Dental Emergency:
What You Need to Know...

Toothache Causes

Abscess

Toothache can be due to an abscess or infection. You will experience an intense toothache usually accompanied by throbbing and a swollen face. Your symptoms will get worst when you lie down due to your blood pressure around the abscess increasing.An abscess is defined as an area of localised infection involving the surrounding tissues and structure of the tooth caused by dental caries or tooth decay. The trauma on the tooth can progress into an infection in the nerves.An abscess shows a collection of pus around the tooth's root and shows up as a pouch of infected tissue on dental x-rays.

An abscess will cause pain and discomfort, in other words, toothache! Children identify this pain as a sour or bitter taste in their mouths. If your child relays these symptoms, then you should head to the dentist.
When we treat a dental abscess, we will attempt to eliminate the infection and preserve the tooth. Treatment of the disease will include pain management and antibiotics to clear up the infection, followed by root canal therapy. You will need to come back for a dental crown to re-strengthen the tooth structure. Unfortunately, sometimes the tooth cannot be preserved, and extraction is recommended.If you are experiencing painful eating, then the culprits for this type of pain can be tooth decay or a small crack in the tooth. An x-ray image can reveal the problem.

Impacted Wisdom Tooth

Wisdom teeth are known as third molars. Most people have four wisdom teeth, two wisdom teeth on the bottom and two wisdom teeth on the top.

When wisdom teeth fail to erupt through the gums straightforwardly, it is called Impacted Wisdom Teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth act as food traps and subsequently are breeding grounds for bacteria that cause infection over or around the gums leading to severe pain in the back of your mouth.

Your symptoms can be severe toothache at the back of the mouth, a bad taste when chewing food, gum redness, bad breath or a sore throat.

Tooth Knocked Out

Find the tooth and remain calm. Ensure that you hold the crown only (top of the tooth and do not rub or scrape any tissue fragments off the tooth. Ensure the tooth is clean by rinsing quickly under the tap or in a glass of milk. Do not let the tooth dry out.

Baby Teeth Knocked Out

Refrain from putting knocked out baby teeth back in because you may damage the permanent tooth growing underneath.

Adults Permanent Tooth Knock Out

It is essential to place a knocked-out tooth by setting the tooth back into its socket or in a cup of milk as soon as possible before your emergency dental appointment. 

Saving a permanent adult tooth:

1. You must hold the tooth by the white part of the tooth. Please do not hold the tooth by the yellow part.
   
2. If the tooth is dirty, you can lick it clean or rinse the tooth under cold running water for 5 seconds.
   
3. If possible, reinsert the tooth back into the tooth socket holding it in place or 
   
4. Hold the tooth in your cheek.
   
5. If you have successfully reinserted the tooth into its hole, bite gently to keep the tooth in place until you can come in and see an emergency dentist or us.
   

Broken Tooth

Sports injuries and falls can cause trauma to a tooth, which may cause the tooth's blood vessels to burst. The supply of fresh blood of the tooth may be cut off, causing the sensitivity to parts of the tooth, including the nerves, to start to die. This can cause infection, spreading to other sensitive parts of the body, causing severe issues. It is vital that you make a dental appointment to have this issue addressed.

A broken tooth is a dental emergency. Dental emergencies such as loose teeth, chipped teeth and fractured teeth require urgent dental attention. 

Half Broken Tooth -Baby Teeth

Find the broken piece of the tooth. See if there is a red spot on the broken face of the tooth. If the tooth is sensitive, it may be because the nerve is exposed. If the child is in pain, you can use over the counter pain relief. Make sure that you make an appointment with Brite Dental as soon as possible.

Half Broken Tooth -Adult Teeth

Locate the broken piece of the tooth and place it in milk or saliva to keep it hydrated. The fractured part of the tooth may be used for restoring the tooth. If you have lost the broken piece, the dentist may build up the tooth with a restorative material.

What can I do for a toothache?

You may rinse the mouth out with warm water. Remember that your teeth will be sensitive, so do not use cold water. If swelling is present, use a cold compress on the outside of your face. Over the counter pain relief is recommended, such as Nurofen or Panadol. Do not use aspirin as aspirin can cause the are to burn if placed on the tooth.

Chips, Cracks and Fractures

If the tooth has minimal cracks or fractures and no pain, then seek a dental appointment (not an emergency appointment); however, if the damage is extensive or the nerve is exposed, you should seek immediate dental assistance.