Emergency Dentist

At MJ Warren dental practice we are happy to offer an emergency dental service (subject to availability). If you are in pain or have experience a dental trauma please do not hesitate to call us and book your emergency appointment.

Emergency Procedure

There are many different problems that can affect our teeth and gums and in the first instance we will want to get you out of pain and to stabilize the afflicted region. Emergencies can become more complex treatments depending on the nature of the emergency. We will always aim to complete your treatment as quickly as possible and also within one appointment, but in some circumstances, there may be subsequent appointments required to achieve dental health.

Common Dental Emergencies

Tooth Ache

Tooth ache is probably the most common dental emergency we see on a regular basis. There are many reasons that can lead to tooth ache, such as tooth decay which allows bacteria to enter the tooth, causing sensitivity and pain.

Sudden trauma to a tooth or multiple teeth can also lead to dental pain. It is recommended that when you experience pain you seek an appointment with a dental professional as soon as possible. Pain is often one of the last warning signs that you are having dental problems, and to protect your teeth from further damage and pain, it is vital you see a dentist. Practicing a healthy oral hygiene everyday can help minimise dental complications from arising. Speak to a member of the team who will be happy to give advice and tips for at home.

Bleeding Gums

Technically if you are not in pain, then it will not be deemed as a dental emergency but having bleeding gums can be worrying for you to see. This is one of the more common signs of gum disease and earlier detection is important to prevent the gum disease from advancing (which can lead to tooth loss). We also recommend seeing a dental professional as soon as possible to check your dental health.

Broken/Cracked Teeth

There are a number of ways that can lead to teeth breaking or cracking (trauma, biting to hard, previously filled teeth etc). Your teeth may look fine, but you may experience pain, especially when eating/drinking something hot or cold. If the pain is constant, this is a warning sign that it could of damaged the nerve or a blood vessel. For cracked teeth, it won’t hurt to bite down, but the pain will come on release. Its important to see a dentist so they can assess the extent of the damage and ensure the nerve hasn’t been damaged (if so, root canal treatment may be required).

Wisdom Teeth Hurting

Its very common that when your wisdom teeth erupt to experience some level of discomfort or pain. Headaches are quite often experienced, and there can be pain around the wisdom teeth, as well as the adjacent teeth. Our mouths are no longer really designed to fit all our teeth in (due to evolution) and this is why when our wisdom teeth start to erupt, they can easily become impacted – which causes the pain. Until they start to erupt, there is no way to really predict how they erupt, and whether there is a chance of them becoming impacted. If you are experiencing wisdom teeth pain, our dentists will be happy to check on them, and depending on your exact situation, no further treatment may be required. Its common to experience initial pain which will then settle down as the tooth rests in place. In the worst-case scenario and the pain continues, you may require a surgical extraction to remove the afflicted tooth.

Gum Infections

Our mouths and gums come into contact with a lot of bacteria over the course of the day. This is why it is of paramount importance to have an effective oral hygiene routine, to help combat the build up of bacteria. Bacteria will lead to plaque and tartar forming on the teeth, and eventually this will cause cavities. It is not uncommon for bacteria to lead to irritations in the mouth which can cause painful abscesses. This can be extremely painful and have a negative impact on your quality of life. Anti-biotics may be prescribed to fight the infection and your dentist will be able to confirm if this is the source of your pain.

Broken Dentures

Even though this won’t be painful, not having your false teeth will have a negative impact on your life. Depending on the type of break, not all dentures can be repaired (especially if they have had multiple repairs in the past, or they are old and weakened). Dentures that have snapped in two, should be a relatively simple fix, where as shattered dentures, will be to far gone to be repaired. Its important to gather all the pieces of your dentures and pop them in a glass of water so they don’t dry out. Dentures need to be kept moist, because if they are allowed to dry out, they can experience further damage (they may crack).

If you have any worries about your dental health or you are experiencing dental pain please do not hesitate to call us today and book your appointment.