Dental Emergencies
What do I do if I have toothache?
The best thing you can do is call us as soon as you can for advice. If necessary we will see you straight away to help get you out of pain. Call or book online for an emergency appointment.
Why have I got toothache?
The main reasons why you can get toothache are:
- Generalised sensitivity.
Generalised sensitivity
- Sensitivity can vary from very mild to very severe.
- Typically it is characterised by a sharp shooting pain to hot, cold, sweet things and to touch.
- It occurs when the top protective enamel layer of the tooth is lost and the underlying dentine is exposed.
- It is common in areas where the enamel is thin such as where the tooth and gum meet.
Reasons this can occur are:
- Brushing too hard.
- Erosion from acid in food and drinks.
- Gum disease leading to gum shrinkage.
- Natural gum shrinkage (recession).
- Tooth grinding.
- Cracked tooth or filling.
If you suffer from sensitivity then come for a thorough examination to find the cause and the right solution for you.
- Sensitivity following recent treatment.
Sensitivity following recent treatment.
- This can occur after any treatment. Everyone’s teeth respond to treatment differently and it is difficult to say if you will get this or not.
There are certain cases where it is more likely to occur:
- Tooth whitening.
- After large fillings.
- If a new filling is too high.
- After more invasive procedures such as crowns.
- In people who generally suffer from sensitive teeth.
This will usually resolve on it’s own after a few days. Increased sensitivity or pain could be a sign of other problems or the need for root canal treatment and you should contact us immediately.
Please call if you are experiencing any problems after treatment, it is usually something very simple such as a slight adjustment that is required.
- Sensitivity or pain from broken tooth or filling.
Sensitivity or pain from broken tooth or filling.
- This occurs because the dentine is exposed when a tooth is broken or filling lost.
- The pain could range from mild to severe.
- Call for an emergency appointment. If the tooth can’t be treated on the day we will place a temporary restoration to cover the area and alleviate symptoms.
- Tooth decay.
Tooth decay.
- This occurs because the dentine is exposed when a tooth is broken or filling lost.
- The pain could range from mild to severe.
- Call for an emergency appointment. If the tooth can’t be treated on the day we will place a temporary restoration to cover the area and alleviate symptoms.
- Cracked cusp syndrome.
Cracked cusp syndrome.
- This is one of the most difficult things to diagnose in dentistry.
- It is used to describe teeth which have a hairline crack and no part of the tooth has yet broken off.
- The symptoms are very variable and the crack is sometimes not obvious making it very difficult to detect.
Symptoms include:
- Sharp pain when biting. Characteristic with things like seeded bread or seeds in fruits.
- Rebound pain- short, sharp pain when biting force is released from the tooth.
- Pain when grinding teeth.
- Pain with hot, cold, sweet things.
- Can locate the pain to a single tooth.
If the crack spreads towards the pulp of the tooth, more severe symptoms such as that of teeth requiring root canal treatment may be felt.
Common after trauma or in patients with clenching or grinding habits.
- TMJ problems.
TMJ problems.
What is TMJ Dysfunction?
- It is a problem affecting the chewing muscles (Muscles of mastication) and the joints between the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
- This is the joint connecting your lower jaw to your skull.
- Up to 30% of people will experience it at sometimes in their life.
What are the symptoms of TMJ dysfunction?
- Clicking, popping or grating noises when you move your mouth.
- Pain in muscles around the jaw.
- Difficulty in opening the mouth. Sometimes limited opening or locking of the jaw may be experienced.
- Headaches and migraines.
- Earache.
- Neck and back pains.
How can the dentist help with this?
Correct diagnosis and the provision of a type of mouthguard can significantly help.
- Sinus problems.
Sinus problems.
- Sometimes a sinus problem can mask as toothache.
- Typically if you are get some sudden toothache in the top molars.
- Often diagnosed if otherwise healthy teeth have a period of pain or discomfort during a time of a cold, Hay fever or when you feel “bunged up”.
- Common in people who suffer sinus related issues and larger sinus.
- Pain can feel worse when you tilt your head forwards or run.
- Please do not self diagnose this problem. It is crucial to have a full examination to ensure there are other no hidden problems.
- Grinding or clenching.
Grinding or clenching.
- Tooth wear and grinding or clenching of the teeth are very common things we see.
- We offer a number of solutions to help protect the teeth.
- Significant extra forces can be put on the teeth and jaws from clenching and grinding, which can lead to headaches and broken teeth.
- We will provide a thorough check of tooth wear combined with signs of clenching and grinding at your examination visit.
- We will recommend mouth guard solutions as a form of preventative dentistry should it be required.
- Dental abscess.
Dental abscess.
- A dental abscess is a collection of pus that forms in your teeth and spreads to the surrounding tissue.
- It forms as a result of bacteria.
- Symptoms include pain, sensitive or tender teeth, swollen face, loose teeth.
An abscess can be a:
- Periapical abscess- abscess forms from the tooth after pulp infected.
- Periodontal abscess- Abscess forms in the gums supporting the teeth. Seen in advanced gum (periodontal) disease.
- Both are as the result of advanced dental disease and can be avoided by regular visits to the dentist and prevention of dental disease from a young age.
- Gum problems.
Gum problems.
Having healthy gums is as important as having healthy teeth. As many teeth are lost due to poor gums as to tooth decay. The key to optimum oral health is good teeth and gums. Regular visits to the hygienist will help keep you gums healthy. After visiting The Dentist we will provide a tailor made plan for you to make sure your gums are in top condition. If you suffer from more serious gum (periodontal) conditions we will refer you to the Periodontist (gum specialist ) for more advanced treatments.
Why are my gums bleeding?
- Regular visits to the hygienist are the key to healthy gums.
- Bleeding gums are a sign that the gums are inflamed due to a build up of plaque or calculus.
- Usually regular hygiene visits will solve the problem.
- In some cases it can be a sign of more significant gum disease where further treatment with the hygienist or gum specialist may be required.
- It is crucial to maintain regular hygiene visits to prevent gum disease and keep gums in tip-top condition.
Should my gums bleed during pregnancy?
- Although bleeding gums are more common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes it is still not ideal.
- We recommend that you may need to see the hygienist more regularly during pregnancy to help prevent this.
Why do my teeth feel loose?
- Advanced gum disease leads to loss of bone supporting the teeth, which can lead to looseness.
- Don’t worry, even in the most serve cases we can help to keep the teeth for as long as possible.
- A course of treatment with a gum specialist can significantly improve the situation and maintain your healthy smile.
- The key is to not delay and come in and see us as soon as you can. The quicker you come to see us, the sooner we can help you fix things.
- Dry socket ( infection after extraction).
Dry socket ( infection after extraction).
- This is an infection in the bone following an extraction if the blood clot is lost.
- Occurs in 2-5% of extractions.
- More likely if you smoke, have poor oral hygiene, have a complicated extraction and have a history of dry socket.
- It is characterized by pain that starts 2-3 days after a tooth has been extracted.
- The pain can be quite severe.
- Can get a bad taste and smell from the area.
- If this occurs you should contact us immediately for an appointment as some simple medication can help enormously.
- Pericoronitis.
Pericoronitis.
- This is an inflammation of the gum tissue around molar teeth, typically partially impacted wisdom teeth.
- Where there is a flap of gum, food and bacteria can lodge causing an infection.
- The infection can be severe in some cases extending to the jaw, cheek and neck.
- Please come and see us as some simple medication can help.
There is no need to self diagnose, that’s what The Dentist is here for. Not only will we diagnose your problem, we will tell you how we can help you. If you are ever unsure, please call us.
The best thing to do is call us straight away for an emergency appointment.
In the mean time:
- Avoid eating or drinking on it.
- Avoid very hot or cold drinks to prevent sensitivity.
Swellings can be quite serious especially if they spread and start involving the eye or throat. Call us immediately for advice and an appointment.
- Abscess from infected tooth.
- Abscess from infected gum.
- Trauma.
We advise you call us immediately for advice and an emergency appointment. In the mean time:
- Avoid eating on that tooth.
- If you have lost the tooth or a portion save it in milk or if not available saliva.
- If we are to save the tooth the best chances are for immediate action, within an hour if possible.