If you’re looking for an emergency dentist in Hobart who can provide quick and effective treatments for your issues, Island Dental can help. We understand that dental emergencies can happen at any time and that is why we offer emergency dental services outside normal hours, including some Saturdays.
Dental Pain — When to Consult an Emergency Dentist
If you are experiencing dental pain that is severe, persistent, or unexpected, you are in an emergency dental situation, and you should see a dentist as soon as possible. At Island Dental we endeavour to see emergency dental patients with priority.
Unexpected mouth, tooth, or gum pain is often an indication of a dental infection, and if left untreated, this infection can spread to other parts of the face, neck, or head. In turn, this may result in serious and often avoidable health issues.
If you are looking for urgent treatment for your dental pain, our clinic can provide you with a number of appropriate emergency dental services, such as:
- Removal of the tooth
- Fillings
- Gum/periodontal treatment
- Root canal treatment
To determine the cause of the pain and the best course of action before treating you, we will first need to discuss your dental history and perform a dental examination. This may involve X-rays and other tests on your mouth, gums, jaw, throat, or sinuses.
Knocked-Out Teeth — What You Need to Know
At Island Dental, we understand that accidentally losing a tooth can feel like a scary situation to be in, but we’re here to reassure you that there’s often no major cause for alarm. By taking swift, appropriate action and consulting a dentist as soon as possible, most knocked-out teeth can be fixed with ease.
The first thing to remember in this kind of dental emergency is to stay calm and act quickly. It’s important to seek advice and receive the emergency dental treatments you need as soon as possible after the injury. Doing so will ensure the issue can be fixed quickly and easily.
If you have knocked out any of your teeth, there are a few steps you will need to take to preserve them before you arrive at the dentist. These steps differ depending on whether the damage was inflicted on adult or baby teeth, but there are a few things you should avoid in both circumstances:
- Do not transport the tooth in water
- Avoid touching, scraping, or scrubbing the root surface
- Do not allow the tooth to dry out
- Do not delay seeking dental treatment/advice
Adult Teeth
When an adult tooth, also known as a permanent tooth, is knocked out, you should try and put it back in the socket as quickly as possible. This will increase the chances of the tooth surviving and being reimplanted successfully.
When handling the tooth, make sure you pick it up by the crown rather than the root. Touching the root can damage the cells on its surface, making it harder for your dentist to reattach the tooth.
If the tooth is dirty, we recommend rinsing it in milk or saline solution to remove the dirt and debris before it’s placed back in the socket. It’s best to avoid rinsing the tooth in water. Doing so can damage the cells on the root surface by causing them to swell and rupture, increasing the chance of failure when attempting to reimplant the tooth.
If the person is conscious, you can now place the clean adult tooth back in the socket. Hold it by the crown and put it back into place using the other teeth as a guide. Use light pressure only.
When the tooth is back in place, ask the person to gently bite on a soft cloth to hold it there. Once the tooth is securely in the socket, it’s important to seek emergency dental services as soon as possible.
In some circumstances, it may not be possible to place the tooth back in the socket. This can happen when:
- The person is unconscious
- The tooth cannot be located
- The socket is bleeding too much for the tooth to be put back in
If you find yourself in any of these situations, put the loose tooth in milk (if possible) or seal it in plastic wrap and head to the dental clinic with it immediately. If you can’t find the tooth, take the patient to a dental professional while others continue to search. If found, you will again need to preserve the tooth accordingly and take it to the dentist as soon as you can.
Baby teeth
If your child knocks out any of their baby teeth before they have a chance to lose them naturally, it’s important to book them in with an emergency dentist to properly assess the damage. While reimplantation is usually not recommended for baby teeth, the dentist will still need to examine your child to ensure they have not damaged their gums, mouth, or any other teeth.
Unlike adult teeth, you should not put a baby tooth back into its socket. Doing so can damage the adult tooth underneath, lead to growth problems with the bone and gums, or cause issues when the baby tooth is ready to fall out naturally.
Most children under five years have baby teeth only. However, if you’re in doubt as to whether your child has lost a baby tooth or an adult tooth, place the tooth in milk and take it and your child to seek immediate dental advice.
Broken Teeth
If you have broken a tooth, the steps you’ll need to take are very similar to dealing with a tooth that has been knocked out. You will first need to locate any broken pieces of tooth and place them in milk. Don’t let the pieces dry out. If milk is not available, wrap the tooth fragments in plastic wrap for transportation. Once you have gathered and properly stored the fragments, try to seek dental advice as soon as possible.
Contact Our Team Today
If you’re looking for an emergency dentist in Hobart who can provide the rapid treatment you need, look no further than Island Dental. We will be there to help you with any unexpected dental issues you may have, offering prompt, effective solutions that you can rely on. Contact us today to secure your appointment!