With dental emergencies, the best thing to do is to try and avoid them! For the most part, regular check-ups and timely treatment do this for us. However, dental emergencies will occur. We all know that accidents happen, and so do dental emergencies. Either we have had a dental emergency ourselves or know someone that has. That is why, here at Braeside Dental Centre, we have compassion and empathy for those who find themselves in this situation. For our regular patients, we offer after-hours and weekend emergency service. Essentially, we make every effort to ensure that our patients are seen the same day or within 24 hours. We are here to take care of YOU!
What are some of the most common dental emergencies?
Over the last 30 years, I have seen it all: from playground or car accidents that resulted in broken or avulsed teeth, to abscesses causing pain, to inflammation, or to gum infections. If you feel pain, find that something is broken, or notice an unexplained swelling, it would be considered a dental emergency. We are here to help you look after it.
Should I go to the hospital if I have tooth pain?
The hospital is generally not equipped to deal with dental emergencies. They may be able to prescribe something to help with pain or manage infection, but to achieve resolution it is best to visit our dental clinic.
What do I do if I knock my tooth out or if it becomes loose from trauma?
The best thing to do if you knock your tooth out is to place it back into the dental socket from which it came as soon as possible. Time is of the essence. The quicker this can be done, the better the prognosis. Try and orient it the best you can with the right side facing out and place it in such a way that it rests in the bite the way it used to be. The quicker that this can be achieved, the higher the probability that the tooth can be saved and nerves may even regenerate. If this is not possible, place it under your tongue and come in to see us as soon as possible. If you have to handle the tooth, try not to touch the root as that may negatively affect how it attaches back.
What should I do if I fracture or chip my tooth?
That depends on how bad the fracture is. The best thing to do is call us right away so that we can assess what needs to be done: if it needs to be looked at right away or if it can be handled with some trauma control (such as simply polishing the sharp edge or patching the broken piece until you are ready to proceed). The important thing is that we ensure you are comfortable, provide you with the best choices, and give you the treatment you desire.
What do I do if I have a toothache?
That depends on the origin of the toothache. This is definitely something that should be handled sooner, rather than later. Some of the common causes of a toothache are: deep cavities, gum infections, failing restorations, or trauma. It would be best to call us as quickly as possible so that we can do our best to make you comfortable.
My tooth is hurting more at night. Why is that?
Things always seem to get worse at the most inopportune time. I have had many patients say their toothache got worse that night. This is because when we lie down, our mouth is now level with our heart. As a result, we have more pressure that can build up into our teeth, jaw and sinus. Thus, there is more pain. Additionally, all the distractions that occupy our minds during the day are no longer taking us away from the pain we feel.
If you are suffering from a dental emergency, give us a call so we can help you! Since teeth and bone are hard tissues and do not expand to accommodate acute change when there is infection or inflammation, dental pain or trauma can be excruciating. We understand and are here for you. The sooner we are able to deal with the situation, the better the outcome, the lower the expense, and the more positive experience we have.
-Dr. Goel
Braeside Dental Centre
