Guidelines and Instructions on Common dental Emergencies

Guidelines , Educating and self help tips to common dental emergencies
There are a number of dental emergencies that we regularly assist our patients with on a daily basis, we are committed to always assisting our patients in whatever dental emergency they encounter 7 ( seven) days a week, herewith below are some self help tips that patients can use until they reach our surgery.
1. Toothache
Please call us and explain your symptoms to us, we will endeavor to see our patients as soon as possible. Then ease the pain by taking an over-the-counter pain medicine that works for you, but do not put the pills on your sore tooth. Hold an ice pack against your face at the spot of the sore tooth. Please do not put a heating pad, a hot water bottle, or any other source of heat on your jaw. Heat will make things worse instead of better.
2. Chipped or broken tooth
Broken teeth can almost always be saved. Please call us and explain what happened and we will endeavor to see our patients as soon as possible. If it's a small break, we may use a white filling to fix the tooth. If the fracture is more serious, a root canal may be needed. Your tooth may also need a crown (also commonly called a cap) in order to protect it if the fracture is large.
3. Knocked out tooth
If the knocked-out tooth is an adult (or permanent) tooth, we may be able to put it back. You must act quickly. If the tooth is put back in place within 10 minutes, it has a fair chance of taking root again. After 2 hours, the chances are poor.
If the tooth looks clean, put it back in its place (its socket). If this is not possible, or if there's a chance that the tooth might be swallowed, put it in a container of cold milk. Come to us right away. If you get to us within ten minutes, there is a fair chance that the tooth will take root again.
4. Badly bitten lip or tongue
If there has been trauma to the mouth and there is bleeding, press down on the part of the mouth that is bleeding. Use a clean cloth to do this. If the lip is swollen, use an ice pack to keep the swelling down. If the bleeding does not stop and you are too far from our surgery, go to Emergency or Casualty at the nearest hospital right away.
5. Something stuck between teeth
First, try using dental floss, very gently and carefully, to remove the object that is stuck between your teeth. Never poke between your teeth with a pin or similar sharp, pointy objects can cut your gums or scratch the tooth surface. If you can't get the object out, contact our surgery and we will endeavor to see our patients as soon as possible.
6. Lost filling
Put a piece of softened sugarless chewing gum in the spot where the filling was lost. This will protect the area for a short period of time. Contact our office and we will endeavor to see our patients as soon as possible.