Dental Emergency Care

Dental Emergencies

Any injury to the teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage and more extensive treatment down the track. Contact Gentle Dental Care as quickly as possible so we can give you the right advice and schedule an emergency visit.

Gentle Dental Care is open 7 days a week, with extended hours, so same-day or emergency treatment is available where required.

Here's a quick summary of what to do for some common dental problems.

Chipped or broken teeth

• save any pieces
• rinse the mouth using warm water; rinse any broken pieces
• apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken/chipped tooth to keep any swelling down and relieve pain

If there's bleeding:

• apply a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops.

Visit Gentle Dental Care as quickly as possible so we can prevent further damage to the tooth.

Knocked-out tooth

• Retrieve the tooth, hold it by the crown (the part that is usually exposed in the mouth), and rinse off the tooth root with water if it's dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments
• If possible, try to put the tooth back in place. Make sure it's facing the right way. Never force it into the socket
• If it's not possible to reinsert the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk (if milk is not available, use a cup of water with a pinch of table salt)

Time is critical. You must see us within one hour of the incident if there's to be any chance of re-implanting your tooth.

Extruded (partially dislodged) tooth

Arrange an appointment immediately. To relieve pain during the trip, apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek on the affected area. Take an over-the-counter pain killer if needed.

Toothache

• thoroughly rinse the mouth with warm water
• use dental floss to remove any lodged food

If the mouth is swollen…

• apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek

Remember, never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums because it may burn the gum tissue. Call Gentle Dental Care to arrange an appointment.

Objects lodged between teeth

Try dental floss to very gently and carefully remove the object. If you can't get the object out, see your dentist. Never use a pin or other sharp object to poke at the stuck object, they can cut your gums or scratch your tooth surface.

Lost filling

As a temporary measure, stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity (sugar-filled gum will cause pain) or use over-the-counter dental cement. Call Gentle Dental Care for the next appointment.

Lost crown

If the crown falls off, make an appointment to see us as soon as possible and bring the crown with you. If you can't get to the dentist right away (and the tooth is causing pain) use a cotton swab to apply a little clove oil to the sensitive area. Clove oil can be purchased at your local pharmacy or in the spice aisle of your supermarket.

If possible, slip the crown back over the tooth. Before doing so, coat the inner surface with an over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive, to help hold the crown in place.

Do not use any other kind of general-purpose glue!

Broken braces wires

If a wire breaks or sticks out of a bracket or band and is poking your cheek, tongue, or gum, try using the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable position.

If you can't reposition the wire, cover the end with orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball, or piece of gauze until you can get to your orthodontist's office.

Never cut the wire, as you could end up swallowing it or breathing it into your lungs.

Loose brackets and bands

Temporarily reattach loose braces with a small piece of orthodontic wax.

Alternatively, place the wax over the braces to provide a cushion. Call Gentle Dental Care for the next available appointment. If the problem is a loose band, save it and call your orthodontist for an appointment to have it re-cemented or replaced.

Abscess

Abscesses are an infection around the root of a tooth or in the space between the teeth and gums.

Abscesses are a serious condition. They can damage tissue and surrounding teeth and even spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. If you discover a pimple-like swelling on your gum (that usually is painful) see your dentist as soon as possible.

To ease the pain and draw the pus toward the surface, try rinsing your mouth with a mild saltwater solution (1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water) several times a day

Soft-tissue injuries

Injuries to the soft tissue (tongue, cheeks, gums, lips) can result in bleeding. To control the bleeding…

• rinse your mouth with a mild salt-water solution
• use a moistened piece of gauze or tea bag to apply pressure to the bleeding site and hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes
• apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes.

If the bleeding doesn't stop…

• see your Gentle Dental Care dentist right away or go to a hospital emergency room, continue to apply pressure on the bleeding site with the gauze until you get treatment.

If in doubt about any issue affecting your teeth or gums, it’s better to be safe. Contact Gentle Dental Care to discuss your concerns with one of our staff.