Do you have a toothache that is keeping you awake at night? Or have had a crack in your teeth for a while that is causing some soreness when you drink tea or other hot drinks?
If the answer to either of these is yes, you need to see our emergency team!
Our general dentist for Whanganui, New Zealand will ensure that if you come to us with an emergency dental problem, we will aim to resolve it as soon as possible and get you out of discomfort and back to your daily routine. Great!
Here, our general dentist for Whanganui, New Zealand explores some of the reasons why you may need to see our emergency team.
Discomfort
A key reason to pay an emergency trip to our general dentist for Whanganui, New Zealand is dental discomfort.
Whether it has come on suddenly or gradually, if you are suffering from discomfort that is causing you to lose sleep or distracting you, you need to see us urgently as you may be suffering from a dental abscess.
Swelling
Oral swellings are part of the course if you have a dental emergency, such as an abscess. But even if there is no associated discomfort with dental swelling, you will still need to see our team urgently before it begins to cause issues with eating or breathing.
In some cases, oral swelling can point to a more subtle dental issue, such as an impacted tooth, so don’t delay, and call our team as soon as possible.
Lost or loose restoratives
Fillings and crowns are great at what they do (restoring a tooth), but they can and do come loose and fall out from time to time, which requires urgent care to resolve.
Why? Because even if the missing or loose restorative isn’t causing discomfort, it can allow decay to set in, which will lead to the filling or crown needing to be refitted. If left untreated, a lost crown or filling can lead to an abscess, so take steps to have the issue resolved as soon as you spot it!
Ulcers
Most people have had oral ulcers at one time or another in their life, usually if they are ill or have been under stress.
But, if you have been suffering from persistent mouth ulcers or ulcers that keep occurring in the same place in your mouth, this can be a sign of something more serious and will need to be explored by our team. Also, if you notice that one of your ulcers has reached the size of a 5 pence piece or become larger, then you will need to book an emergency appointment.
Damage
It is all too common for patients to damage their teeth in day-to-day life, especially if they play sports or have a manual job.
But, if you do manage to crack or chip one of your teeth, even if it isn’t hurting, you need to see our team as soon as possible. A crack in a tooth can spread quickly and allow decay to gain access to the dentin underneath the tooth, which can lead to decay and even abscesses.
So, cracks or chips need to be treated promptly!
DISCLAIMER
All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.