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There have been a number of reports in the press, about the increasing number of phone calls to the emergency services from people in dental pain.

Dialing 999 is only for serious medical emergencies, and, however painful it may be, a raging toothache does not fall into that category unfortunately. The only reason to call 999 for a dental emergency is where any damage has been caused by an accident and where a potentially serious head injury may also be involved.

So, what do you do in the event of a dental emergency, such as a severe toothache, or a broken tooth?

Make an emergency appointment

The first thing that you should do is to call our Cheshunt dental clinic to make an appointment. Make sure to explain your symptoms clearly to our receptionist and request an emergency appointment. At The Lodge Dental Suite, we will always try to see any patient needing urgent treatment the same day wherever this is possible. Whilst our receptionists may be able to offer some advice on how to stay as comfortable as possible, they may also speak to one of the dentists for their advice, and call you back.

Staying comfortable

Once you have made an appointment, the next thing to do is to keep yourself as comfortable as possible. In many cases, using your regular painkiller will help to alleviate some of the discomfort and may also reduce any inflammation. Your local pharmacist may also be able to advise a suitable pain killing medication. If your appointment has been made for just a short time away, it is probably a good idea not to eat, especially if the tooth has broken, as eating may cause further damage. If you do eat, try to avoid very hot or cold foods as this may aggravate a toothache and cause more severe pain.

Try to rest if at all possible, and if you are in significant discomfort, you may also wish to take time off work. This is especially the case if you have a job that could be dangerous to yourself or others if distracted by your pain. A driving job would be a good example of this type of work, so please check with your employer if you need time off.

Please keep your appointment

Modern painkillers are very effective and once it has taken effect, you may feel that you no longer need to see the dentist. Remember that the painkiller only masks the pain and does not resolve the problem. Once the painkiller starts to wear off, your dental problem will still be there so please do not cancel an emergency appointment once you have made it.

Our Cheshunt dental team are here to help keep all of our patients in good oral health. From time to time though, unexpected problems may arise that need urgent dental treatment. So to arrange your emergency appointment at The Lodge Dental Suite, please call us on 01992 643388.

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