Caring Emergency Dentistry in Hamilton
860 Dental offers a wide range of emergency dentistry solutions in Hamilton. Dental pain can be very uncomfortable and sometimes hard to control. There are a few categories of dental emergencies and ways to deal with them.
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Broken or chipped teeth
If a tooth breaks or chips, it needs to be evaluated by a dentist to see if the tooth can be fixed or if it will need to be removed. If the tooth is painful, it should be examined within a few days, depending on the level of pain. More pain means it should be looked at sooner. Over the counter pain relievers are appropriate to take for a broken tooth. If the pain is not controllable by these pain relievers, then it is a more urgent situation. If a broken tooth is not painful, it is not considered to be a dental emergency and can be fixed as soon as can be coordinated. Please contact us to advise us of your situation.
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Teeth that have fallen out due to impact or trauma
This is an immediate dental emergency. If the office is not open, please contact an after hours dental clinic, or proceed to the emergency room at your local hospital. Keep the tooth moist and bring it with you to a dental/medical professional.
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Dental pain and/or swelling
This is a fairly urgent situation, again depending on the level of pain and swelling. Please contact us to discuss your individual situation. If the office is not open, please contact an after-hours dental clinic, or proceed to the emergency room at your local hospital.
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Uncontrolled bleeding
If you have bleeding in your mouth that cannot be stopped or slowed with pressure, this is something that should be addressed immediately. If the office is not open, proceed to the emergency room at your local hospital.
Common Emergency Treatments for Broken or Painful Teeth
Assessments
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Toothaches are usually x-rayed and tested to determine the source and reason for the pain. The tooth will be assessed for cavities, fractures, abscesses and other pathology. Painkillers or antibiotics may be prescribed depending on the situation.
Fillings
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If a broken tooth can be fixed, a filling will be placed to cover the broken area and restore the shape of the tooth to its normal anatomy.
Root Canals
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If a tooth is infected or abscessed, a root canal may be recommended to remove the infected nerve and tissue inside the tooth. A root canal procedure itself is generally painless since the area is frozen with a local anesthetic. Root canals have a bad reputation for being painful, but it is usually the pain from the infection BEFORE the root canal procedure is done that causes the discomfort. Once the infected tissue and nerve have been removed, there is usually no discomfort in the tooth.
Crowns
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If a tooth is cracked or fractured, a crown may be recommended for the tooth. The purpose of the crown is to keep the structures of the tooth bonded together to prevent the flexing of the loose pieces and subsequent breaking of the tooth. The crown sits over the top of the entire surface of the tooth and holds it together as a baseball cap sits on a head. Having a crown made is a two-step process consisting of preparing the tooth and taking a mold of it, and then cementing the new custom crown onto the existing tooth approximately two weeks later. A temporary crown will protect the tooth during the time the custom crown is being fabricated.
Extractions
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If a tooth is not repairable with a filling or a root canal, the tooth will need to be removed. The tooth and area of the mouth is frozen with a local anesthetic, and the tooth will be gently loosened and removed with special tools. After a tooth is removed, the area may bleed for a day or so and be a little painful during that time. If bleeding persists or is heavy, or if the pain is not controllable, you should seek medical assistance.
Re-implantation
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If a tooth has been knocked out, sometimes it can be replaced into the tooth socket through a special procedure and treated to re-adhere into the socket. This is a special circumstance that may not be appropriate in each case. Knocked out teeth should be kept moist and the patient should seek immediate care to provide the best chance for the tooth to be reimplanted in the tooth socket.
Trauma to the face
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Any trauma to the bones of the face or structures of the skull should be assessed by a medical professional. Trauma found that is related to the teeth and jaw will then be referred to a dentist for treatment.
