Unsure if you need to see a dentist today to deal with that toothache?
In this article, 5 common FAQs about dental emergencies are answered, helping you to navigate your care should you ever need to.
What is considered a dental emergency?
Generally, there are a few key things that should initiate visiting an emergency dentist Dublin.
The first one is a toothache, which may be causing you to stay awake or impacting your ability to function.
Secondly, if you have lost a restorative, such as a filling or crown, you will need to seek an emergency appointment. Should you have a cracked, chipped or loose tooth, you should also seek emergency help, alongside the presence of any swelling, ulcers larger than a 5 pence piece or any lumps or bumps which may arise suddenly or gradually in your mouth.
If you are unsure if you have a dental emergency, call your dental clinic and ask the receptionist.
Should I go to A&E for a dental emergency?
Generally speaking, it is not advisable to go to A&E for a dental emergency; the teams at hospitals are rarely equipped to handle emergency dental issues and the waits may be longer than if you had sought out an emergency 24-hour dentist.
However, if you are suffering from uncontrollable bleeding from your mouth, have a swelling that is impacting your breathing or eating, or you have developed swelling around your eyes or neck following an abscess, then you should attend A&E for emergency treatment.
Also, if you are suffering from symptoms of sepsis and suspect a dental abscess, do not delay in seeking emergency care.
What if an abscess pops in my mouth?
If you have a dental abscess and have not been able to seek help, if it bursts in your mouth, it is easy to assume that the ordeal is over. After all, many people experience a decrease in pressure and discomfort following a burst abscess.
But you will still need to seek out the assistance of a dentist; they will be able to drain the remaining abscess, clean it and decrease the swelling. They will also be able to perform diagnostics on how best to prevent it from coming back, such as a root canal or an extraction.
Do I need to be registered to see an emergency dental team?
This will depend on the regulations at your local dental practice.
In some cases, you will need to be registered to access out-of-hours care and in others you may be able to simply walk in.
This is why it is advised to seek out a dental team who can offer appointments 24 hours a day in the case of an emergency. If your surgery doesn’t offer this, look online for nearby practices that can offer emergency care without registering and make a note of them before an emergency dental issue arises.
Can an emergency dental team extract a tooth?
Emergency dental teams will only extract a tooth if they need to.
Rather, they will aim to relieve any discomfort you are having until you can seek out an appointment with your general dentist.
