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Nobody likes a medical emergency, especially when that emergency revolves around the teeth or the mouth!
If you are currently experiencing dental pain which is unrelenting, you may be concerned about what the treatment will involve and whether or not you will need to see an emergency dental team. While it can be scary to book an emergency dental appointment, it is worth noting that it is an appointment that is worth attending, especially if it gets rid of that lingering toothache or helps to reduce any facial swelling.
At Hawthorn Drive Dental Practice, our dentist in Ipswich is happy to be able to offer emergency dental care to all of our patients. If you contact us with an emergency, we will aim to see you within 24 hours and will be able to offer you advice on how to manage the discomfort at home, during the interim between your call and the appointment.
At this stage, you may have some questions about what a dental emergency actually is and what an appointment with our emergency dentist in Ipswich could look like. So, read on to find out.
What are the signs of a dental emergency?
According to our dentist in Ipswich, a key feature of most dental emergencies is, as you may have guessed, discomfort in the mouth, under the jaw or even in the neck. However, this is usually the case with instances such as impacted teeth or abscesses, which do not make up the whole spectrum of dental emergencies.
If you have swelling to your face, under your jaw or your neck, this is also a dental emergency, as is a lost crown or filling, or a crack or chip to any of your teeth. If you are bleeding from your mouth and the flow has not slowed within 20 minutes of you applying pressure, then you need to see our team for a same-day appointment. If you are unsure if you have a dental emergency or not, contact us and our friendly reception staff will be able to assess you over the phone.
What should I do if I suspect one?
If you suspect that you have a dental emergency, the first thing you need to do is to contact our team at Hawthorn Drive and we will aim to offer you triage. If needed, take over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol and apply a cold ice pack or warming pad to the area, if it is related to an abscess or swelling.
Will the appointment be uncomfortable?
If you are in extensive discomfort when you attend your emergency appointment, our team will be able to numb the area using an injection. We don’t want to worsen your discomfort!
Will I need a follow-up?
This depends on the nature of the dental emergency. If, like most people, you are attending an emergency appointment due to a dental abscess, then yes, you will need to have a follow-up appointment with a regular member of our dental team to undertake either a root canal or an extraction. If you are simply having a filling replaced, a crown replaced or a crack or chip filled, then no, you will not need to attend a follow-up appointment in most cases.
How can I prevent an emergency in the future?
Sometimes, dental emergencies simply happen but if your emergency was due to a dental abscess, one way you can prevent this from occurring again is to attend your biannual check-ups. This will help our team to be able to spot signs of tooth decay which, if left, could form a dental abscess.