If you or someone you love are finding yourself in need of emergency dental care, National Dental Care offer same-day emergency care during regular business hours. Please call ahead to your local practice and discuss your needs with our helpful staff.
Emergency dental care services that we can help with include:
- Toothache
- Chipped or broken tooth
- Lost filling
- Knocked-out or loose adult tooth
Some emergency issues may require an immediate trip to the hospital before seeking dental help. This includes:
- Broken jaw
- Bitten cheek, lip, or tongue
How to Deal with Emergency Dental Issues Before your Visit
Chipped or broken tooth
If you have chipped or broken a tooth, be sure to keep your tooth fragment and bring it with you to your dentist. Often, a tooth fragment can be re-bonded.
Your dentist will use your initial emergency appointment to determine if the fracture has nerve involvement (complicated fracture) or does not have nerve involvement (uncomplicated fracture). Sometimes cosmetic procedures might also be required.
If you have any pain associated with a chipped or broken tooth, pain medication can be used to reduce pain until you can see your dentist.
Injury Resulting in a Loose or Knocked Out Tooth
If your tooth was knocked out (avulsed) because of an accident or injury, please follow these precautions:
- Only touch the very top of the tooth, being careful not to touch the root
- Do not scrub the tooth or scrape off any tissue
- If the tooth needs cleaning, gently immerse it in a sterile saline solution or some milk
- If possible, replace the tooth to its original position and hold it firmly in place
- If this is not possible, place the tooth underneath your tongue or keep it in a small cup of milk
- See your National Dental Care Group dentist immediately
If your tooth is loose (subluxated) but not entirely knocked out, it is still imperative to see your dentist as soon as possible. With fast action, you may be able to preserve the nerve endings and blood vessels to save your tooth.
If you are in pain, apply cold pressure to the area.
Lost Filling or Crown
A tooth filling or crown can fall out over time due to tooth wear or decay. While in some cases treatment can wait, it's important to seek help as soon as possible, especially if there are jagged edges and/or pain. Your National Dental Care dentist can replace or repair your filling with a stronger ceramic filling. We are often able to do same-day crowns.
Broken Jaw
If you believe your jaw is broken, you will need initial treatment at a hospital to diagnose the extent of the damage. Before you arrive at the hospital, be sure you immobilise your jaw with strapping and apply cold pressure.
Bitten Cheek, Lip, or Tongue
If you have bitten an area of your mouth, clean the area by gently swishing warm salt water in your mouth. Hold a cold compress to the affected area. If the injury is severe and/or bleeds longer than fifteen minutes you may need to visit a National Dental Care office or an emergency room. Our staff will be able to guide you in making that decision.
If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please call us right away to talk to our staff about the right next steps for you.