Emergency Dentist in South Edmonton
There are good surprises, and there are bad surprises. When it comes to oral health, surprises often come in the form of dental emergencies. We can take preventative measures to decrease the likelihood of these emergencies, but life has a way of finding a way for the unlikely to occur. The best way we can prepare is to know what to do if an emergency arises, and to keep calm.
First Aid Kits
If an incident occurred when you were away from home, would you have the supplies available to provide immediate attention? We recommend that first aid kits be kept in each family vehicle. Similarly, if you are going into a remote location to mountain bike or camp, for example, you should have a first aid kit with you and everyone travelling with you should know where to find it.
It is important to check the contents of your first aid kit regularly, since bandages and other items can get depleted. Replace the items you’ve used from your kit as soon as possible.
Sports Guards
If you or your child participate actively in sports, it is important to ensure the right protection for your teeth. Sports guards are inserted over the teeth to decrease the likelihood of a tooth break or knockout and decreases the likelihood of biting down on the tongue while taking a blow to the jaw.
Sports guards can be purchased at your local drugstore but if you play often, we recommend speaking with your dentist who can customize a mouth guard that will be comfortable and effective.
Whether you visit the Dentist every six month as recommended, or if you haven’t been to the Dentist in years, we want to help you gain and maintain good oral health.
Understand the Whole Picture
When there is a trauma, such as a car accident, it can be easy to focus on the bloody presentation of the lip and overlook superior traumas, such as head injuries. Head traumas should proceed immediately to a hospital, while a person with cuts on the mouth but without other injuries should proceed to a nearby dentist. The face is a very vascular area of the body, so it produces more blood. Consider the area that is bleeding, but ensure that you confirm that nothing more pressing is present.
Common Dental Emergencies and What to Do
Tooth Infection
If you have tooth pain that isn’t being relieved with an over-the-counter painkiller, it is possible you have a tooth infection. This infection must be treated as soon as possible to avoid spreading. Besides pain, you could be experiencing other symptoms like a sour taste coming from the problematic tooth, difficulty opening and closing the jaw (swelling), and a pimple that forms on the gums.
What to Do
Call your emergency dentist and request an appointment. If you are travelling, be seen by a dentist near you without delay. While you are awaiting your appointment, you can apply a cold pack on the outer cheek for 10 minutes at a time but never use heat. Holding ice water in the mouth can also relieve some discomfort.
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About D&D Dental
D&D Dental Clinic Mill Woods Edmonton prides ourselves in offering gentle and compassionate dentistry with the same care and comfort we want for ourselves.
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Providing you with maximum level of comfort & professionalism in every visit! All services performed by a general dentist.
Knockouts, Breaks and Chips
If you have broken or chipped your tooth, the first thing to do is to find the tooth fragments. Sometimes, these fragments can be replaced with the help of dental bonding. If your fragments can’t be found, your dentist will still be able to provide an effective fix.
When it comes to breaks and chips, these are not considered medical emergencies unless the break has exposed the chamber of the tooth. If you’re unsure of whether you need to be seen, call your dentist’s clinic and ask for their recommendation.
Knocking your tooth out is definitely considered an emergency and moving quickly to get to a dentist as soon as possible is advisable. Your chances of re-establishing your tooth are higher if you see a dentist within 30 minutes of the injury.
What to Do
Find your tooth and gently try to reinsert it. If it does not slide back in place easily, don’t force it. Simply find a clean surface to place the tooth on while you rinse your mouth and try to stop the bleeding with a rolled piece of clean cloth or gauze, and bite down gently. Tuck the lost tooth in your cheek pocket to transport it to the dentist. If you are unable to tolerate the tooth in your cheek, put it in a clean container and cover it with cold milk.
If your tooth is lost or can’t be replaced by your dentist, rest assured that your dentist has the ability to replace the tooth a number of different ways. Your dentist will talk you through what the options for replacement may be. With color matching technology and your dentist’s know-how, your replacement tooth will look as natural as your natural teeth, themselves.
If you have questions about this or other services offered by our general dentists, contact our clinic today.
