Immediate Advice For Common Urgent Situations
Severe toothache. Over the counter pain relief may help in the short term. Avoid very hot or very cold foods and drinks, and keep the area clean with gentle brushing. Please contact us as soon as you can for an assessment.
Broken or chipped tooth. If you can, keep any broken fragments. Rinse your mouth gently with lukewarm water and avoid biting on that side. We can assess the extent of the break and discuss options to protect the tooth.
Lost filling or crown. Keep the area clean and avoid hard or sticky foods on that side. Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy may offer short term protection, but a clinical assessment is recommended to prevent further damage.
Knocked out adult tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, the part you can see, not the root. If it is clean, you may try to gently place it back into the socket and bite on a clean cloth. If you cannot reinsert it, keep it moist in milk or saliva and seek urgent dental care. Outcomes vary and depend on the nature and timing of the injury.
If you are unsure what to do, call us and we will advise the next sensible step.