Protecting Our Kids' Smiles

Dentists use your scheduled visits to evaluate your general oral health as well as diagnose potential problems that could escalate in the future. There are also certain procedures that you can make requests for, such as cosmetic dentistry procedures. Sometimes, however, you may have a problem that demands immediate attention so that you need to see an emergency dentist. If this happens outside of normal working hours, you'll need an emergency practice, which has on-call dentists working evenings and weekends. Do not postpone seeking specialised attention if you have any of the following problems: 

1. Loose teeth

While loose teeth are common for children still shedding their milk teeth, they are a cause for concern in adults. Loose teeth commonly come as a result of dental infections or an accident. With immediate attention, the dentist will be able to repair the tooth before complete connection to blood supply and nerves is severed, leaving you with a more complex problem. On the way to the dentist, you can use an ice-pack wrapped in a towel to relieve pain and swelling.

2. Broken teeth

Broken or fractured teeth range from simple chips to more serious fractures and splits. The severity of injury will determine whether or not the tooth can be saved. If you have a broken/fractured tooth following a head or face injury, you may need emergency medical treatment if the injury is also accompanied by extreme ear or head pain, draining from the nose and/or ears and loss of cognitive function. These could indicate injury to your skull, brain, jaw or facial bones.

The most common broken tooth injuries are far less serious, thankfully. They include craze lines (enamel crack without part of tooth falling out), enamel chips (enamel breaking and falling out above gum), dentin and enamel chips and the more serious split teeth and root fractures. Small chips may need nothing more than simple polishing, but more serious injuries accompanied by pain (whether constant or intermittent) need emergency service. More severe injuries may result in the tooth being removed and replaced with dental implants. If you can find the fragment, clean with warm water and soak in water or milk to prevent drying out. Carry it with you to the dentist. You can take a painkiller and use a cold compress to reduce pain.

3. Avulsed teeth

Getting a tooth/teeth knocked out is common after physical trauma e.g. auto accident or following contact sports. This is why mouthguards are important for the latter. The longer you wait following avulsion the higher the chance that the tooth and gum, vessels, nerves and tissues could be permanently damaged. If you can, pick up the tooth, rinse with warm water to remove dirt and replace in the socket (front side front) – taking care not to touch the root area. If the tooth won't stay in place, soak in some milk or water and carry it to the dentist with you. With quick action, you can save your natural tooth and get to keep it.