Are You In Need Of Urgent Dental Care In Ipswich? We Can Help.

There has been much talk of ‘dental deserts’ in the media, but sometimes, all it takes is a single phone call.

At times, it seems that time is flying by without us even noticing it. One time when this certainly isn’t true is when we find ourselves in pain from a toothache or an abscess. Each second feels like a minute, each minute an hour, each hour a day and so on. When pain is especially severe, it may even be difficult to control with painkillers and our usual distractions often have little effect either. When dental pain like this strikes, even the most anxious patient will put their fears aside and try to get a dentist’s appointment as quickly as they can.

Our advice to our Ipswich patients is to never ignore pain, or to leave it in the hope that it will go away. Where there is dental pain, there is nearly always a problem that needs resolving. Any unnecessary delays can result not only in the pain becoming more severe, but also increasing the risk of further damage to the teeth or gums.

Toothache

Sometimes toothache starts off small and barely noticeable, and sometimes it comes on like a raging storm in the middle of the night. Most people with the latter will be waiting by their phone until our practice opens to try to get an appointment as urgently as possible. Those with milder ones may just decide to take a painkiller and ‘sit it out’. A toothache means that there is a problem that almost certainly requires dental treatment. In many cases, it will be that a cavity has formed and the tooth needs filling. The sooner this is done, the more straightforward and small the filling is likely to be. Leaving it will only mean a larger filling and even potentially, the need to extract the tooth altogether.

Pain could also be coming from the root canals of the tooth, and while this is often very painful it may not always be the case. Leaving a problem like this can result in the formation of an abscess which makes root canal therapy, the most likely option, more complex as the abscesses will require treatment before the procedure can begin.

Sore and painful gums

It isn’t always teeth that are the problem. Our gums too can suffer from health issues with symptoms ranging from soreness, to pus forming between the teeth. This is preventable with good home cleaning and six monthly oral hygienist treatments at the Foxhall Dental Practice. Don’t make the mistake of thinking ‘oh, it’s only my gums’. In addition to these unpleasant symptoms and others such as halitosis, gum disease can eventually damage the bone holding teeth in place. This can lead to them becoming loose or falling out. As with your teeth, prompt action is key.

Pain management

If we are away from home, for example, on holiday abroad, we may prefer not to seek an emergency dentist at our destination, especially if it is in a less developed area. Where pain is very mild and there are only a few days to go until the end of the holiday, it may be best to take a painkiller to manage it. We do advise though that you don’t simply wait until you are home to contact us to see a dentist,  and instead, give us a call or drop us an email explaining your situation. We can offer advice about the best way to manage the pain and also book you an appointment for much sooner than if you wait until you get home.

Some people, especially those going to more remote locations, sometimes pack an emergency dental kit with a filling material in it. These can be useful in some situations but if you do have to use one, please see us when you get back. Fillings applied by yourself are likely to be ill fitting with gaps around them where bacteria can enter and cause more problems. It is always best to have the filling done professionally.

Same day appointment

The most important thing for the patient to do is to contact us as soon as there is a problem. We can discuss this with you and prioritise you for an appointment according to the nature of the problem. Naturally, everyone that calls who is in pain wants a same day appointment. This is not always possible but we will try to fit you in at the very first opportunity where possible.  If we are aware of severe pain, we may also be able to call you the same day if we receive an appointment cancellation. We can also offer advice on the best way to manage the pain as well.

Whether you have a mild or severe toothache, your gums are painful or you have broken or even chipped a tooth, you should contact us straight away so that you can be seen by one of our Ipswich dentists as soon as possible.

To book your emergency appointment with us, please call the Foxhall Dental Practice today on 01473 258396.