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Managing Dental Emergencies During the Covid-19 Pandemic

MALDENT DENTAL PRACTICE

With the current situation, unfortunately dentists all over the country have been forced to stop all face to face appointments with patients until further notice.

PLEASE NOTE WE ARE OPEN FOR ADVICE

CALL 020 7485 7558

Mon-Fri 9.30am – 5.30pm

Out-of-hours call NHS 111.

These are exceptional and difficult times for us all, so we have put together some advice to help you with your dental needs.

Ideally you should call your dentist if you have any concerns, but we hope the information below may also be useful.

ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM DENTAL PAIN?

One of the main causes of dental pain and dental emergencies is the bacteria (i.e. plaque) which grows on our teeth.

These bacteria get ‘activated’ by the sugar in our diet and can destroy your teeth and gums. They can cause severe pain, loose teeth, bleeding gums, bad breath, discolouration, decay (holes in your teeth), infections, and swellings.

The best way of keeping your mouth healthy is to avoid sugars and acids in the diet wherever possible, and to keep it nice and clean with good oral hygiene regimes (see below).

Following these very simple steps for only a few minutes a day will help you keep your mouth in tip-top shape!

1. There is no other way of getting rid of the bacteria other than by physically removing it with a toothbrush and floss. The bacteria grows very quickly and so it is important to brush twice a day- especially right before going to bed, as this is when the bacteria become the most active.
2. Use a small head and a soft (definitely not hard!) bristled toothbrush. There is no set time- just make sure you reach every surface of every tooth as the bacteria grows in every crevice of your teeth! It normally takes around 2 minutes.
3. Use gentle circular motions and angle the bristles towards your gums. Don’t brush too hard as this can wear away the protective white outer layer of your teeth called enamel. Also don’t brush at least an hour after having anything acidic which softens your teeth, such as orange juice or lemon water.
4. The main areas to target are the gum line (anywhere the gum and tooth meets), and the biting surfaces of your back teeth- these are places the bacteria loves to hide and are also difficult to clean.

Points to note:

• You only need a small amount of toothpaste, and after brushing you should spit but not rinse the toothpaste out of your mouth- when left in the mouth it repairs weakened teeth and helps kill bacteria.
• Also don’t forget to floss- you will be surprised how much is stuck between your teeth! You can use flossettes if you find normal floss difficult. This is especially important if you have fillings, crowns or implants. Try to do this at least once a day before brushing.
• If you want to see how it is done, there are plenty of videos on Youtube showing how to correctly brush and floss your teeth or follow the animations on our website.

At first it may seem difficult, but once your habit develops with practice, you will save a lot of time, money and pain- and ultimately keep your teeth for many years to come.

Here are some common dental problems you may be experiencing;

Problem: My gums hurt and bleed when I brush. They look red and swollen too.

Solution: You probably have gum disease. Bacteria growing on your teeth near your gums cause them to become inflamed, sore and bleed when you brush. Brush your teeth at the gum line twice a day, floss daily and the bleeding and swelling will stop after a few days. Expect some bleeding and some soreness at the beginning however this will gradually ease.

Problem: I can feel a hole in my tooth. And it’s getting bigger.

Solution: You probably have tooth decay. You will need a filling, but to help in the meanwhile, keep the area as clean as possible and brush in and around the hole with toothpaste. Avoid sugars in your diet wherever possible. Take a small amount of toothpaste and brush/rub it into the hole and leave it there- it will help repair the hole and stop it getting worse.

If you notice a lot of food packing in the area you can obtain temporary dental filling material over the counter in pharmacies or supermarkets. You can carefully place this in the hole, follow instructions supplied with the kit.

Problem: My crown or filling has fallen out/ I cracked my tooth eating. It is sharp and is scratching my tongue and cheek.

Solution: Try to locate the tooth fragment or the crown. Hang onto it to show to your dentist. Meanwhile, you should be able to find some ‘dental orthodontic wax’ which you can place over the sharp parts. You may also be able to find some temporary dental filling material in a pharmacy or online. You can try to place this over sharp areas, in the hole or gap, or use it cement in your crowns.

If you cannot bring your teeth together comfortably after doing this, it is best to remove whatever you have placed.

Remember to keep the area as clean as possible after placing anything in your mouth- it can attract bacteria and plaque and cause a range of other problems to your teeth and gums (see above).

Problem: I have very bad toothache.

Solution: Tooth pain is incredibly painful. The good part is it is temporary and will pass within a few days. The best thing to do until then is to take some Ibuprofen (follow and stay within the maximum recommended dose on the leaflet). Ibuprofen doesn’t agree with everyone so please read the instructions on the label carefully and stop use if you notice any adverse effects. Paracetamol works fine too, and can be taken alone or together with Ibuprofen.

It is important to remember antibiotics will not help. Unless there is a swelling in the gum, there is no infection in the tooth. Interestingly, antibiotics take a few days to work- by this time the pain will have passed and you may (mistakenly) think the antibiotics was the cure. Remember to brush very well as bacteria is the likely cause of the toothache.

Problem: I have a swelling on my gum/ face.

Solution: Call your dentist- you may need antibiotics if the swelling is large and growing. If you call the practice in normal working hours a dentist will assess you over the phone and provide a prescription of antibiotics if required.

IN ALL OF THE ABOVE CIRCUMSTANCES PLEASE REMEMBER WE ARE OPEN FOR ADVICE

CALL 020 7485 7558

Out-of-hours call NHS 111.

STAY SAFE

MALDENT

At our surgery we take great pride in the quality of our dentistry and wish to make your visit a pleasant experience. Our aim is good dental health for you and your family through preventive dentistry. This means giving you dental advice and helping you understand how to care for your teeth yourself, to reduce the need for dental treatment. We offer dedicated hygienist sessions to help maintain your gleaming smile!

Our practice has 3 modern surgery suites with the latest dental units and equipment, as well as an in house dental ceramics laboratory. All our sterilisation procedures are carried out in a dedicated decontamination room, to provide the highest standard of hygiene and cross infection control, following the latest BDA guidelines. The practice records are all computerised to ensure maximum efficiency and we use the latest digital radiographic techniques to enable us to reduce unnecessary x-ray exposure and to obtain instant results.

We are proud to be recognised by the British Dental Association (BDA) as a ‘Good Practice’, having committed ourselves, with evidence, to the ten principles of Good Practice.

Your comments on any aspect of our practice are welcome and we will be pleased to discuss your individual needs at any time.

BDA Good Practice

ASSESSORS REPORT SUMMARY 2015

Practice overview

The assessor described Maldent Dental Practice as a warm and welcoming practice with well-maintained surgeries and a comfortable waiting area. The assessor noted that the team were friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities within the practice. It was clear from the report that the practice had worked hard to maintain the standards set out be BDA Good Practice and provide the highest quality of patient focused care.

>>>Click here to view the CQC inspection report<<<

Local MP – Sir Keir Starmer and NHS London Lead Dental Commissioner – Kelly Nizzer visit Maldent Dental Practice

Click here to view the briefing paper (pdf, 224kb)

Local facts on children’s oral health (pdf, 160kb)

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