Dental Emergencies! Part 1

Q:

I think I might be getting a toothache, but don’t want to let it spoil the weekend away that I have booked for my wedding anniversary. What should I do ?

A:

It may seem obvious, but do not ignore the early signs of a dental problem. The first thing would be to contact your dental practice –if possible NOT at ten minutes to five on a Friday evening!! Get in touch as early in the day as possible, most practices do make every effort to fit you in if you have a problem, and will always make it a priority to see you straight away if you are in pain.

Q:

I don’t have a Dentist, what do I do?

A:

If you do not currently belong to a practice- don’t worry, you can get a list of local practices from your Primary Healthcare Trust (PCT) or Family Practitioners Committee (FPC).You can also have access to dental care through the Dental Access Centre, at NHS Direct. However, this is not necessarily the best way to select the right practitioner for you – usually it is best to do the research you need to find the right practitioner for you before you have an urgent problem.

Q:

How do I find the right Dentist for me?

A:

Usually the Practice needs to be local to you, either at work or at home, so we usually suggest it is wise to chat to your colleagues at work, or friends and family near where you live, and see if they can recommend their practice. Even if they do not, it is all useful information in selecting a practitioner that you can communicate with, and can trust.

Q:

What should I do in the meantime?

A:

If you know that you have broken a tooth, or a filling-it may give some relief to place a bit of chewing gum over the sharp edge- this can protect your tongue or cheek from being cut by the sharp edge, and will give some relief until you get to see your dentist. Often patients report that when they come for their appointment that it is rarely as difficult as they had imagined it would be, and often the problem can be resolved in one short visit.

If you are suffering before you can see your dentist, often avoiding very hot drinks or food, and also very cold drinks or drinks with ice in them, will certainly help to avoid making the problem worse.

If there is no obvious problem and you are uncertain which tooth is causing you the problem, the dentist may have to carry out tests on a number of teeth, or take an X-Ray to see underneath the fillings present in your mouth.

Q:

What about pain relief?

A:

Patients often ask what they should take short term if they are suffering from toothache. At Dentist Portishead, we would always suggest that as a first option you should see your dentist as soon as possible who will be able to resolve the problem, by solving the cause- but we always ask that you check that any regular medicines prescribed by your doctor for any medical conditions are taken into account. This is very important. However in the short term, if you are able to take them we usually find that 2 x Paracetemol ( 2x 500mg) followed 3 hours later with 2x Ibuprofen (2x 200mg) then a further gap of 3 hours before repeating these tablets will help most dental pains. Check with your doctor that these tablets are safe for you, and DO NOT EXCEED THE STATED DOSE.

Fran Dowler

Dentist Portishead

Tel. 01275 848825 – 9a The Precinct, Portishead, Bristol. BS20 6AH