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What Are The Most Common Dental Emergencies?

Dental emergencies can — and do — happen to us all. The good news is that our team at Boroughbridge Dental, helping patients in and around Ripon, can help. But many of our patients aren’t aware they have a dental emergency or don’t know what counts. Read on to find out more about the most common dental emergencies and the treatments we offer.

Dental Emergency - Boroughbridge Dental Practice - Ripon

A guide to the most common dental emergencies

Most dentists agree that there are a handful of dental emergencies that crop up in the majority of cases. These include:

  • Toothache:

This is a general pain in the mouth or teeth, and can be a sign of decay. You might experience swelling, tingling, or discomfort, and this can be when you eat and drink; when brushing; or even as the weather cools. While remedies like painkillers and cold compresses can help ease your toothache, sadly, they won’t fix it. You’ll need to book an emergency dental appointment to handle this – especially if you’re experiencing inflammation.

  • Missing tooth:

Whether the tooth loss has been caused by poor oral hygiene or an injury, it’s possible we can help. Our expert dentists may be able to reinsert the tooth into the socket, if you act quickly and, providing there’s no trauma or problems with the gums. Pop the tooth in a glass of milk and get in touch with our team.

  • Missing crown or filling:

Our dentists can help to restore your tooth. If you still have the restoration – for example, if your crown simply fell off – we could even put the same one in place. A filling can be carried out during your emergency dentist appointment, or we can fit a temporary crown and place the permanent one at a later date.

  • Broken appliances:

Broken dental bridge? Fixed braces poking into your cheeks? Dentures split? Whatever your concern, we’ll do our best to act quickly and remedy the problem. Broken appliances may be possible to fix, and issues with fixed braces – like poky wires – can be trimmed if needed.

  • Infections:

In cases like this, we will aim to treat the infection and seal the tooth, if it’s occurred inside the pulp (the tangle of nerves and blood vessels in the centre of the tooth). An abscess can also count as an infection. You might have pain, a high temperature, bad breath or other symptoms too.

  • Cracks, chips, and broken teeth:

Emergency dental care can help to restore your tooth. If you need a crown, you might have to wear a temporary one while the permanent crown is created.

Get emergency help

If you are experiencing any of the dental emergencies above, call our team immediately.