Having a Dental Emergency? Follow These 5 Tips!
Dental emergencies can happen to anyone at any time. When an emergency arises, you need to see a professional as quickly as possible. In order to make sure you do receive the help needed in a timely manner, it pays to follow a few basic steps. Put these to good use and it will be easier to remain calm and know what to do next.
Know the Difference Between an Urgent Emergency and a Non-Urgent One
Dental emergencies fall into two basic categories. There are those that need immediate attention. Emergencies of this type are classed as urgent. When it could be possible to take a few measures at home and see a professional in a few hours or the next day, it’s often considered to be a non-urgent emergency.
Examples of urgent dental emergencies include a tooth that is knocked loose or is out altogether, bleeding in one more areas along the gums, and swelling that is causing a great deal of pain. If you sustain some sort of injury to the jaw, that also needs to be examined at once. A toothache that you can’t seem to calm with the typical home remedies is also considered to be an urgent emergency.
Read more: How emergency dentistry different from regular dentist
Non-urgent situations would involve a filling that has fallen out, a cracked tooth that is not causing much pain, or a dull toothache that you can calm somewhat using mouth rinses or by applying cold to the cheek. While you do want to seek help as soon as possible, these types of emergencies can often wait until the next business day.
Decide Who to Call
When deciding who to call, a good rule of thumb is to contact your local dental clinic in Markham with any issue that seems to be non-urgent. When you call, explain what is happening to the dental team. Depending on the nature and severity of the non-urgent emergency, you may be scheduled to see the dentist as the first appointment on the following business day. There is also a chance that the dentist will meet you at the clinic and see you in the next few hours.
Urgent emergencies call for immediate attention. Many hospital emergency rooms are equipped to deal with these types of dental problems. Your best bet is to proceed directly to the emergency room and seek treatment. After the immediate issue is addressed, you may be instructed to contact your dentist and arrange follow-up treatment as soon as possible.
Read more: How to get over your dental fear
If you are not sure who to call, start with your dentist. Explain what is happening and provide answers to any questions the dentist has. That will make it easier to determine if you should go to the emergency room or if the clinic can work you in and take care of the problem.
Save the Damaged Tooth
Some emergencies involve teeth that are knocked out. Instead of assuming the tooth cannot be saved, the emergency dentist will recommend that you place it in some type of fluid and get to the clinic or emergency room as quickly as possible. One tip that many dentists provide in this scenario is immersing the tooth in milk and bringing it along for the treatment. The milk helps to keep the tooth viable for a longer period of time and increases the odds that it can be placed back into the socket successfully.
Deal With Any Swelling
Swelling in any case needs to be kept to a minimum. Place an ice pack directly on the cheek. If no ice pack is available, a frozen bag of vegetables will serve the purpose. Keep the cold on the mouth while you are on the way to receive treatment.
Read more: Keeping your teeth healthy five simple essentials
Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Being the best dentist in Markham, the professional will be concerned about bacteria. You can use a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water to swish around in your mouth and ease the irritation. Remember to not swallow the mixture. Bring along some extra so you can swish your mouth another time or two before arriving for treatment.
Remember that many dental emergencies look worse than they are and that the treatment will be less complicated than you fear. The key is to keep a cool head, contact a professional, and follow the instructions to the letter. Doing so increases the odds that all will be well shortly.
See what our patients are saying:
Everyone here is very friendly and provides excellent care. I received a full exam on my first visit, and everyone took time to answer my questions and ensured I felt comfortable the entire time - exactly what you want when visiting the dentist. I highly recommend Markham Smile Centre for anyone looking for great dental care.
There is an ample parking space before you get into the office. The receptionists welcome us friendly with proper COVID-19 procedures in place. The staff worked with patient very patiently and professionally. My teeth cleaning was done by Ying, she explained every detail to me and I did not feel any pain or uncomfortable at all. Thanks to the best team !
It's been a while since I've been to a dentist but I'm trying to get back on track with health in general. Overall it was great going to Markham Smile Centre! The receptionist (I believe she was Kim) was friendly. The hygienist, Ying, was attentive and gentle during the cleaning; x-ray tech (forgot her name, sorry!) was great too. Dr. Sara Riad explained things with good detail. Looking forward to going back!
I was someone who was nervous and anxious about visiting the dentist, but the team at Markham Smile Centre has made me feel SO comfortable. Kim is so patient and helpful and Dr. Hwang and Rory are both so professional and wonderful. They thoroughly explain the procedure to make you comfortable beforehand and are very gentle. I now look forward to visiting the dentist!
I found this place on a whim when I was looking for a new dentist in Markham. My hygienist ying was super nice and her cleaning was very gentle yet thorough. I saw Dr.Jason and he was very nice and informative in regards to what needs to be done and provided me with all the information I needed to make a choice. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a new dentist, they’re accepting new patients!!
I have been to many dentists in my life, Dr. Jason is easily the best dentist I have ever been too. He does everything he can to make you comfortable no matter the procedure and is a true professional, as does all the staff at Markham Smile Centre. Truly an amazing dentistry
The clinic was clean and the staff was very polite. I particularly liked the fact that everything was explained to me before going in for the procedure so I knew what to expect at each step. The dental hygienist who did the cleaning for me was also very gentle and took my concerns into consideration. I will definitely recommend them.
Upon arriving to the Markham Smile Centre, my son and I were greeted with a warm welcome by the receptionists. The hygienists and Dentist were very gentle and transparent with what they were doing. The hygienist that worked on my 9 year old son was patient and very friendly with him, which helped ease his nerves. Our overall experience was A+.
Since I was little, I have always hated going to the dentist... Its always uncomfortable and unpleasant. These days, visiting the dentist isn’t so bad! Dr Jason, Rory, and the lovely staff at reception make the experience 100x better. I have had absolutely no issues with the gum graft and cleanings that I’ve gotten done here. Everyone is incredibly friendly and helpful, even when I’m calling in or emailing a hundred questions :). I would highly recommend Markham Smile Centre.
Love this place! All the staffs are friendly and Professional and I mean all, cause I've been to most of their office, Markham , Stouffville, North York, and Maple. Dr. Ko is very professional and patient. Whenever I have questions and concerns he would always reply me . I would say this this dental office take care of you all the way. I would highly recommend everyone to come here for any dental works. =)