A dental emergency can occur at any time, often outside of the standard dentist office hours. This is why at Sharrow Dental we provide an emergency dental service with appointments available both weekdays and weekends to help provide patients with fast and effective treatment.
Severe tooth pain or dental trauma from an accident or injury can be extremely painful and frightening. It is important that you seek help from a dental professional immediately to give your dentist the best chance of quickly and effectively resolving the problem.
What qualifies as a dental emergency?
Not all types of dental pain or conditions will constitute as a dental emergency.
If you suffer from any of the following, then these would likely fall under the category of requiring an urgent appointment:
- Trauma to the face resulting in broken teeth
- Severe toothache with radiating pain to eyes, ears, throat
- Painful swelling or abscesses with temperature
- Following a dental procedure – persistent / increasing pain, bleeding or swelling
- Broken tooth accompanied by toothache
- Lost filling/crown on a front tooth or with associated pain or sensitivity
- Spontaneous and non-stop bleeding from gums or other parts of the mouth
- Intense dental pain uncontrollable with painkillers that keeps you awake at night
- Trauma – a blow to the lips, teeth or other orofacial tissues (without loss of consciousness or other injuries that go beyond what a dentist can offer)
- Wisdom tooth pain
- Open or closed jaw lock
If your condition does not fall under any of these categories, then please call our reception within our standard opening hours to schedule a regular check-up or appointment.
First steps in a dental emergency?
It can be worrying when you experience a sudden dental trauma or severe mouth or tooth related pain. Here are some important tips for what to do in a dental emergency;
Knocked out teeth
If you have a tooth knocked out, try to find it and call immediately. If re-implanted within a short space of time, there is a good chance that it will take depending on the severity of the injury. If the root and tooth is intact your dentist may be able to talk you through how to place it back in the mouth until you get to your appointment.
It is important to avoid handling the root at all and to keep the tooth clean.
Chips and breakages
Most small cracks and breakages can be rectified during regular dental appointments. If a tooth suffers a severe crack or break due to trauma then you may need an emergency filling, implant, crown or tooth extraction.
If you have a chipped tooth, then your dentist may be able to smooth down the uneven edge and replace the missing part with a tooth-coloured filling. If you break a back molar then this may have to be replaced with a crown.
Painful swelling
Don’t ignore painful swelling around your face, teeth and gums. This can be due to anything from a serious dental infection such as infected gums, teeth or bones as well as gum or tooth abscesses some of which will need immediate treatment.
ome dental infections can be extremely serious so don’t wait – book an emergency appointment straight away. In the meantime stay upright and do not lay flat, even to sleep and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
What is not classed as a dental emergency?
The following do not qualify as emergencies but will be treated as urgent appointments:
- Lost or loose Crowns with no associated pain or sensitivity
- Broken Dentures
- Broken fillings or teeth with some or little sensitivity
- Bleeding from the gum
Only go to A&E in serious circumstances such as intense pain, facial swelling and heavy bleeding or for severe injuries to the facial bones, mouth or teeth.
If you are not sure whether your problems require you to visit A&E then contact NHS 111, who will be able to best advise you on what to do.
Sharrow Dental Emergency Care
At Sharrow Dental we are committed to providing our patients with the very best in emergency dental care. Our 7 day a week service means that our doors are open even on Saturday and Sunday morning for patients needing an emergency appointment.
Our same day service means that our qualified, friendly dentists can help treat your emergency dental problems quickly and effectively whether it’s a lost tooth, broken crown or a swollen face.
You will be in safe hands with our experienced dentists who work to ensure that your issues are swiftly resolved, allowing you to heal quicker and help avoid any potential future dental problems as a result of your condition.
Please note that we cannot guarantee to provide routine NHS appointments (check-ups and treatments) at weekends.
How to book an emergency appointment
If you are suffering from one of the listed emergency conditions and are in need of urgent dental treatment, then please call the Sharrow Dental team on – 01245 354046 to book an emergency appointment.
What should I do if I knock my tooth out?
If the tooth is clean and if you can, try to put the tooth back in. Hold the tooth by the crown, rinse under cool running water for no more than 5 seconds first if there is any dirt or debris, and place it firmly back into the socket. Bite on a clean handkerchief for 15-20 minutes.
If you cannot get the tooth back in, it has more chance of survival if you can keep the tooth in your cheek until you can get to an emergency dentist. If this is not possible, keep the tooth in some milk.
The tooth needs to be placed back in the mouth ideally within 30 minutes, so seek dental attention promptly.
What will happen at my first visit to a dentist?
At your initial visit, your new dentist will take all of your personal details, such as your address and date of birth. They will also take a full medical history to make sure that they are fully aware of any illnesses or medication that you may be taking and they can then treat you safely.
The dentist will then carry out a full check-up and chart all of your teeth and previous treatment, they will also assess the condition of your gums and your general oral hygiene. They may also take diagnostic x-rays.
If you need to have any dental treatment, your dentist will discuss this with you. They may give you a treatment plan and tell you what the cost is going to be.
You can make any further appointments as necessary.
I am thinking about getting treatment overseas. Is this a good idea?
It is important to do your research and familiarise yourself with the process in the country you are looking at having the treatment, as well as speaking about it with your dentist here first. The things you need to think about are:
Complications
Many people who are going abroad are looking for more advanced (higher cost) procedures which are more likely to result in complications. No matter how skilled the clinician, there is always a risk of treatment failure. If complications do arise once you are home, it will not always be easy to return to the clinic that provided the treatment, especially if there is an infection. Your insurance may not cover the travel costs involved in returning to the clinic, especially if you wish to return with a partner or friend.
Fine-tuning
Procedures such as crowns, bridges, veneers and implants are not easily carried out rapidly. Expertise and time are essential to achieving a good outcome. For instance, to achieve a perfect bite, the patient can require repeat visits and a series of adjustments. This may not be possible if the dentist is abroad.
Language barriers
It is always important that your clinician can communicate with you and explain the treatment provided and recommendations for post-surgical care. This is always more difficult when English is not the first language of your practitioner. He or she needs to know exactly what you want and you need to know exactly what you are getting. Problems and complaints often arise from communication issues.
Varying standards and approaches
Different countries have a different concept of aesthetic beauty. For example, in the USA very white and even teeth are thought attractive, whereas in the UK we prefer a more natural smile. There are also varying clinical standards and while in the UK, dentists are more likely to save a tooth, in some countries, dentists may be more ready to extract. Not all countries have the same high standards of cross-infection control, and in developing countries there can be a higher incidence of infectious diseases.
Calculate costs
Many of those considering travelling abroad believe that private dentistry in the UK is not affordable. However, sometimes this is based on an assumption. It is advisable to talk to a number of dental practices, check prices and ascertain if they have a payment plan in place. This can help spread treatment costs, making treatment both affordable and accessible.
Your reception areas are not very private. What can I do if I do not wish to share any personal details in public?
We understand that privacy is important. If you would rather give your details to us in confidence, please tell reception. We will arrange to use a side room to deal with anything confidential.
Looking for local, expert dental care
Get in touch with us today on 01245 354046