Corona Crisis: What to do if you have a dental emergency
A dental emergency can be alarming on the best of days, let alone when the world is dealing with wrap of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Dr Jennifer Collins, our Lead General dentist here at Northumberland Dental Care, has put together a piece to give you a better understanding of what a dental emergency is, and how to deal with them.
Please use this as a guide only – every case is individual and if you are unsure, ring your dental practice for advice or to speak to a dental professional.
You need to go straight to A&E if you have;
· Facial swelling affecting your vision, breathing or preventing your mouth opening more than two finger width
· Trauma causing loss of consciousness, double vision or vomiting
You need urgent dental treatment if you have;
· Facial swelling,
· Bleeding after an extraction that does not stop after 20 mins of solid pressure with gauze.
· Bleeding due to trauma
· Severely broken tooth
· Toothache that is preventing sleep/eating combined with swelling/fever
· Severe wisdom tooth infection/gum infection
A non-urgent dental emergency includes;
· Loose or lost crown/bridge/implant crown or veneer
· Broken, rubbing or lose denture
· Bleeding gums
· Broken, loose or lost filling
· Chipped tooth with no pain
· Gum infection
· Loose orthodontic wire
Broken Tooth
Firstly, wear your nightguard if you have one, or a whitening tray (with no whitening gel in it) to separate your teeth at night-time. Tooth grinding occurs during times of stress, so as you can imagine, fractured teeth due to grinding has increased dramatically over the past few weeks.
If your tooth has chipped and is not painful, most likely this will be fine to leave until you see your dentist for a restoration. If the broken tooth is sharp, sensitive or lacerating your tongue, purchase temporary filling material at your local chemist. 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.
Abscess/Swelling
Antibiotics will be required; if the abscess is draining, rinse your mouth regularly with hot salty water. Take painkillers if needed.
Toothache
Take regular painkillers and rub desensitising toothpaste around the tooth. Maintain excellent oral hygiene with fluoride toothpaste. You may have pulpitis, and a dentist may need to extract the tooth or drill into the tooth to remove the pulp (nerve) which is the first stage of root canal treatment. If the tooth already has had root canal treatment; extraction or antibiotics will be required (or re-root canal treatment when endodontic practices are open again).
Lost Crown/Veneer/Bridge
A pharmacy bought dental emergency kit can be used to stick a crown/veneer/bridge back in temporarily. Dry the tooth surface first before re-cementation. Maintain good oral hygiene and follow a low sugar diet to ensure the tooth underneath does not get decayed. If the tooth has a post (or “peg”), the tooth will have been root canal treated and so will have no nerve in it and will not be painful. In this instance, leave the post and crown out – if you cannot replace it- and your dentist will address it when practices are fully back up and running.
Wisdom Tooth Infection
If you have a bad wisdom tooth infection, you will need antibiotics. Take analgesia as required and rinse the area with hot salty water.
Lose Implant Crown
A loose implant crown may remain lose for several weeks. If your dentist cannot see you and the implant crown falls out, keep the implant crown safe and the gum clean by using hot salt water rinses. The gums may grow over the implant and will have to be opened up surgically again in the future. This is a simple procedure if it is necessary, and the crown will be screwed back in again once the gum has healed in the correct position.
Sensitive Tooth
Try placing desensitising toothpaste like Sensodyne over the sensitive tooth and replace several times a day. Take regular analgesia as required.
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums are not a dental emergency. Maintain excellent oral hygiene and brush twice a day for 3 minutes a time. Use floss and mouthwash like Corsodyl helps short term (long term, it will stain your teeth).
Ulcers
Use Bonjela on the area that is painful before meals in particular. Maintain good oral hygiene and take regular pain killers, if needed. Rinse with hot saltwater and use Difflam mouthwash which can be purchased in a pharmacy.
Loose or Rubbing Denture
Consider using a fixative for a loose denture like Fixodent. Any sharp points on your denture can be adjusted at home with an emery board. Leave your denture out if it is too sore to wear.
Gum Infection
Gum infections (ANUG- acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis) usually occurs during times of stress and in smokers. A hydrogen peroxide mouthwash, peroxyl, is useful here or hot salty water mouth rinse and antibiotics.
If you find yourself dealing with a dental emergency, we are on hand to help during these challenging times. Drop us a call on (01) 6688441 or email info@nidm.ie and we will do our best to assist you.
Again, please use this as a guide only. In essence, every case is individual, and if you are unsure, ring your dental practice for advice or to speak to a dental professional.
