When to Visit an Emergency Dental Clinic

Any injury either to the teeth or gums should be sufficient reason to visit an emergency dental clinic such as Healthy Smiles as soon as possible. Failure to take appropriate action on an emergency dental issue will increase the risks for permanent damage to the teeth, bacterial infection to the gums, and the necessity for extensive, not to mention expensive, radical treatment in the future.

Here then are the reasons to schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist as well as the steps to lessen the damage on the affected teeth or gums.

5 Reasons to Visit an Emergency Dental Clinic

Keep in mind that with the first-aid steps, your teeth can be saved, so to speak, from permanent damage.

Toothaches and Abscesses

The pain from a damaged or infected tooth has an adverse impact on the affected individual’s life for obvious reasons, thus, the visit to the emergency dental clinic. To ease the pain before the scheduled appointment, here are a few tips:

• Rinse the mouth with a warm water-salt solution.
• Use dental floss to remove food between the teeth that may be adding to the pain.
• Apply a cold compress on the mouth or cheek to lessen the swelling.
• Take a painkiller but never place it against the teeth or gum; the chemical can burn the soft tissue.

Chipped or Broken Teeth

Yes, chipped or broken teeth can still be saved by the best emergency dentist Melbourne professional but fast action is a must. Sadly, this is an all-too-common emergency dental issue among kids involved in playground accidents but these steps can be used to save the affected teeth:

• Rinse the mouth and broken piece of teeth with warm water. Wrap the broken piece in a tissue paper.
• Apply a piece of gauze to the affected area in case of bleeding.
• Apply a cold compress on the affected area – from the outside, of course – to lessen the swelling.

The staff of the emergency dental clinic will be able to determine whether the broken pieces can still be saved or another method will be used to restore the affected teeth’s normal appearance.

Knocked-out Tooth

And then there is the worst-case scenario of the knocked-out tooth that kids and adults alike can experience as a result of accidents, fights, and other activities. Fortunately, the emergency dentist can restore the affected tooth with the assumption that it was appropriately handled before the rush to the dental clinic.

• Retrieve the tooth but be sure to handle it gently by its crown, which is the part visible when it is in its proper place in the mouth.
• Rinse off its root with water. Never scrub off the root so as to preserve the attached tissue fragments.
• Return the root to its place, if possible.

If the knocked-out tooth cannot be reinserted into the socket, be sure to place it inside a cup of milk, a cup of water with a pinch of salt, or a cell growth medium. And get to the nearest emergency dental clinic within an hour because a knocked-out tooth returned to its socket within an hour has the highest chances of successful reinsertion.

Lost Filling

The best remedy for a lost filling is a new filling but only a qualified dentist should perform the procedure. As a temporary measure before getting into the dental clinic, get a piece of sugarless gum and stick it inside the cavity or use over-the-counter dental cement, when available. Avoid using sugar-filled gum as temporary filling as it can cause pain by leeching chemicals into the gum tissue.

Loose or Broken Braces or Wires

There are several remedies for these emergency dental issues but the best remedy is to see the dentist as soon as possible, if not within the hour. Try pushing the wire back into place or cover the end of the wire with a piece of gauze/cotton ball or reattach the loose brace with orthodontic wax.

Indeed, it is always an excellent idea to establish a good relationship with the staff and dentists of a reliable Melbourne dental clinic even before these emergencies happen.

To find out more about emergency dental services offered by Healthy Smiles call us today on 03 9877 2035. We have a team of professional and well-experienced 24/7 emergency dentist available for you.