If you have a dental emergency in and around Geelong, we will see you as promptly as possible
Remember, pain is a sign that something is wrong.
Accidents do happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can make a big difference.
Knocked Out Tooth
Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root of the tooth in milk if it’s dirty. Please handle the tooth as little as possible. Do not rub or attempt to wash the tooth as this may damage it . Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk (not water) and come to our offices as quickly as possible. Remember to bring the tooth with you . Contact the surgery as soon as possible.
Objects Caught Between Teeth
Try to gently remove the object with dental floss; avoid cutting the gums. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, contact our clinic.
Toothache
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. If you require pain tablets swallow them, never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. Contact us as soon as possible.
Broken Tooth
Rinse your mouth gently with warm water and try to keep the area clean. If you can find the broken fragment , keep it and bring it in to our offices when you attend for your appointment. Phone us immediately.
Bitten Lip or Tongue
Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce any swelling. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.
Cracked Tooth
Occurs when you bite down you experience a sharp pain which disappears with removal of the pressure. Cracked teeth can be difficult to diagnose because it can often be difficult to see the crack even with an x ray. Depending on the size & location of the crack treatment can vary from bonding to root canal treatment.
Cracks are common & in the early stages are asymptomatic . It is important to attend for regular checkups to enable early diagnosis & a simpler treatment.
Avoid chewing on that side & call our clinic.
Jaw-Possibly Broken
Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Phone us or go to a hospital emergency department immediately.
There are a number of simple precautions you can take to avoid accident and injury to your teeth.
Attend for regular checkups. Dental conditions usually only present with pain when they are advanced, in the early stages they are not normally painful. If you attend for regular checkup’s we can often spor the condition early , prevent pain and carry out a simpler treatment.
Wear a mouthguard when participating in sports or recreational activities that may pose a risk.
Avoid chewing hard substances ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth. Cut tape using scissors rather than your teeth maintain good oral hygiene – this reduces that number of bacteria living in your mouth & reduces the chance of an infection occurring.
For Emergencies Please Contact Gentle Dental Geelong on 03 5222 2477.