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What to do before you get to see your dentist ...
Toothache
Aarg! Nothing worse! Use whatever pain relief you have used in the past that has proved safe and effective for you and contact your dentist straight away – even if the pain goes away there could still be problems hiding there and it could come back even worse next time. Fixing problems early on is much easier and cheaper than waiting for it to get really bad.
We will ask you a few questions to try and estimate the amount of time we need to treat you so please answer them as carefully ask you can.
Lost a filing or Broken Tooth?
A Denta-Nurse Kit (£10) contains temporary filling material, temporary cement for re-fixing loose crowns. They are available from our shop and leading pharmacies and are great to take away on holiday. Don’t forget to call your dentist as soon as you can.
Broken Front Tooth?
If part of the tooth has been fractured off as a result of a sporting injury or accident it may be possible to reattach temporarily using super glue. Carefully dry the tooth fragment and tooth, apply super glue to the tooth fragment and glue it back on. If you have lost the tooth fragment apply a thin film of super glue to the exposed surface of the remaining tooth to protect the dentine and pulp until you can see your dentist.
Tooth knocked out?
If the tooth is or appears to be in one piece including the root re-implanting it as soon as possible offers the best chance of the tooth surviving. To do this:
- Avoid handling the tooth as much as possible
- If the root of the tooth looks contaminated with dust or dirt hold it by the crown and rinse GENTLY under COLD water
- Clean the tooth socket by rinsing with water
- Re-insert the tooth into the socket, it may be necessary to “wiggle” the tooth gently whilst pushing it back into the socket. If successful and the tooth feels reasonably firm contact your dentist as soon as possible
- If you cannot re-implant the tooth store the tooth in cold milk and contact your dentist straight away.
Swelling?
Inside the mouth; rinse every hour with warm salty water – 1 teaspoon (5ml) of table salt to 300ml/half a pint of water
Swelling of the cheek: use warm salty water mouthwash as above, do not hold anything hot against the skin of your face
Denture sore spot?
Leave the denture out as much as possible until you can see your dentist. Adcortyl in Orobase, available over the counter from pharmacists can help with the soreness apply a small amount to the sore spot and gently replace the denture
Crown or bridge fallen off?
Super glue and paste type denture fixatives can be used to temporarily refix them or a Dent-Nurse Kit available from our shop or leading pharmacies
Pain around the Jaw Joint?
Try to avoid opening the mouth wide, if you need to yawn support your lower jaw with your hand so that you don’t open too wide. Avoid hard chewy foods. Alternating hot and cold compresses directly over the joint can help
Broken braces?
Removable brace; if the wires or clasps are cutting into the cheeks or tongue leave the appliance out until you can see your dentist
Fixed brace; if the arch wire is cutting the soft tissues carefully slide the wire out of the brackets fixed to the teeth. Broken wires can be sharp so whilst you are doing this make sure you protect the patients’ (and your own) eyes
Cold Sores?
At the first sign that you are developing a cold sore obtain Acyclovir or Zovirax Cream from the pharmacy. If you suffer regularly from cold sores we would advise you purchase an Oralight available from our shop or leading pharamcies
Teething?
The homeopathic remedy Chamomila is excellent for teething children and it works for colic as well.
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