3 Important Things To Do In A Dental Emergency

Oh, no! You’ve woken up at 3am and you’ve got a crazy toothache that wasn’t there when you fell asleep. Or maybe your child had a collision with their cousin while playing backyard cricket and their front tooth was caught in the carnage? Whatever the circumstances, here are the 3 most important steps to get you through a dental emergency.

1. Identify the type of dental emergency you’re dealing with

Identifying what has happened and noting any relevant details is going to help you better communicate with your dentist and their team. If you can give them a step-by-step account of what has happened, your symptoms, any physical damage and/or pain you’ve noticed, and other bits of information, they’ll have a much easier time figuring out what it is they need to do to help you out.

2. Make an emergency appointment with your dentist

This should be a given but it needs to be said. It’s silly to put up with a horrible toothache or a chipped incisor when all it takes is a phone call to your local dentist to ask for help. You may be worried about taking time off work or dental fees but, trust us, it’s worth dealing with dental emergencies quickly. This helps to avoid any ongoing damage and will likely decrease the recovery time and dental fees required down the track. You may also have additional anxiety about having to visit the dentist. This is normal and there are steps you can take to help dispel dental anxiety.

3. Try not to panic

We know it might be difficult in the moment, but one of the best things you can do to help the situation in a dental emergency is to try and keep calm and avoid panicking. Sit down somewhere comfortable, take some pain relief if you have any on hand, take some deep breaths, and accept help from those who want to help you.

So, next time your teeth are giving you grief and you’re facing a dental crisis – assess the situation, contact your trusted dental practice, and try to keep calm. Help is on the way!

Categorised in: Informational

This post was written by Dr Josie