Dental emergencies are characterized by the habit of occurring at times when least expected. An example would be chipping off of your tooth on a Saturday afternoon or pain that suddenly occurs in the middle of the night, and also getting your tooth knocked out while participating in some sports over the weekend. When such incidents occur, it becomes quite easy to panic a little bit or simply get shocked, whether you have an emergency case or something less urgent that can wait till Monday. Here is a guide on how to identify a dental emergency, actions to take initially, and how to quickly find assistance.
What Actually Counts as a Dental Emergency
Although all cases of dentistry cannot be handled by emergency services, some can only be done this way. Some examples of dental emergencies include situations where a tooth has been completely knocked out, a tooth that is cracked or fractured and causes a lot of pain, a tooth that has been exposed to sensitivity due to lack of a filling or crown, and any sort of facial or jaw swelling, which could mean that there is an underlying infection.
Pain that persists and gets worse should also be taken seriously, not the one-time sensitivity. The reason for this is because if such a condition worsens, it becomes even bigger rather than remaining constant.
First Steps to Take Before You Get to a Dentist
The factor of time becomes relevant in case the tooth falls out. The tooth must be grabbed by the crown and not by the root. It needs to be rinsed carefully without scrubbing. The tooth can be placed into the socket or into milk or saliva. The longer the process is delayed, the fewer chances for saving the tooth become. Ideally, one should see the dentist in half an hour after the trauma.
If there is still enough time before visiting the dentist, one should take pain relievers but no more than stated on the box. One may ask a pharmacist which medicine will be suitable for this condition. However, aspirin should not be used in this way because many people use this method at home but it is not so effective. One should not eat too cold or too hot foods either.
When to Skip the Dentist and Go Straight to Emergency Services
Some cases are just too much for a dental clinic to handle. In case there is heavy bleeding that cannot be controlled, breathing or swallowing difficulties, a very high fever accompanied by swollen face, or a jaw fracture as a result of major trauma, one should visit an emergency room or dial 000. It might sometimes be difficult to distinguish between a medical and a dental emergency but it will always be safer to seek help from an emergency facility when uncertain.
Finding an Emergency Dentist in Canberra
After analyzing the situation and coming to the conclusion that you are experiencing a dental problem rather than a medical one, the next step would be going in for an emergency visit. Not all clinics provide this type of visitation, hence it would help to find out in advance which dentists in your local area provide this facility.
Clinics like the Molonglo Dental Surgery that offer emergency dentistry in Canberra deserve to be listed in your contacts well in advance of the time you will need to call upon their services.
The Bottom Line
Emergency dental problems are not always convenient, however, being prepared on how to react during those first few minutes can make all the difference in the world. Five minutes right now spent identifying what your local alternatives are and keeping that phone number handy can save a lot of time later.