Emergency Dentist Cannington

When to Act and What Classifies an Emergency?

Dental emergencies can range from a broken or knocked out tooth (including a filling or crown falling out) to a broken jaw, lip or tongue laceration or purely severe pain in your mouth (gums or teeth, including swelling around those areas, which may indicate abscess or infection). Whatever the circumstance, if you feel you’re in the midst of a dental emergency, you should contact Carousel Dental immediately. Depending on the type of emergency and timeframe, swifter action ensures a greater likelihood of keeping the teeth involved or providing the best resolution. So when you call, aim to be thorough in accurately describing your situation where possible so the dentist can prioritise and prepare for your arrival in advance, based on your explanation. And if you’re unsure about what constitutes a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to consult your dentist directly.

Some General Guidelines on What You Can Do in the Interim

According to the ADA via Sharecare.com, the following steps may help in the meanwhile as tips for some of the potential dental emergencies that can be encountered:

• Knocked-out tooth: Keep the tooth moist at all times. Hold the tooth by the crown, and if the tooth is dirty, rinse the root in water. Do not scrub the tooth or remove any attached tissue fragments. The tooth must not be left outside the mouth to dry. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If it cannot be replaced in the socket, put the tooth in a container with milk. Take your tooth to a dentist as soon as possible — ideally, within 30 minutes after reinsertion.
• Cracked or broken tooth: Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses (like an ice pack or a washcloth with ice wrapped inside) on the face to keep any swelling down. Go to the dentist right away. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it with you to the dentist. Wrap the tooth piece in some wet gauze or a wet towel if possible.
• Jaw possibly broken: Apply cold compresses (like an ice pack or a washcloth with ice wrapped inside) to control swelling. Go to your dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.
• Objects caught between teeth: Gently try to remove the object with dental floss. If you’re not successful, go to the dentist. Do not try to remove the object with a sharp or pointed instrument.
• Toothache: Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between the teeth. Do not put aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues. Go to the dentist as soon as possible.
• Bitten tongue or lip: Clean the area gently with a cloth and put cold compresses (like an ice pack or a washcloth with ice wrapped inside) on the area to keep the swelling down. If bleeding is heavy or doesn’t stop in a short period of time, go to your dentist or an emergency centre.
  

Carousel Dental Centre recommends regular routine check-ups to avoid the tendency for some of these situations to arise. Regular visits to the dentist can also help reduce the severity of some dental emergencies since prevention is often the best cure.