Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with a toothache and not known what to do? Did your child fall and knock their tooth entirely out of its socket? Unfortunately, dental emergencies can happen at any time, and they can be scary and stressful. It’s essential to understand what to do when an emergency strikes.
The dental team at Dentist in the Park understands how unnerving a dental emergency can be, so we offer emergency dentistry to alleviate your pain and work to save your teeth.
What Is a Dental Emergency?
If you experience a dental issue that requires immediate attention, we want you to call our dental clinic so we can advise you on what steps to take. Try to stay calm and breathe normally during this time. Examples of a dental emergency are as follows:
- Severe toothache
- Severe soft tissue injury to the mouth or lip
- Badly cracked or broken tooth
- Knocked-out tooth
- Partially dislodged tooth
- Dental abscess, indicated by swelling of your face or jaw
- Lost or broken dental restoration
Managing Your Dental Emergency
Until you can reach our dental clinic for treatment, follow these treatment guidelines:
Severe toothache – Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply an ice pack to your face to help alleviate the pain. Also, take over-the-counter pain relievers such as naproxen or ibuprofen.
Severe soft tissue injury – Apply pressure to the injury to stop the bleeding, and use an ice pack to help with swelling.
Badly cracked or broken tooth – Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. If you are bleeding, apply gauze to the area for a few minutes. An ice pack can help with the swelling, and if you can locate any pieces of your broken tooth, bring them to the dental appointment.
Knocked-out tooth – Being careful not to touch the tooth by its roots, rinse the tooth with water and carefully try to place it back into its socket. If that doesn’t work, store the tooth in milk or inside your cheek until you reach our dental clinic.
Partially dislodged tooth – Use a cold compress to help with swelling and pain, and take over-the-counter pain relievers.
Dental abscess – A dental abscess is a severe dental infection that must be treated immediately. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water and take over-the-counter pain relievers to help alleviate discomfort.
Lost or broken dental restoration – If you lose a filling, chew some sugar-free gum and place it or dental cement where your filling used to be. For a broken crown or bridge, place the restoration back in its place using dental cement, toothpaste or denture adhesive. Never use glue to replace a dental restoration.
Are You Experiencing a Dental Emergency in Bondi Junction, NSW?
If you live in Bondi Junction or the surrounding communities of Queens Park, Moore Park, Double Bay or Bondi Beach, we are here to help with emergency dentistry services. Our dental clinic is conveniently located close to Westfield shopping.
Your oral health is our top priority, and we will do whatever we can to save your smile. You can call us on (02) 9389 2570 for more information or to arrange an appointment.