcer in the same part of the mouth more than three times, or if the ulcer is yellow or has grown to the size of a 5 pence piece, then you need to see your emergency dental team as soon as possible, because this is a potential sign of oral cancer.
Swelling
Even if it isn't uncomfortable, having swelling to any part of your face, in your mouth or under your jawline is not a good sign and you will need to have a dental team assess the underlying cause as soon as possible before it interferes with your ability to breathe or eat. In most cases, swelling to this severity is symptomatic of an abscess or an impacted tooth.