If you find yourself in a dental emergency, it can be a really traumatic time. Pain in our teeth can be some of the worst we ever experience, and the prospect of losing a tooth is really a super scary one. So, what do we do in a dental emergency, and what can be done by an emergency dentist Dublin ?
What Constitutes An Emergency?
The first thing we’re going to dive into is what actually constitutes a dental emergency and thus requires assistance from an emergency dentist.
A dental emergency is when you are in lots of pain or are at serious risk of having long-term damage to your teeth or mouth.
You could be in acute dental pain; this means you can’t cope with the pain and it’s not possible to be controlled with pain relief until you can get a standard appointment.
There’s uncontrollable bleeding. If you have any uncontrollable bleeding from the mouth it is considered a dental emergency, and you should seek assistance immediately.
A tooth that’s been dislodged or completely knocked out. If your tooth has fallen or become loose for any reason at all, seek medical assistance immediately. The sooner you are seen the more likely it will be that someone will be able to save the tooth.
Infections in the mouth; for anything that becomes infected in the mouth, whether that be an abscess or tooth, you need to get to see some as soon as you can. If you have any swelling, then it’s likely you’ll require antibiotics to start fighting off the infection.
What Isn’t A Dental Emergency?
If you have no pain but just a feeling something is wrong, book an appointment with your dentist.
A chipped or cracked tooth is not a dental emergency unless you have sharp areas from the crack or are in lots of pain.
General toothache can wait for a general appointment too.
If a crown or filling dislodges and you aren’t in lots of pain then you can wait to be seen in a general appointment.
How To Get An Emergency Appointment
Once you’ve attained whether or not you actually need an emergency appointment then you should, first of all, get in contact with your dental practice to see if they can assist you. It’s very common now for dentists to have emergency departments and you’ll get seen much quicker here than if you went to a hospital. If you aren’t able to attain an emergency appointment through a dentist, then, of course, it’s best you head to the hospital.
What To Expect In An Emergency Appointment
Of course, this will very much vary depending on the reason for your visit to an emergency dentist, but for the most part, you will be consulted and then scanned and or x-rayed. Once a clear diagnosis has been made, your dentist will be able to make informed decisions on the next call of action. This could mean getting to work straight away or sending you home with pain relief/antibiotics before they start to solve the problem.
