What To Do In A Dental Emergency

What To Do In A Dental Emergency

Prompt action can be the key to saving a damaged tooth.

A dental emergency can strike for any given number of reasons. Generally speaking though, it will be the result of a toothache caused by decay or an underlying problem such as root canal infection. Alternatively, it may be the result of a blow to the face in an accident. Whatever the cause though, the key to resolving it is to receive treatment as soon as possible.

A&E

First of all, we should state that if you have received a heavy blow to the facial area; rather than contacting the Smile Dental Practice, you should visit the A&E department of your local hospital to make sure that there are no broken bones or serious head injuries. Providing that there are no major problems, then the next port of call should be to call us as soon as you possibly can so that we can try to fit you in for an appointment the same day. Where this is not possible, we will be able to offer advice about how to care for the tooth, or teeth, until such time as we are able to see you.

Treatment

When you come to our Bromley dental practice for an emergency appointment, the first thing that we will do is to give you a thorough examination which may also include x-rays to determine any potential hidden damage. Once the results of these are known, a treatment plan will be devised. Especially where pain is severe, we will always endeavour to treat the problem in its entirety on the same day. This may mean a filling or possibly even extraction where the tooth is damaged beyond repair.

Where more extensive treatment is required, such as root canal treatment, for example, we will do all that we can to make sure that the tooth is as comfortable as possible and arrange a longer appointment, where the procedure can be carried out, as soon as we can.

Sedation

We appreciate that, even in an emergency and where there is significant discomfort, there will always be some patients, especially those who are afraid of dentists, who still put off calling us, in the hope that it will go away. This rarely happens, of course, and the pain is only likely to get worse. Any damage that has occurred to the tooth may also become more extensive if not treated quickly.

We urge even nervous patients to contact us straight away. We do offer sedation dentistry for those who are anxious about receiving treatment. This will ensure that you are entirely relaxed for the duration of the procedure, enabling you to have a comfortable experience, whilst at the same time allowing our Bromley dentists to perform the necessary procedural work.

Remember, when a toothache strikes or you damage a tooth, you can call the Smile Dental Practice of Bromley, Kent on 020 8462 2473.