As life often dictates, unexpected emergencies pop up when you least want them to!
Sudden toothaches can be very painful, sometimes even unbearable. They can hit you at the worst times like on the weekend, late at night, or during a vacation.
At Helix Dentistry we offer a full range of central coast emergency dentist options.
Let’s look at possible causes of a dental emergency.
Contact us here – or Call: 02 4334 1383
Call our office if you’re experiencing any of the following: 02 4334 1383
On a more serious note, an infection that starts in your tooth can enter your bloodstream, leading to a number of other problems.
Please don’t wait too long to address something that seems as simple as a toothache! If you do experience severe swelling, high fever, or trouble swallowing, you may need immediate attention and should go to the nearest emergency room.
For all other dental emergencies, it’s best to seek out immediate dental care.
Contact us here – or Call: 02 4334 1383
If you notice any of the following, then you are at risk for developing a toothache at any time. By seeing us as soon as possible, we can make recommendations for treatment before it turns into something more severe and difficult to deal with.
Since tooth pain is usually caused by inflammation, then medication with anti-inflammatory properties work best. These include ones that are readily available at any market like ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen sodium (Aleve.) Aspirin can also be considered and taken orally, but do not place it directly on the gums, because it can burn the tissue and result in more pain and discomfort.
Clove oil is another good toothache remedy that can help to ease dental pain and is available over the counter. Use a cotton ball to apply the clove oil to the tooth and along the gums around it. If there is a large hole in your tooth, you can place the small cotton ball in it as you make your way to our office. Clove oil has numbing properties that can provide you with temporary pain relief.
Some over the counter pain relieving gels contain benzocaine, which is another numbing agent. This works primarily on the gum rather than the tooth, but if used in excess it can cause further irritation and inflammation. If you decide to try this and it helps, please use in only in moderation until you can be seen for treatment.
Contact us here – or Call: 02 4334 1383
Many toothache sufferers tell us that the pain worsens at night. To relieve this situation, you could do one or more of the following:
If your dental infection is severe, then over the counter anti-inflammatory pain medications will not suffice. You will need to see a dentist in order to be prescribed appropriate medication and treat the source of the pain. An antibiotic such as amoxicillin may be administered along with a pain reliever as necessary. Once the antibiotic takes effect, which may be a few days, the pain will subside in most cases.
If you are allergic to amoxicillin or penicillin, there are other antibiotics available that will target the bacteria caused by a toothache. These may include clindamycin (cleocin) or erythromycin (azithromycin). Please be sure to let us know if you are allergic to certain medications so we can provide you with the proper prescriptions.
You won’t be able to cure a true toothache completely on your own. When the nerve inside your tooth has become infected, there are only one to two options to treat the problem. Our dentist can provide you with the proper diagnosis and treatment. In most cases, the recommendation will be something like a filling, crown, root canal, or deep scaling (for gum disease.)
As long as enough healthy tooth structure is present, we will try to preserve your natural tooth rather than extract it. For extensive decay or abscesses, a root canal may be best. During this procedure our dentist will remove the nerve tissue, disinfect the hollow canals, and place a sealer inside to prevent bacteria from re-entering the tooth. Proper removal of the nerve tissue will ensure the best outcome for a pain-free smile.
We recommend seeing us for regular check-ups to reduce your risk of dental emergencies. Through frequent examinations and periodic X-rays, our Central Coast dentist can screen for issues that may require attention as soon as possible, before they get worse or becomes painful.
If you are experiencing a dental emergency, we invite you to call our Central Coast dental office. Home remedies and over the counter medication may help subside the pain and inflammation but it will repeatedly return unless cared for by a professional.
At Helix Dentistry, we’re always ready for your dental emergency, even if you aren’t.
We’re open late during the week to assist you, and on Saturdays by appointment – Contact us here – or Call: 02 4334 1383
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