An emergency dentist is a specialist who treats dental trauma and injuries quickly and effectively, including procedures such as tooth re-implantation, tooth splinting, and abscess drainage.
Typically, any oral pain lasting more than 24 hours and causing difficulty with breathing or swallowing should be considered a dental emergency. Other symptoms that should prompt attention to go to an emergency dentist Adelaide include swollen glands, bad taste in mouth, fever and other related signs.
Painful Toothache
If a toothache is bothering you, whether dull and aching or sharp and throbbing, it can seriously impact eating, sleeping and concentration. Therefore, it’s crucial that it gets diagnosed quickly so it can be rectified before worsening further.
Most tooth pain is the result of dental decay, although it could also be related to gum disease or dental abscesses. Furthermore, toothache could signal something more serious such as sinusitis or anaemia requiring medical intervention.
Before visiting your dentist, take an over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen until they can see you. An ice pack may also provide relief. If fever, chills, or facial rash accompany your toothache it indicates that its source may lie elsewhere – possibly hospitalisation may even be required depending on its cause – however depending on its source your dentist can recommend solutions long term to ease its severity.
Broken Tooth
As soon as a tooth breaks, treatment must begin immediately to avoid further cracking and infection. Depending on its severity, your dentist may suggest treatments such as dental bonding, root canal therapy or crowns to repair it.
If there is bleeding surrounding a broken tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water before applying pressure with gauze pad or damp tea bag to stop bleeding by applying pressure with gauze pads or damp tea bags (tannic acid helps blood clot more effectively). Over-the-counter pain relievers may also help manage pain until seeing your dentist.
Patients can use ice packs or frozen vegetable bags to help alleviate swelling around a broken tooth, saving any pieces that have broken off to store in cold milk or water until seeing their emergency dentist Adelaide – this gives their dentist a higher chance of saving it!
Tooth Extraction
Tooth extractions are a routine dental procedure and may even be considered emergency cases. Extractions may be needed to remove fractured or impacted wisdom teeth or treat severe tooth decay or an infected root canal system.
Before extracting a tooth, your dentist will numb the area with local anaesthetic or administer a sedative as necessary to ease anxiety and relieve any associated pain.
After extracting your tooth, it’s crucial to clot the area immediately. One method of doing so is biting down firmly on a piece of clean gauze for approximately an hour; you should change out this gauze every 30-40 minutes if bleeding persists.
To ease pain and swelling, cold compresses or over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen can be applied or taken. Furthermore, resting after surgery may help speed healing; avoid exercises like heavy lifting until all symptoms of pain subside – this will help ensure a speedier healing timeframe for wounds.
Broken Jaw
An injury to the jaw can be a medical emergency. It may cause pain, swelling, visible bruising and cuts in the ear canal as well as difficulty eating and speaking. Sometimes the fracture also alters how teeth fit together making them harder to open and close.
If you suspect a broken jaw, it’s essential that you contact an emergency dentist as soon as possible. A physician will conduct a physical exam and order X-rays; additionally, they’ll feel your jawbone through its skin to check whether or not it moves. If a severe break is suspected, surgery may be required in which metal plates and bars will be installed to keep broken areas stable while healing; additionally, wires may be needed during healing process to secure jaw in its place if wires have been attached – have blunt scissors handy should you need to cut them in case of vomiting or choking.