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Do you know what to do in a Dental Emergency?

Do you know what to do in a dental emergency? Injuries to the teeth and gums often need urgent attention, and simply ignoring the problem could mean that any damage is permanent, and is likely to increase the need for restorative treatment at Leeds City Dentalcare. Making sure you seek help earlier rather than later could cut the cost of treatment, as it is likely to be less invasive and less time-consuming.

Don’t Ignore Toothache

The most common dental emergency is toothache, and is something that most of us have had at some stage or other. It’s worth making sure there’s nothing trapped in between your teeth that could be pushing the tooth out of position, causing the pain. Otherwise make an appointment to come and see Dr David Brown or another of our dentist in Leeds. It’s important to keep this appointment even if your toothache seems to clear up as there’ll always be a reason it occurred in the first place.

Toothache can often occur if the tooth has been damaged in some way, allowing bacteria to enter the central part of the tooth which is called the pulp. If this becomes infected it can be pretty painful, but eventually the pulp will die and the toothache may seem to disappear. However the bacteria will still be present in your tooth, and will still be able to destroy the root of the tooth, and potentially the surrounding structures of your tooth such as your tooth sockets.

Saving that Knocked Out Tooth

Another common problem is dealing with a tooth that has been knocked out. It is important to act quickly to save the tooth, as re-implantation will be much more successful if carried out within that first hour. Pick up the tooth by its crown (the part of the tooth normally visible in the mouth), and carefully rinse of any visible dirt from the root, taking care not to touch the root. If you can, re-insert the tooth, but make sure to seat it the right way round. Hold the tooth in position with a clean finger until you can get to our Leeds surgery, or to see another emergency dentist.

Don’t want to re-insert it yourself? Place the tooth in a small container with some milk or plain water, and rush over to see us! If you manage to do this then there is a chance that the tooth can be saved. Otherwise we will need to look at suitable ways to artificially replace the tooth. This is something that can be done by placing an implant, a dental bridge, or through using a partial denture, but it is much better to try to hold onto your natural tooth.

You can help to decrease the risk of toothache simply by making sure you visit Leeds City Dentalcare regularly for check-ups, and through making sure you take good care of your teeth at home. If you love to play sports, then you might want to ask Dr David Brown about custom-made mouthguards, as they can help protect your teeth and can save them from being knocked out. Spending a little on a mouthguard could save you a lot in restorative dental care.