Dental Emergency? We’re Here to Help

A dental emergency can be alarming on the best of days and certainly have a tendency to happen when it’s least convenient. Dr Rebecca Gavin from Northumberland Dental Care has answered your frequently asked questions about dental emergencies and how to deal with them.

What should I do if I have a toothache?

If you are experiencing a toothache, it’s best to rinse the mouth with warm water first to clean it out thoroughly. Use desensitising toothpaste and gently use some dental floss to remove stubborn food or debris between the teeth. If the pain persists, a suitable over-the-counter pain relief remedy can help to ease discomfort, as recommended by your pharmacist. It is also important to book an appointment with your dentist who will be able to examine the sore tooth.

If pain relief does not subsidise your pain or if mild swelling occurs and you cannot attend your dentist, you should contact your local out-of-hours dentist or local GP. In cases of extreme swelling which affects the airways or swelling combined with a raised temperature, please get in touch with your local emergency department.

How do I avoid toothaches?

Attending your dentist regularly (usually every 6 months) is important as this ensures that any problems can be detected early which will reduce the risk of toothaches developing. Maintaining a low sugar frequency diet and brushing twice a day, as well as flossing once a day, will help to avoid toothaches or dental issues.

Keep in mind that tooth decay will not usually cause pain until late stages, so it is very important to attend the dentist regularly to spot issues such as this at an early stage, even if you don’t feel any issues.

What should I do if I knock a tooth out?

Retrieve the lost tooth and call your local emergency dentist or emergency department straight away to arrange an emergency dental appointment. You should hold the tooth by the crown and avoid touching the root.

Place the tooth in milk, or carry it in your mouth between your teeth and the inside of your cheek. If stored correctly, and the tooth that has been knocked out is an adult tooth, there is a chance that the tooth can be replanted in the gum. Do not store the tooth in regular tap water or mineral water.

What are symptoms to look out for after dental trauma?

When a tooth is knocked out, or you experience dental trauma, look immediately for any symptoms of severe head injury such as bleeding from the nose or ears. It is also essential to check the tongue, cheek or jaw for lacerations. If any of these symptoms are present, call 112 or 999 immediately.

What should I do if I chip my tooth?

If you chip your tooth, it’s important to book an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. If you cannot be seen immediately or if your emergency is out of hours and the sharpness of the broken tooth is causing pain or an ulcer to the tongue, then a temporary filling can be used until you can visit your dentist.

You can purchase temporary filling material at your local pharmacy. Dry your tooth with a cotton bud and place the filling material over the surface that is exposed. Take regular painkillers if you need them. Maintain good oral hygiene and a low sugar diet to prevent any decay from occurring or existing decay from getting worse. If you have a nightguard, make sure you wear it at night time to separate your teeth and to help ensure your tooth does not break any further during the night.

Should I be worried if the chipped tooth starts to change colour?

If the chipped tooth starts to change colour, it could be a sign of nerve damage. Even if it is a baby tooth, it is best to visit the dentist to ensure that your child’s adult teeth will not be affected in the future.

If I cannot get an emergency appointment with my dentist, what should I do?

If your dentist is unable to see you in the case of a dental emergency, you can contact any of the below emergency services in the Leinster area:

• Dublin Dental Hospital: (01) 6127391
• VHI SwiftCare Dundrum: (01) 4482450
• St James’s Hospital A&E: (01) 4103000
• Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, Co. Meath: (046) 9078770
• NEDOC, Navan, Co. Meath: (046) 6850750
• Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore: (057) 932 1501
• Wexford General Hospital: (053) 9153000
• Caredoc (South East & South Wicklow): 0818 300 365 or (059) 913 8100
• Luke’s General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny: (056) 7785000
• Midoc: 1850 302 702

What is deemed a dental emergency?

You need to go straight to A&E if you have;

• Facial swelling affecting your vision, breathing or preventing your mouth from opening more than two finger width
• Trauma causing loss of consciousness, double vision or vomiting

You need urgent dental treatment and to call your dentist if you have;

• Facial swelling or abscess
• Bleeding after an extraction that does not stop after 20 mins of solid pressure with a gauze
• Bleeding due to trauma
• Severely broken tooth
• Toothache that is preventing sleep/eating combined with swelling/fever
• Severe wisdom tooth infection/gum infection

Non-urgent dental emergencies include;

• Loose or lost crown/bridge/implant crown or veneer
• Broken, rubbing or loose denture
• Bleeding gums
• Broken, loose or lost filling
• Chipped tooth with no pain
• Gum infection
• Loose orthodontic wire
• TMJ pain

If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please contact us directly on (01) 668 8441

or contact any of the emergency contact numbers above.