Dealing With a Dental Emergency

Anyone who has suffered from toothache will know that it can be extremely painful. Most people describe it as being the worst pain they have ever had. When someone gets toothache, waiting days for proper treatment is not possible. A few people will suffer in silence because they are afraid of the dentist. However, the majority will be sensible and seek help as soon as possible.

Some turn to their local pharmacist, A&E or GP. If all they are seeking is pain relief this approach is fine, but the underlying problem will still be there. In addition, the pain generated by certain dental problems is practically impossible to control using painkillers. Whilst they may find some relief, this is likely to be limited and short-lived.

With severe toothache, the best approach is to find an emergency dentist. The dentist will speak to you first to establish the nature of the problem. They will give advice, in some cases, they may recommend a painkilling regime, but in most cases, they will open up the clinic and carry out an examination. If necessary, they will fix the problem, at least temporarily, there and then.

Dental Emergencies That Must Never Be Ignored

If you have knocked out a tooth, or have an abscess waiting until after the weekend to seek help is a particularly bad idea. Doing so can result in serious infection and can mean that an otherwise healthy tooth is lost.

Once an infection has set in treatment will be delayed. The infection has to be treated before the dentist can fix the underlying problem. Usually this means several days of antibiotics, which is not good for the body.

Finding an Emergency Dentist

Not every dentist offers an emergency service. Those that do are happy to see anyone, even people who are not normally their patients. Most advertise the fact that they provide an emergency service on their websites, or yellow pages listings. Sometimes A&E have a list of emergency dentists in an area. A quick call to them will soon tell you if they have the list. Many local chemists also know which dental clinics offer an emergency service.