At RE:NU Dental and Medispa, we encourage our patients to take good care of their teeth daily. However, it is impossible to know if and when an accident may arise that causes sudden damage to our teeth. Sometimes this may just be relatively minor damage, but even so, should still be investigated promptly, as even a small crack in a tooth can allow bacteria to enter, potentially leading to decay or even root canal problems.
She’s as funny as a toothache
— Erma Bombeck
In today’s blog, we offer some simple advice about what you should do in the case of a dental emergency.
Depending on the severity of the accident, you may need urgent medical care. This would apply, for example, if you were unfortunate enough to have been in a car accident. Even if you feel OK, if there has been head trauma, always have this checked at the nearest A&E department to rule out any serious injuries before you do anything else.
Your next step should be to contact us to see one of our emergency dentists at RE:NU. Remember, the quicker you call us, the sooner we are likely to be able to see you and we will always try to see you the same day if possible, especially if you are in pain.
When you call us, try to be clear, as far as you can, as to the nature of the problem. Our reception team will try to prioritise more urgent cases and also offer temporary care advice where appropriate.
Having made your appointment at our clinic, try not to avoid making the problem any worse by poking with your finger or tongue, or other instrument. If you are in pain, take your usual pain medication. Our staff are happy to offer advice if needed.
If at all possible, try to rest. Especially if the pain is significant, you may not be able to focus properly and depending on the work that you do, this could even be dangerous. To ease pain and to reduce any swelling, you could try to apply a cool compress gently to the area as this can sometimes help whilst you wait for an appointment.
Please keep your emergency appointment – occasionally, patients who have made these fail to turn up. This sometimes happens when the initial pain subsides and causes a patient to presume that everything will be OK. This is rarely the case as almost all dental problems will get much worse unless they are treated quickly. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the problem will resolve itself; it very likely won’t!
Whether caused by an accident or not, our team will be pleased to see you quickly to help alleviate your pain. If you are having any problems, please do not delay and contact our team at RE:NU. Please call our practice today on +44 (0)208 167 4185 OR email hello@renudentalmedispa.com to arrange an appointment.