{"id":2663,"date":"2026-10-06T12:07:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T12:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cygnetessexdental.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2663"},"modified":"2026-10-06T12:07:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T12:07:07","slug":"dentist-local-to-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cygnetessexdental.co.uk\/blog\/emergency\/dentist-local-to-you\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Do In A Dental Emergency In Wickford?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Regular check ups and routine treatment are important, but what should you do when things go very wrong?<\/h2>\n

Most dental problems can wait until you can arrange a normal appointment, even if you need mild relief from painkillers in the meantime. Occasionally though,\u00a0 something happens which needs attention much more quickly. A tooth can be knocked out, a large piece can break away or severe toothache can suddenly make it almost impossible to carry on with your day.<\/p>\n

Knowing what to do can make what can be a worrying situation that much easier to deal with. It also helps to understand what you can do to protect the tooth or to minimise pain until you can see a dentist. At the Cygnet Dental Practice, we always encourage our patients to contact us as soon as possible for an emergency dental appointment.<\/p>\n

Knocked out teeth<\/h3>\n

A knocked-out permanent tooth (i.e. not a first tooth) is one of the situations where it really is worth acting quickly. If you can find the tooth, pick it up by the crown rather than the root. The crown is the part you normally see in the mouth that is visible above the gums. Try not to touch or scrub the root, as there may still be important cells attached to it. If the tooth is dirty, you can gently rinse it with milk or clean water, but do not scrub it. If possible, the tooth can sometimes be carefully put back into its socket. If you are not comfortable doing this, keep it moist in milk or your own saliva and take it with you to the dentist.<\/p>\n

Our dentist will assess the tooth and any damage, and, where appropriate, reposition it in the socket and stabilise it with a temporary splint. Further treatment may be needed afterwards, depending on the condition of the tooth and the tissues around it. Given that a knocked out tooth is usually caused by trauma, there may be damage that means that the tooth cannot be saved. In this situation there are other options available at our highly-rated Wickford dental practice<\/a> to replace it such as a tooth implant, but preserving a natural permanent tooth is usually the first aim where this is possible.<\/p>\n

Broken teeth<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Teeth can break for a number of reasons. An accident is an obvious one, but a tooth may also fracture while biting something hard, particularly if it has already been weakened by decay, a large filling or previous treatment. If a substantial piece has broken away, try to find it and keep it. Take it with you to the dentist, even if you presume that it cannot be used. If the broken tooth has a sharp edge, avoid running your tongue over it and try not to chew on that side. If there is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze or a clean piece of cloth. The treatment we provide will depend on how badly the tooth has fractured. A smaller break may be repaired with a filling or composite bonding. A more extensively damaged tooth may need a crown to protect what remains.<\/p>\n

If the fracture has reached the inner part of the tooth, root canal treatment may be needed before the tooth can be restored. Unfortunately, a tooth which has fractured too severely may not be repairable and may need to be extracted and a conversation had with the patient about the most suitable tooth replacement option.<\/p>\n

Speed is key when a tooth breaks, so always contact us straight away. The only exception to this is if there is a risk of head trauma, such as in a heavy fall or car accident. You should always go straight to your local A&E in case of any serious head injuries before you contact us.<\/p>\n

Severe toothache<\/h3>\n

Toothache can range from a mild \u2018throbbing\u2019 nuisance to pain which makes it difficult to sleep, eat or think about anything else at all. It may be a small area but severe tooth pain<\/a> can be all encompassing. Severe or persistent toothache should not simply be managed with painkillers in the hope that it will go away. This is unlikely to happen and is likely to be a sign of decay which has reached the nerve, an infection, a cracked tooth or another problem which needs urgent dental treatment.<\/p>\n

While waiting for an emergency appointment, try to avoid anything which clearly makes the pain worse. Very hot, cold or sweet foods and drinks can sometimes trigger considerable pain. You can use ordinary pain relief if it is normally safe for you to take it, following the instructions on the packet. Do not put aspirin directly onto the tooth or gum. It can irritate the tissues and will not solve the underlying problem. If there is swelling, a cold compress held against the outside of the face may provide some relief. Keep your head slightly raised when resting if lying flat seems to make the pain worse.<\/p>\n

The treatment provided by our Wickford dentists will depend on the cause. A decayed tooth may need a filling or root canal treatment, while an infected tooth may need drainage and further treatment. Sometimes extraction is the best option if the tooth cannot be saved.<\/p>\n

Facial swelling<\/h3>\n

Swelling around a tooth or in the face can be a sign of a dental infection and should be taken very seriously. This can potentially lead to a blockage of the airways or even sepsis and should most definitely not be ignored. If this happens, contact us straight away and explain the situation to our receptionist. We will prioritise you for an emergency appointment. Do not attempt to burst or drain any swelling yourself.<\/p>\n

If swelling is quickly spreading towards the eyes or neck, or you are having difficulty breathing, swallowing or opening your mouth, call 999 immediately.<\/p>\n

Keep a dental emergency kit<\/h3>\n

Many people probably don\u2019t do this but it is very useful to have a few basic things at home in case something unexpected happens. A small supply of clean gauze, a cold pack and appropriate pain relief can be useful. If you don\u2019t have this, you might wish to consider it. If you play sports, a properly fitted mouth-guard can reduce the risk of dental injuries in the first place. It is also worth keeping your dentist’s emergency contact details somewhere easy to find rather than having to search for them while in pain.<\/p>\n

Act quickly<\/h3>\n

Dental emergencies can be frightening, particularly when they happen unexpectedly. The important thing is not to panic and to get appropriate advice as soon as you can. A knocked-out tooth needs particularly prompt attention, while severe pain, major breakage or significant swelling should also be assessed without unnecessary delay. Until you can get to your emergency appointment, the main priorities are to protect the injured area, keep a knocked-out tooth moist, control any bleeding and avoid making the problem worse. Once you have been assessed, your dentist can explain what has happened and discuss the treatment needed to get your mouth comfortable and functioning normally again.<\/p>\n

If you need to book an emergency appointment with us, please call the Cygnet Dental Practice on 01268 733078<\/strong>. If we are closed, please listen to the message which will advise where to contact for urgent dental care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Regular check ups and routine treatment are important, but what should you do when things go …<\/p>\n

What To Do In A Dental Emergency In Wickford?<\/span> Read more \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-emergency"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t