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No matter how carefully one drives, one can still experience an accident on London Roads. The same applies to dental emergencies; we never know when and where they will happen. But what we can do in such situations is to keep calm and seek emergency dental services without delay.
Unfortunately, many don’t know which dentist to visit in case of an emergency. If you are unsure which dentist treats emergency dental situations, this blog is for you. So, continue reading to learn more about emergency dentistry services in London.
What Is Emergency Dental Care?
According to the NHS, emergency dentistry refers to all procedures performed to treat dental injuries or situations that need immediate dental intervention to prevent serious medical complications or long-term dental problems. For example, if someone has a facial injury and has uncontrolled bleeding, they should immediately visit an emergency dentist or an ER to control the bleeding.
What Are The Common Types Of Dental Emergencies?
There are different types of dental emergencies. Some of them are:
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Severe pain
- Dental swellings
- Knocked out teeth
- Dislodged fillings
- Dislodged crowns or bridges
- An exposed edge of an orthodontic wire causing irritation or injury
What Services Do Emergency Dentists Typically Offer?
Before we understand what services are offered by emergency dentists, let us learn who is an emergency dentist. An emergency dentist is a licensed dental professional who has obtained additional training and qualifications in treating emergency dental situations.
When a patient visits an emergency dentist, they will first carefully examine the patient’s oral cavity and facial region to diagnose the extent of the injury or the underlying cause of pain. Next, they will take short-term measures to provide immediate pain relief, followed by long-term measures to restore oral health and physical well-being.
Let us take a look at some of the steps taken by emergency dentists when patients come to them with injuries or problems that require immediate treatment.
- Knocked-out Tooth – if someone has a knocked-out tooth, the American Association of Endodontics recommends that they should immediately preserve it (if it is a permanent tooth). You should hold the tooth carefully by its crown and wash it gently to remove debris. Next, you should preserve it in milk or a special tooth-preserving medium if available. If both are unavailable, you can secure the tooth between your teeth and cheeks so that it continuously remains breathed with saliva. Afterwards, you should head to your emergency dentist so that they can replant the tooth back to its position. The sooner you visit the dentist, the higher the chances of successful tooth replantation. The Oral Health Foundation recommends the following measures in case of a knocked out or avulsed tooth.
- Severe Pain – if you have severe pain in one of your teeth, whether due to a gum infection or a tooth with cavities, wash and clean the area with lukewarm water to remove debris. Next, use dental floss to remove any food item that may have been stuck between your teeth and causing pain. If these measures don’t work, You may take an over-the-counter pain medication and visit your dentist as soon as possible for the diagnosis of the underlying cause and treatment.
- Swellings or Infections – some swellings are considered dental emergencies, especially if they create difficulty breathing or eating. In such cases, one should visit an emergency dentist without delay to initiate appropriate treatment.
I Think I Have A Dental Emergency, What Should I Do?
If you think you or a loved one has a dental emergency, you should call your dentist right away and seek advise. If the emergency has occurred during business hours, chances are that they will call you for an emergency appointment right away. On the other hand, most dentists have an emergency hotline for emergencies that occur on weekends or out of business hours.
Besides, some dentists in London also offer round-the-clock emergency services to their patients. So, it’s good to visit a dentist in London who offers 24 hour emergency dentist services. Regardless, one should not seek expert help without delay in the case of dental emergencies.
Will An Emergency Dentist Extract A Tooth?
Emergency dentists are trained to perform all the procedures needed to relieve pain, control bleeding, or minimise the risk of permanent damage or long-term complications. So, if someone comes with an extremely worn-out tooth with an irreversible infection that cannot be saved with root canal treatment, then your emergency dentist will remove it and replace it with an implant-supported prosthesis afterwards.
Similarly, if someone has uncontrolled pain in one of their wisdom teeth, your emergency dentist in London may consider removing it to relieve pain and inflammation. But don’t worry; you won’t feel any pain during tooth extraction as the procedure will be performed under local anaesthesia.
Emergency Dentist Near Me
Dental injuries and emergencies do not follow any schedule. So, It is a good idea to have the contact information of an emergency dentist in London saved on your phone. This way, you can ask them for advice or request an emergency dentist appointment whenever needed.
If you live in New Cross and are searching for the best emergency dentist in town, you should consider Waldron Dental Clinic. So, whether you have a broken tooth or an abscess, we will ensure your problem is treated within 24 hours. We have a team of highly trained and experienced dentists who can treat even the most complicated dental emergencies. So, request a free consultation with us today and let us take care of your entire family’s dental health.
