A guide to what to expect during a dental emergency

The Emergency dentist has had patients describe their dental pain as the worst pain they’ve ever experienced. The key to minimising any pain experienced is to not delay treatment as chances are it won’t get better on its own. Here, we go into the different reasons you may find yourself in our emergency dentist’s chair.

What are my treatment options for dental pain?

The treatment options available for dental pain are:

Removal of the tooth or Extractions
Fillings
Gum Treatment or Periodontal Treatment
Root Canal Treatment

We will need to discuss your dental history and examine you first in order to determine the cause of the pain before treating you. This may involve x-rays and other tests on your mouth, gums, jaw, throat, or sinuses.

Why does dental pain occur and what causes it?

Tooth pain is a condition that can be caused by many different factors. The top three major causes of tooth pain include:

Tooth Decay: Occurs when the bacteria has reached the roots of the teeth resulting in an abscess.
Fractured Tooth or Filling: An exposed nerve can cause an abscess as well as excruciating dental pain.
Gum Disease: There are many ways gum disease can cause tooth pain, especially if left untreated and it develops into periodontitis.

In order to find out the cause a quick examination of your mouth will need to be performed.

Dental Emergency Treatment Tips

For Toothache & Pain
Dental emergencies require immediate action to ensure the best possible outcomes. Contact Us so we can help determine your dental emergency. After you have spoken with us and before we see you, there are a few things you can do (Note: Do not consume alcohol or illicit drugs to relieve pain).

Aching tooth, teeth, gums and mouth
Rinse out your mouth with warm water to cleanse it. Take an anti-inflammatory such as Neurofen to relieve some of the pain. Do not apply aspirin directly.

Object stuck in gums or teeth
Gently try and remove the object then apply pressure with a soft cloth once remove. Alternatively, try gently flossing the area.

Bleeding gums, lips and mouth
Clean the area gently with warm water then apply a cold pack or other cold compress.

Severed gums, lips and mouth
Rinse your mouth out with warm water to cleanse it then apply pressure with a cloth to the area.

Do I need to see a dentist about a toothache?

Yes. If the pain is severe, has come on suddenly, has lasted more than a day, you have a fever, you have other pain associated with your toothache, such as an earache, you should contact us to relieve your pain and treat the problem. Whatever your dental condition turns out to be, it is best to seek treatment before such things as infection start to spread or permanent damage is caused to your mouth or gums.

We will determine the cause, take action to prevent the spread of infection or other permanent damage to your mouth, teeth or gums and then treat your condition.

Will I need pain relief after treatment?

This really depends on the type of treatment you’ve received. For infections, the treatment performed is often enough to relieve the pain where antibiotics are also administered. For treatment of conditions other than infections a few pain relief solutions are:

Local anaesthesia, which is used for simpler procedures such as fillings and root canals.
Happy gas, which can alleviate pain and anxiety during most types of dental procedures.
IV sedation, which is most commonly used for more complex procedures such as wisdom teeth extractions.
Oral sedation, which is used most often for anxious patients.

Can toothache or other dental pain be prevented?

Yes. Regular and proper care of your teeth, such as daily brushing and flossing, are the best ways to ensure you don’t experience sudden dental pain, resulting in the need for emergency dentistry.

Patients who regularly visit the dentist for check-ups and properly take care of their teeth rarely find themselves needing emergency dentistry. There may be no signs at all that your teeth or a tooth may be deteriorating or in need of dental care, which is why prevention is your best option. Visiting your Dentist every 3 to 6 months will allow us to see the potential problems you may not even feel or see.