There are certain issues related to the teeth and the mouth that immediate attention of a qualified dental professional. Those conditions are better called dental emergencies and a dental emergency always demands an immediate temporary solution. Such a critical condition may come up any time without any prior intimation and when you are hit by one you just cannot wait for a doctor to arrive and diagnose the condition and recommend the necessary medicines which may easily take about a few hours. While suffering from a dental emergency one has to be given immediate care and attention of a dentist; otherwise, the patient’s condition worsens every minute.
There could be various reasons to trigger a dental emergency. Unlike doctors in A&E rooms of hospitals dentists are not available round the clock and that may worsen the overall situation when a dental emergency is concerned. So, it is indeed crucial to have some idea about handling such conditions in real life opine some of the top-notch dentists in London.
But first it will be helpful if we make ourselves aware about the various aspects of dental emergency. Let us start with understanding the conditions of a dental emergency.
A clear and correct understanding of a dental emergency
Every dental condition that apparently seems to be an emergency is not a dental emergency in the first place and vice versa point out dentists working in a leading emergency dental clinic in London. If the truth is to be told the difference between a common dental issue and a dental emergency is quite thin. A dental condition is a standard problem related to the oral health if –
- It can wait a few hours or days to start the treatment or
- Requires an examination
On the other hand, a dental condition is actually an emergency condition if it requires critical intervention or first assistance. Now let us go through few typical examples of dental emergency to grasp the idea more clearly. Typical examples of dental emergency include the following –
- Unbearable pain in the tooth
- Uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth or oral cavity
- Cracked or damaged tooth
- Swelling in the gums
- Injuries sustained in the soft tissues of the mouth
- Completely knocked out tooth
The condition of knocked out tooth or teeth
Complete knocking out of a tooth or teeth is a common circumstance which usually results from accidental slip and fall or partaking in contact sports activities. When you have a tooth completely knocked out from its socket you must see a dentist immediately. Modern dentistry allows retaining of such damaged tooth or teeth provided the treatment starts within a fixed time of about 45 minutes from occurrence of the incident. In case proper treatment does not start within that time then it may not be possible to retain the natural tooth or teeth.
While handling a completely knocked out tooth always remember not to touch it by its base. The base of a tooth houses all the delicate and crucial nerves and roots. Unknowingly and accidentally you may damage those nerves and roots and as a result the tooth will not be good enough to be retained in your mouth warns a leading emergency dentist near me in London. So, how are you going to handle a completely knocked out tooth? You should handle such tooth only by its crown or the top to avoid damaging its roots and the nerves.
It is also crucial to keep the roots of such tooth alive till a dentist starts proper treatment of inserting it back into its socket. In order to avoid its roots from drying up you should better drop the tooth in a cup of cold water or milk. Only a cold liquid can keep the roots alive longer. If it is possible, you should give the tooth a minimal wash and place it back into its socket to keep its roots and nerves live much longer in the best possible way. However, that may not be possible in every case and that actually depends on the kind of injury and the level of the damage one has sustained.
Unbearable pain in the tooth and uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth
Two common dental emergency conditions that require immediate intervention of an emergency dentist are unbearable pain in the tooth and uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth. Severe pain may result from a severe decay of the tooth or an advanced infection in the root canal. Bleeding may result from injuries sustained in the mouth. While suffering from any of these conditions one requires emergency care and treatment from a qualified dentist without any delay to secure immediate relief from both pain and discomfort.
Injuries to the soft tissues inside the mouth
Soft tissues comprise the insides of the mouth including the gums, lips, interiors of the cheek and the tongue. Any severe damage to these soft tissues may require emergency dental care especially when the damage leads to severe or uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth. Initially you should wash away the wound as well as punctures, laceration and rips with warm water. Once the wound is washed properly then your dentist will show you how to apply pressure to stop bleeding. A dentist with years of experience in providing urgent dental care in London says timely intervention of professional care and treatment in these cases helps patients avoid much of the pain, sufferings and discomfort.
Something gets trapped between the teeth
People who have sufficient gaps between their teeth face this problem more frequently compared to others. Flossing is a tried and tested means to get relief in these conditions. It brings out any item trapped between the teeth more efficiently than any other option. However, you may not be having a dental floss for the time being and, in that case, consider using a clean and fine piece of thread instead of a dental floss. However, if this home remedy does not yield results, then you have to visit a dentist. A dentist is the fittest person in these situations who you can rely upon not to make the condition any more complicated.
Incidents of breaks, splits and cuts
The enamel layer is the outermost and the hardest protective coating of the tooth. It is because of this protective layer we can chew on hard food items easily like certain types of nuts, raw carrots, certain preparations of meat and others. However, this hardest substance may even suffer damages like chip, breakage and shatter. Depending on the extent of the damage you may have to go to an emergency dental care in London or anywhere else to seek a reliable solution to the problem.