Out of Hours - Helpful Advice
Emergency contacts
Tel: 028 3833 4116 for out of hours arrangements.
We will do our best to see genuine emergencies within 24 hours. Telephone the practice first thing in the morning (8am) to arrange an appointment.
In the evenings, weekends and public holidays we participate in the Local Area Emergency Dental Clinic.
What to do if you are in pain
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If you have pain without facial swelling you can purchase painkillers from any chemist. Always take the advice of the pharmacist and ensure to inform them of any current medication or medical conditions eg. asthma, stomach ulcers that you may have.
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Avoid hot/cold/hard foods as this may make the pain severe.
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Contact your dentist for treatment.
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If you are swollen it is often a sign of abscess or infection. If the swelling is severe or you feel sick, have a temperature or the swelling is affecting your swallow or breathing, you must attend your local casualty department urgently.
Loose/dislodged crown or bridge
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Do not replace the crown with super glue.
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If the crown is at the back of your mouth leave it out and keep in a safe place until you attend your dentist.
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If the crown is at the front of your mouth you can buy temporary cement from some chemists. It is not advisable to eat or sleep with the crown retained by a temporary cement.
What to do if your denture breaks
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Keep the piece carefully as it may be possible to repair the denture using the existing fragments. It may be necessary for the dentist to take an impression and send the broken denture to the Laboratory for repair.
If your mouth bleeds after an extraction
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If the socket is just oozing gently with blood apply pressure to the socket for 15-20 minutes. Use a clean handkerchief/gauze to form a firm pad. Place this over the socket and bite as firmly as possible for 15-20 minutes.
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If the socket is bleeding heavily or persistently you need urgent attention. Apply pressure to the socket as mentioned above and attend the local casualty department.
