We understand that when you have a dental emergency such as toothache, infection, or a damaged tooth, you need to see a dentist as soon as possible.
Research has proven that the festive season is a very common time for dental pain and dental injuries to occur. This can be due to people overindulging in rich food, drinking and taking part in different activities outside of their normal day-to-day lives, or just down to timing!
What is a dental emergency?
A dental emergency could include any of the following;
- bleeding from the mouth
- severe pain or throbbing
- tooth infection or abscess
- facial swelling
- foul taste
- knocked and broken a tooth
- trauma from a blow to face
A severe infection in the mouth can potentially be life-threatening and needs immediate treatment before it spreads further.
How can I ease tooth pain at home until I am seen by a dentist?
Some advice on what to do in a dental emergency could help reduce pain and discomfort, prevents complications and improve the chances of full recovery.
You can use these home remedies to get short-term relief but ultimately you’ll need to get an emergency appointment with a dentist asap (as it usually gets worse).
- Over the counter painkillers
- Salt water rinsing (swishing warm salty water around your mouth)
- Ice or cold compress (depending on kind of pain)
- Clove Oil
Can I go to my Doctor for an appointment?
Your GP will not generally deal with dental problems and won’t be able to offer you dental care. To save wasting precious time, book an appointment with an emergency dentist in croydon.
Can I go to a hospital A&E for toothache?
A&E will only accept dental cases in serious circumstances such as :
- severe unbearable pain
- heavy persistent bleeding
- injuries to face, mouth or jaw
- severe swelling
- breathing difficulties
How do I get an emergency dentist appointment?
Call us at Mayfield Dental on 020 8657 1291 or try our emergency dentist mobile 07891 578648. Our dedicated dentist in Croydon will be available for over the phone to do their best to arrange a same-day appointment, especially if your condition is severe.
At Mayfield Dental, we’ll do our best to see you in an emergency over the Christmas and New Year period.
Damaged tooth?
If you feel something is not right after eating a crisp, biting on a nut or any other hard foods, you may have chipped or broken a tooth. The treatment you will need depends on the extent of the damage. Seeing an emergency dentist straight away is the best thing you can do to prevent further problems. Until you have found an emergency dentist, our advice would be to try not to bite on that area and avoid very hot or very cold food or drinks to prevent sensitivity.
Chipped or broken tooth?
Chips and cracks in teeth are not usually emergencies unless they are painful or sensitive. However, we would advise that you get it looked at quickly, as the inside of your tooth is probably affected and can cause more damage if not checked.
Lost a tooth?
Have you got into a pickle over Christmas and managed to lose a tooth? If possible, try to recover the tooth and clean it treating with care. It is vital to protect the whole tooth and this will give it a better chance of survival. A tip is to put the tooth in a cup of milk (if possible) to keep the root from drying out.
If your tooth has stayed in place but is now loose, keep it where it is and avoid the area best you can until you have your emergency appointment. Do not try to push the tooth back in place. Use a damp tissue or gauze to hold the tooth in its place and call a dentist immediately.
Loose or lost filling, crown, bridge or veneer?
If toffees or a sticky pudding or anything else have loosened or pulled out your filling, crown, bridge or veneer you will need to visit your dentist as soon as possible.
- Filling – if a filling has fallen out, try to remove it from your mouth to prevent choking. Your dentist will need to completely replace it so you can dispose of it.
- Crown, bridge or veneer – for a crown, bridge or a veneer, as long as it is salvageable, your dentist may need to send off to the lab to be cleaned so it can be recemented as soon as possible. This is not always the case, as there could be an underlying reason why this has come loose and you may need to have further investigation, X-rays and possibly replacements. In some instances, it is just a recement but not always!
Toothache?
There are various reasons for toothache but quite often it is caused by infection. Over-the-counter painkillers can be used to take the edge off initially, but that pain relief may not last for long, and you will need to see a dentist. As infection builds up, it can spread, causing you more problems and be more costly, so putting an appointment off is not recommended for many reasons.
In the meantime, warm salty water or an antiseptic mouthwash could help to rinse your mouth. Additionally, light flossing of the area to remove any surface food (if not too painful) could be beneficial. Following this, call your dentist who will be able to advise further and find the cause of the pain.
Damaged soft tissues, cut lip or tongue?
Dental emergencies also include softer areas of your mouth. These can be damaged from being bitten, cut, or damaged as a result of something else, such as a chipped tooth. If this occurs, apply pressure until the bleeding stops and to stop swelling. If you can’t stop the bleeding and are losing blood, you may need to call 111 for advice.
Mayfield Dental would like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Remember if something does happen, we are here to help. For emergency dental treatment in Croydon and surrounding areas, we offer an out-of-hours dentist. We can offer you a same-day emergency dental care appointment if possible. We are here to help in the care of nervous or anxious patients. Mayfield Dental is a fully private dental surgery; therefore, the cost for any emergency dental care starts from an initial fee of £60 and can go up to £200 for an out-of-hours dental callout. Please note treatment and or antibiotics will be additional.
We will always discuss the costs before any treatment takes place. If you have a dental emergency out of hours, please call us on 020 8657 1291 or 07891 578648.
