When you face any dental emergency, it is better to schedule an emergency dentist appointment as soon as possible. Before booking an appointment, make sure that you are actually dealing with a dental emergency. In this blog we will advise you with what conditions are classed as dental emergencies, and give some advice on how to book an appointment along with what you can expect from it.

What is a dental emergency?

A dental emergency refers to certain problems involving the mouth or teeth, which restrict you from going about your day as normal. It is a different category from a medical emergency, and thus no need to visit A&E (accident and emergency).

• Dental emergency involves the following:
• Dental abscess
• Knocked out tooth
• Non-stop bleeding in mouth
• Excruciating dental pain

When dealing with dental pains and problems, it is important to acknowledge the difference between an emergency or something that does not need to be treated immediately. For instance, a missing filling, a missing crown or a cracked tooth are not considered a dental emergency, unless you feel discomfort by remaining sharp fragments in the mouth.

Unless the pain is too severe, toothache is also not regarded as a dental emergency. If you are experiencing some discomfort however you don’t have any dental emergency, you can reach out to us or fix an appointment at our clinic.

Make an emergency dentist appointment

Once you feel confident that the situation is a dental emergency you can make an emergency dentist appointment swiftly. We are a leading dental clinic in London that offer out-of-hour services including Saturdays and Sundays to see potential emergency patients. You can book our appointment online or over the phone to seek instant relief from your dental emergency. 

Waiting for the emergency appointment

Whilst waiting for the emergency appointment, maintaining proper oral health is really important. By neglecting your dental health the problems which are occuring can become more aggravated. The steps you will take must depend on the specific issue that you are facing.

For instance, if you believe you may have a dental abscess it is advised to avoid especially hot or hold food or drink. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and floss the infected area to keep it as clean as possible. Moreover, before visiting the dentist swill the mouth using lukewarm salt water, this is very beneficial for disinfection.

If an unfortunate accident occurs and one of your teeth is knocked out of the mouth the tooth can actually be reinserted into the mouth. Make sure you pick it up by the crown (white end) and not the root, ensure it is rinsed clean and place it back into the socket if possible. Otherwise, soak the tooth in a glass of milk and do not forget to take the tooth with you when you visit the dentist.

The method of soaking the tooth in milk is to maintain the pH level of the tooth, therefore preserving its living elements successfully. Do what you can to keep the socket clean and free from bacteria as bacteria in this area could lead to infection.

What should you expect at the time of emergency appointment?

During your emergency dental appointment, the dental professional will carry out an examination and/or appropriate tests based on your symptoms to find out the cause of the issue. Based on their findings and the length of the appointment, treatment may be started on the day. It is important to note that before starting any treatment the dentist will provide you as a patient with all of the possible treatment options and prices and allow you to make an informed decision.

Judging on whether a knocked tooth can be placed back in the socket or not is based on how quickly you are able to see the dentist and the condition of the tooth. If conditions are optimal the dentist should be able to reinsert it. There is an option for the dentist to attach the knocked out tooth to the neighbouring teeth using a splint for better support.

If it is not possible to save the tooth then tooth replacement options will be presented to you and discussed, for example the options of a  bridge or dental implant. 

If there is a dental abscess present it may require an incision for draining. It is important to know that this is only a temporary solution. Only root canal treatment can fully clear out the source of the infection by removing the nerve of the tooth, cleaning it thoroughly and placing a dressing. If there is no scope for root canal then tooth extraction is the only available option. 

When you get any sort of dental emergency, we are there to help you. Our clinic is open 7 days a week including the weekends to serve patients with emergency dentistry.

Also we offer same day appointments, so you can visit us on an earliest note and seek relief. While experiencing emergency in odd hour, don’t hesitate to rush to our clinic as we facilitate out-of-hour services. For more queries, call us now!