Emergency Dentist
When you need dental care fast, let our dentist in Upper Heyford be your tooth hero! The difference between regular dental care and emergency care is time, with the faster you act resulting in a better long-term outcome.
Triage and stabilising
The first stage of a dental emergency is triage to work out how serious an emergency is and how much time is available. This is done as soon as you get to the clinic or, sometimes, over the phone before you arrive by describing symptoms.
Before attending to any discomfort, it is important to make sure that no further damage is being caused; this is referred to as stabilising. Depending on how serious it is, it may take some time and will be finished with a temporary fix like a temporary filling or temporary crown. This can be replaced at a later date by a permanent solution during a regular booked appointment and at your normal dental clinic if the emergency has occurred out of town. Our dentist in Upper Heyford will usually take x-rays in order to assess the extent of damage; these will be useful to include with the rest of your dental medical records even if you do not continue your treatment with us.
Phobias and crisis
Dental crises do not usually fall into the same severity as life-threatening hospitalisations but can get complicated and very advanced when paired with a strong dental aversion. This can delay treatment at the last possible moment and may require the dental team to ignore all except the most excruciating symptoms.
This means that decay is almost always in an advanced state, and until nerves are exposed, treatment will not be sought out.
When you call our team, please mention whether you suffer from dental aversion; we are more than happy to support patients who are struggling with entering the clinic or engaging with care. Our dentist in Upper Heyford understands the seriousness of these challenges, and the extent to which patients will delay care and cause discomfort can be extreme. Our role is not to judge or berate but to simply relieve the discomfort and stabilise oral health as efficiently and calmly as possible.
Minor chips and cracks
As unpleasant as a hard hit to the teeth is, it can be easy to shake it off, especially when you only seem to have suffered a minor chip or crack, perhaps one that is only noticeable or can only be felt by running your tongue over the area. But the enamel has now been compromised, and a small but important foothold has been created in your tooth for cavity-causing bacteria such that a minor stage treatment could be as simple as a fluoride scale and a polish. But if ignored, you are likely to develop an advanced cavity, requiring a full filling. Minor chips and cracks are a good example of not putting off treatment even if you have no symptoms.
If your family members require emergency dental care, please feel free to get in contact with our clinic. We are operating as normal within government guidelines.