Emergency Dental Care at St. Leonards Green Dental
Dental emergencies are scary, painful and often happen at the most inopportune times. Fortunately, our family dentists are here to provide you with fast pain relief and the care you deserve.
St. Leonards Green Dental aims to provide fast, same-day emergency care to new and existing patients alike. As long as you contact us within business hours, we can typically see you as quickly as you can get to our office. If you’re ringing after hours, leave a message. A member of our staff will contact you straightaway to discuss what to do next.
Common Dental Emergencies
What should you do if your tooth hurts or is broken? Review these common types of dental emergencies so that you know the first steps to take.
- Broken and Knocked-out Teeth — An avulsed or chipped tooth requires immediate attention. The sooner you can locate the fragment and get to our office, the more likely we will be able to save it. Store your tooth in a sealed container, completely submerged in milk or contact solution. If those are not available, use tap water with a pinch of salt. A fully avulsed tooth can be gently rinsed (do not touch or scrub the root) and then set back into your socket. Get to our office within the hour.
- A Crown or Filling Falling Off — Older dental work can start to leak around the margins, where they meet your tooth structure. If you bite on something hard or sticky, the restoration can come out. Save your crown in case it’s possible for us to re-cement it. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and make a plan to see us in the next day or two.
- Abscessed Tooth — Dental abscesses create visible areas of drainage on your gums that look like a small pimple. Sometimes they’re extremely painful; other times they aren’t. A root canal is usually necessary to eliminate the source of infection and avoid tooth loss.
- Bleeding Gums — Since your mouth is full of venous tissues, it can bleed quite easily. Apply pressure with a clean piece of gauze or tissue until bleeding stops. If you’re bleeding heavily, head to the nearest emergency room.
- Broken Dentures — A chipped or broken denture can interfere with your meals and speaking abilities. Bring your appliance to our office to have it repaired or replaced.
- Orthodontic Emergencies — Broken brackets or wires that poke into the side of your cheek often require immediate attention. If you’re not in pain, use orthodontic wax to cover the rough surface. The eraser end of a pencil can be used to gently bend wires that may be pressing into your gums or cheeks.
If you’re not able to go about your normal activities, such as heading to the office or your child going to school, then your situation needs to be addressed straightaway. We make every effort to see you as quickly as possible, even if you’re a new patient that has never been to our office.
EMERGENCY TREATMENT FOR ALL AGES
Our family practice serves three generations of patients. We love seeing people of all ages, including young children! If you or someone in your home is in pain, contact us straightaway.
* Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.