Dental emergencies are never fun and can put you in severe pain, but don’t worry. Here at Cliftonville Dental we offer emergency dental care when you need it. Read on for everything you need to know about emergency dental care at our Northampton Dental Practice.
Dental emergencies: what to do
If you feel you have a dental emergency, please get in touch with us straight away. We reserve time for both registered and unregistered emergencies every working day (Monday – Saturday). When you contact us, we will advise on what you can do straight away at home to improve the situation, and schedule you in to come and see us.
The dental emergencies you should know about
Knowing what constitutes a dental emergency is important – without knowing what one is you could risk putting off coming in for an appointment and in turn, worsening the situation. It’s important to remember that a dental emergency doesn’t necessarily have to mean you’re in a lot of pain. For example, if you knock a tooth and it comes loose, this can sometimes be painless, but will need to be seen to right away.
Broken dentures
If you’ve broken or damaged your dentures, don’t attempt a DIY fix! Contact us for an emergency dentist appointment here in Northampton. It’s important that your dentures get repaired as soon as possible, as damage will impair your chewing and speaking ability. Don’t wear your damaged dentures (especially if they have cracked) as you risk damaging your gums and palate or choking on a piece of the denture. You may wish to consider dental implants to secure your dentures in place with implant retained dentures treatment.
Severe toothache
Don’t wait for severe pain to subside if you have severe toothache. If your tooth pain is around the wisdom tooth area, it may be that they’re impacted or infected, which warrants an emergency appointment. In the case of other teeth, it’s also classed as a dental emergency if you’re suffering with intense toothache and the sooner you have it seen to, the more likely it is we can treat the problem and avoid the need for a root canal or even an extraction.
Lost or damaged crown
Contact us straight away if you’ve either lost or damaged your crown, as the sooner we address is, the better the chances are of cementing it back into place. If you need a new crown, CEREC crowns are custom-made from ceramic, which is a great match for real tooth enamel.
Loose tooth
If a tooth has become loose, this is a dental emergency. If this has come about due to an accident, we recommend moving the tooth back into position if you’re able to without causing yourself pain. Hold it in position with a clean tissue until you come in for your emergency appointment.
A knocked out tooth
Knocking out a tooth can result in intense pain that requires emergency dental care. Rinse your tooth and put it back into the socket within half an hour of knocking it out. If this isn’t possible, place it in a glass of cold milk, which will help to preserve it until you’re able to come in and see us for an emergency dental appointment.
Broken teeth
It’s actually much easier to repair a broken tooth that people imagine. If you have a broken tooth, we’ll tell you to avoid hot and cold food and drink, and to chew on the side of the mouth that’s unaffected. Treatments like bonding, crowns, fillings, and inlays and onlays can be used to restore a broken tooth. Here at Cliftonville Dental, we’re able to create crowns in a single appointment, thanks to our CEREC milling machine. We are one of the only practices in the Northampton area to offer this technology and CEREC restorations are of extremely high quality and don’t normally require as many follow-up appointments are traditional restorative dentistry.
Swelling
Swelling is normally the sign of an infection and may lead to an abscess. We will need to establish the underlying cause as soon as possible to treat it. Swelling is a dental emergency and if left untreated, in severe cases it can impact your breathing. In such cases you should call 999 straight away. Swelling can also occur as a result of a blocked salivary gland, which is often the result of poor oral hygiene. These can be treated with antibiotics and by making sure you brush and floss for the recommended time every day.
Broken braces
A broken brace needs immediate attention as it jeopardises your treatment. To stop your teeth drifting back into their original position, you should get in touch with us straight away to book an emergency orthodontist appointment. Broken braces can also leave sharp edges that risk hurting your mouth.
Preventive care to reduce emergency dental appointments
The best way to avoid a dental emergency is to adopt a preventive mind-set when it comes to your smile. It’s never too late to learn some healthier habits and implement these into your daily oral healthcare routine. Routine dentist and hygienist appointments are essential in preserving your natural teeth and help us spot problems early before they turn into a potential emergency.
Contact our friendly reception team here in Northampton, who can book you in for an emergency dental appointment. If you’re hesitant about whether or not your dental issue is an emergency, we recommend that you should still get in touch to be sure.