A Dental Emergency is as important as a medical one says a dentist in Central London. There are many measures we can do at home when such a situation occurs, so it isn’t always about getting to a dentist in the middle of the night. Some very good `old wives tales` provide us with some very ingenuitive ways to temporarily treat a dental emergency, but it is also important to get to a dentist to look at the problem as soon as possible. One measure is a simple kit that is available in most chemists, most of us have a medical box with plasters, ointment and bandages in it, but not many people think about being prepared for a dental emergency in the night. The kits generally consist of a bottle of Oil of Cloves, dental cement and baby bud style applicators. A tooth ache is the most common emergency and this is quickly taken care of with a dab of Oil of Cloves, this works almost instantly by reacting on the tooth and producing heat. This is a great way to numb the tooth and the ache. The tooth is made up of layers and is quite porous so the oil will quickly be absorbed. A chipped tooth or a crack is another matter altogether, and this will require a bit more skill to make a temporary repair. If you don’t have a dental kit then covering the exposed part of the tooth with a sugar free gum will also do the trick. If you have a kit then use the dental cement to cover the crack or exposed part of the tooth, do not use Oil of Clover on a tooth with an exposed part. The dental cement will protect it from further damage whilst not harming what is left. Get to a dentist as soon as possible afterwards.
Category “Dental Injuries”
Dental Emergencies and how to deal with them by a Central London dentist
April 9th, 2010West London dentist saves knocked out tooth
September 20th, 2009
An avulsed, or knocked out tooth as it is more commonly known, can be caused by any accident that involves some kind of head trauma. These kinds of head traumas are most commonly sporting injuries, car accidents or biting on something hard. As with most accidents, prevention is always better than cure, so dentists always advise using the necessary protective devices.
When physically demanding sports are concerned, this means always wearing a mouth guard. These can be uncomfortable and make talking to your team mates a real pain but that’s nothing compared to the pain and lifetime of embarrassment and dental complications a knocked out tooth can cause. It is advisable to visit a West London dentist to have a mouth guard fitted to ensure the maximum level of protection. Other preventative measures include always wearing a seatbelt and steering clear of eating any hard foods, or food that may contain bones.
If prevention hasn’t worked and you are unlucky enough to have had a tooth knocked out, the first response you should have is to try and replace it immediately. Trying to avoid touching the root of the tooth, try to place it back in the vacant hole. With any luck it will slot back in but be careful not to push too hard as this my cause further damage. Once back in place you can secure it gently with some gauze or a wet teabag.
If the tooth won’t go back in, the next best alternative is to cover it with saliva or milk and take it with you to the dentist. This may preserve it long enough to be saved and replaced in your mouth.
Whatever the circumstances, it is essential that you see a dentist immediately. A knocked tooth can be a serious trauma that can cause a lifetime of dental complications, even if the tooth has successfully slotted back in. If the tooth is not replaceable, a West London dentist can talk you through the alternatives, which may involve dental implants or bonding.
Emergency treatment from a London dentist for a knocked out tooth
August 16th, 2009
A knocked out, or avulsed tooth as it is known in the dentistry profession, can be caused by any kind of accident but the most common involve sports injuries, car accidents, fighting and chewing on hard food. A knocked out tooth can be quite serious so dentists advise that prevention is always better than cure.
When playing sports, especially physically demanding ones, it is important to wear a mouth guard. They may be uncomfortable and make it difficult to talk but these are minor considerations compared to the pain and lifetime of embarrassment a knocked out tooth can cause. Always wear a seatbelt when traveling in a car, avoid eating hard foods such as bones and, needless to say, don’t get involve in any fights.
If you are unfortunate enough to have a tooth knocked out, then the first thing to do is to try and replace it immediately. Being careful not to touch the tooth by its root i.e holding the biting edge, simply put it back in its place. With any luck it will slot right back in and can be held in place gently by wet gauze or a tea bag. Do not apply significant pressure or attempt to force it if it won’t go.
If the tooth won’t slot back in, the next best thing is to keep it in an air tight container and cover it with milk or saliva. This may preserve it long enough to save it and have it replaced.
It is important you always see a dentist immediately when you have a tooth knocked out or fractured. Your London dentist will be on hand to help in an emergency and will do all they can to save the original tooth. If this is not possible they will be able to offer the best advice about the next course of action, which is likely to involve a dental bridge.
Understanding Dentistry and Sports in Central London
May 9th, 2009
The ultimate goal in sports is not just to win but to win without any injury. Adequate preparation and training are key elements in minimizing or preventing injuries in sports. Dentistry in Central London plays a role in the goal to help prevent sports injuries.
Popularly known as sports dentistry, this field aims to prevent and provide treatment to oral/facial trauma that may occur during sporting activities. Statistics showed that dental injury is the most common oral/facial injury an individual may sustain during sports participation. Several ways to prevent oral/facial trauma include:
• Teaching the right skills, including tackling technique
• Buying the right sports equipment
• Regular maintenance of sports equipment
• Providing safe playing areas
• Wearing of properly fitted sports protective equipment such as mouthguards
Central London dentists provide treatment of simple or complex oral/facial injuries, not just at their dental office but also at the site of the sports activity, such as rugby or football field or basketball court.
Prevention of sports injuries, particularly dental injuries, starts at preseason training and preparation. Screenings and examinations should be done to prevent dental injuries. Dental injury prevention examinations should include the following:
• Health histories
• Diagnosis of caries
• At risk dentitions
• Loose teeth
• Maxilla/mandibular relationships
• Crown work
• Bridge work
• Dental habits
• Artificial teeth
• Missing teeth
In the event that a tooth extraction is needed, it should be done months before playing competitive sports so as not to cause complications and interfere with the game.
Receive Tooth Fracture Treatment in the City of London
April 4th, 2009
If you are in a car accident, or suffer some other type of injury, one or more of your teeth may fracture. In these situations, it is very important to see your dentist as quickly as possible. For example, a dentist in the City of London can repair the tooth, as well as help protect it from bacteria and other pathogens that will lead to early decay. Typically, the sooner you have a tooth fracture taken care of, the better chance you will have of saving the tooth.Depending on the depth and size of the fracture, your dentist may have to clean each part of the tooth, and then bring it back into alignment. From there, your dentist will place a clamp on the tooth, and then create a groove on each side. At this stage, the dentist will look to apply a bonding agent that will prevent the tooth from falling apart. You may also need to have an amalgam filling. If the tooth is located in the front of your mouth, you may also want to have a veneer installed later on for aesthetic purposes.
While the events that can lead to a tooth fracture tend to be traumatic, there is no need to lose the affected tooth. Today, your City of London dentist can repair the fracture, and also ensure that you will be able to use the tooth for chewing and biting. Even if the fracture is fairly complicated, your dentist may still be able to place a crown over the tooth, or use fillings to restore it to a healthy condition. That said, the longer you wait to treat a tooth fracture, the greater chance you will run of losing the tooth. This is especially important to consider if the fracture exists below the gum line, or it affects the roots.
The Benefits of Getting a Mouth Guard in London W1
February 14th, 2009
As you may be aware, it only takes one blow to the mouth to cause gum injury, tooth loss, and nerve damage. Regardless of whether that blow comes from a baseball or a fall, it is very important to do what you can to protect your teeth during certain activities. In most cases, wearing a mouth guard will prevent injury to your mouth. Fortunately, when you visit a dentist in London W1, you will be able to obtain a custom fit mouth guard.
Consider a situation where you would normally wear some kind of helmet. This may include working in construction or riding a bicycle, as well as playing some type of sport. As a general rule, if you are concerned about head injuries, you should be equally concerned about dental ones. This is especially important to consider if you have children that play sports or ride bikes. A custom mouth guard created by a dentist is the only type that will ensure inner mouth structures receive the maximum amount of protection.
Typically, you will find that the procedure for obtaining a custom mouth guard is fairly painless and easy. Your dentist will make a model of your teeth, and then create the mouth guard from soft plastic. Unlike the virtually useless mouth guards sold in most stores, you will have very little, if any difficulty breathing or talking while wearing the mouth guard designed by a dentist. At the same time, if something hits your mouth, the teeth, gums, and inner cheek tissue will all be protected.
Even though you may not engage in activities that require the use of a mouth guard, it is crucial to consider the activities of your children. Unfortunately, even one injury during gym or recess may undo years of dental alignments, cleanings, and cavity management. At the same time, the last thing you will want is for your child to suffer with long term nerve damage. Therefore, it will be best to have custom mouth guards made as quickly as possible.
West London Dentist Helps Save Knocked Out Teeth
December 5th, 2008
Children sometimes have their adult tooth or teeth knocked out during an accident, fall, or sports activity. If this occurs and you are present, or another adult is present, follow the advice of your West London dentist. It is crucial that you look at the tooth and make sure that it is in fact an adult tooth and not a primary or baby tooth, as baby teeth are not replaced. The faster you can get the tooth replaced into the mouth, the greater the success rate of replacement. If this can be done in fewer than 30 minutes, the better the rate of survival. Watch the time, it counts!
Place gauze if you have some or a piece of tissue in the area of the mouth where the tooth was lost to control bleeding. This will also allow you and your child the ability to calm down. Once you know that it is in fact an adult tooth or teeth, call your West London dentist. You should have his number available, but if not, it is very easy to find. Make sure that you have the tooth/teeth with you and do not touch the root surface of the tooth/teeth, and only handle the tooth by the crown. The tooth should be either inserted into the vestibular area of your cheek (i.e., between the outer lower gum tissue where it meets the cheek tissue). A glass of milk or salt water can also help. Due to its high chlorine content, water from the tap should be a last resort. If at all possible, attempt to replace the tooth or teeth into your child’s tooth socket where the tooth was knocked out, but make sure that it is positioned correctly with the front of the tooth facing the front of the mouth. You can possibly do this if the child is old enough and will not swallow the tooth. As previously mentioned, make sure that you have your West London Dental Clinic telephone number available. Your West London dentist will do everything possible to try to save the original tooth. They may splint it in place after it is replaced. If your child is involved with sports, you may want to have a custom make guard fabricated by your West London Dental Clinic to prevent this from occurring!
Have custom made mouth guards-Smile Protector of London W1
June 21st, 2008
Are you going on vacation and want to go for ice-skating or mountain biking, or intend to participate in motor sports? Then don’t forget to take your mouthguard while packing your bags. You would need a mouth guard or gum shield to protect your teeth and gums from injuries from concussion. These are covers, which give protection to teeth, gums, lips, and jaws from injury while participating in contact sports. These are available in three different types such as readymade or stock mouth guards, boil and bite types or mouth adapted, and custom-made. If you are using the readymade type it is unlikely that it will fit your mouth comfortably and might feel very bulky, but are available in most of the supermarkets in London and are pretty cheap too. The boil and bite types give a much better fitting. They can be fitted to your teeth as they are made of thermoplastic and can be moulded when hot with fingers and gives better protection for the teeth. Custom-made ones are the best variety of mouth guards. These are specially made for you according to the imprint of your teeth taken by your dentist and moulded as per your specifications. These are a bit costlier than the other types. This mouthguard is manufactured by your dentist’s lab professionals. The first ever mouth guard was made by a British dentist for boxers to protect their teeth, which was later modified by a Canadian paediatric dentist. Apart from the use as guards, they are useful as splints for treating bruxism and temporomandibular joint disorders. They are widely used in some chemical treatments such as bleaching or teeth whitening also. Mouth guards help us avoid chipping or breakage of teeth, and even loss of teeth. During sports activities in schools and playgrounds, it has become mandatory to use mouth guards as these can be worn by both adults and children. We can use it even while we are wearing braces or brackets, which are also protected from breakage. We must clean the mouthguard regularly with cold water and check it for wear and tear. Before and after use, it should be brushed using toothpaste and toothbrush, and rinsed with mouthwash or water. It can be preserved in porous containers and kept in cool places. We should avoid exposing them to high temperatures and direct sunlight. They also need occasional cleaning with soap and water. When we visit our dentist, we have to take our mouth guard without fail to get it checked regularly by our dentist, so that if there is any general wear or holes, it can be replaced.
In London W1, what can you do when your child injured his teeth or mouth?
June 14th, 2008
Comparatively children are more active than adult, the chances of sustain a tooth injury is much higher. Due to their curious behaviour and much immature muscle coordination, they tend to hurt themselves more frequently. Minor head injury with involvement of teeth is rather common.
The common injuries to the mouth are: bruised cheek, swollen gum, bleeding gum, crack lip, toothache, broken teeth, loosen tooth, and knocked out tooth.
Practical first aid tips for injury to mouth and teeth.
1. Do not panic as this will make your child more anxious and uncooperative.
2. Use clean and wet tower to clean the injured area and assess the degree of the injury.
3. Soak a clean tower in ice water and use it as cold compress over bleeding site or bruised cheek. Bleeding will stop after compressing for 5-10 minutes.
4. Pick up any broken tooth or knocked out tooth, clean it in cold water and keep it in cold water or cold milk. Make preparation to see the nearby dentist. If it is at night or off office hour check your injured child to the nearby emergency room of the hospital.
When your child has sustained the following injury then you need to see the dentist immediately.
a. Severe toothache with swelling of the gum.
b. Bleeding don’t stop.
c. Any laceration wound of 3cm and above.
d. Broken tooth or knocked out tooth. To sustain such an injury quite a powerful force will involve hence the dentist will need to assess the extent of injury to make sure that no major damage has been caused to the adjacent structure. Dentist may be able to place back the knocked out permanent tooth.
There are few precautions that can prevent injury to teeth.
i. Use the approved baby car seat and seat beat while in car.
ii. Place your young child at the back car seat and fasten the seat belt for him.
iii. Use the special shopping cart provided for your child.
iv. Make your house a safer place when your child learns to walk. (eg. Fix up barrier to prevent access to stairs, bathroom and kitchen.)
v. Teach your child not to run in confined space and avoid pushing.
If the injury is small but involves the gum or teeth, it is a good practice to make an appointment to see the dentist. Your dentist is able to discover damage that you are not able to see.
