Toothache is one of the most common causes for dental visits in Australia. According to a recent study, 1 in 7 Australians has had a toothache and it affects around 15 % of the Australian population.
The most common dental emergencies are:
Tooth or gum abscess:
A Tooth abscess is a localized collection of pus associated with a tooth. Usually the origin is a bacterial infection that has accumulated in nerve of the tooth. This can be caused by tooth decay, broken teeth or extensive gum disease (or combinations of these factors).
A Gum abscess is a localized collection of pus within the tissues that surround the tooth, mostly due to an acute bacterial infection. The gum abscess occurs alongside a tooth, and is different from the more common tooth abscess, which represents the spread of infection from a dead tooth.
Dental trauma is, unfortunately, a very common cause for a dental emergency. It usually occurs to children but it can also affect adults. It is recommended that the injured person seek dental treatment immediately. One of the most common dental traumas is called tooth avulsion.
If a tooth is avulsed, make sure it is a permanent tooth (baby teeth should not be replanted).
- Keep the person calm.
- Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (the white part). Avoid touching the root.
- If the tooth is dirty, wash it briefly (10 seconds) under cold running water and reposition it. Try to encourage the person / parent to replant the tooth. Bite on a handkerchief to hold it in position.
- If this is not possible, place the tooth in a glass of milk. The tooth can also be transported in the mouth, keeping it between the back teeth and the inside of the cheek. If the person is very young, he/she could swallow the tooth- therefore it is advisable to get the person to spit in a container and place the tooth in it. Avoid storage in water!
- Call us immediately on (07) 5456 1144, if after hours please call 0497 408 725.
Here at Buderim Dental Surgery, we advise our patients to focus on prevention rather than wait for a dental emergency. Prevention is cheaper and less painful than any emergency and you also get to keep your natural teeth which will pay dividends when you are older.