It is a well-known fact that if you wake up at 4 am with a throbbing pain under one of your teeth, you need to see a dental team as soon as possible.

While many people may feel embarrassed about attending their dental surgery with an emergency, urgent dental treatment is so commonly seen across dental surgeries that many dedicate slots each day to dental emergencies, meaning you won’t have to be in discomfort too long!

But, what about dental emergencies that are not necessarily uncomfortable? Unfortunately, pain is not the sole indicator of a dental emergency, meaning that you may be overlooking several conditions that actually require urgent treatment. Yikes!

At Amsel and Wilkins, if you have a dental emergency, we will always aim to see you within 24 hours. We will endeavour to get you out of pain as quickly as possible, allowing you to get on with your day as planned. While we cannot guarantee that you will see your regular dentist in Banbury, we will always make sure that you are treated with TLC and that you leave our surgery in a more comfortable state.

But what are some of the dental emergencies that our dentist in Banbury sees on a regular basis?

Discomfort

A universal indicator that you require an urgent appointment with our dentist in Banbury is discomfort. Depending on the severity of the discomfort, it could indicate a variety of issues, such as abscesses, injuries or even damaged teeth. Regardless of the underlying cause, if you are experiencing dental pain that is impacting on your ability to function, call our team for an urgent appointment.

Chipped or cracked teeth

Often overlooked as a minor inconvenience, if you have a crack or chip in any of your teeth, you need to see our team promptly. Although these issues are not always painful, they can cause issues with sensitivity and may allow bacteria to get underneath your enamel, where abscesses or decay can begin to form. So, if you lost a bit of your tooth playing rugby last week, come and see our team to have it fixed!

Lost crown or filling

Like the chips and cracks, the loss of a filling or crown is not always uncomfortable. The moment you feel your filling loosening or notice that your crown has come off, contact our team to have it replaced as soon as possible. Just like the unattended chips in teeth, delaying treatment can lead to more serious issues.

Swelling

Painful or painless swelling anywhere the mouth or under the jaw requires urgent addressing.

Indicative of everything from an abscess to an impacted wisdom tooth, it is best to have any swelling examined by your dental team, to prevent more dangerous developments from occurring, such as breathing issues.

Lost or loose braces

Of course, if your braces come loose, you will need to contact your orthodontist, but an emergency trip to our team can help to secure any loose brackets or wires with dental cement.

If you have just discovered that you or your partner are pregnant, congratulations! The next few months will be full of medical appointments to ensure that both you and your baby are healthy, and of course, you will want to reduce any stress as much as possible. However, while you may be planning your meeting with your midwife and GP, it is also important to book an appointment with your dental team as soon as possible.

As odd as it may sound, dental care is an important aspect of prenatal medicine, as issues with the teeth and gums can cause problems during and after pregnancy. Of course, with all the seemingly more relevant appointments you will have to attend, it is easy to overlook your dental health but for the benefit of you and your baby, it is important to book a dental check-up as soon as you discover you are pregnant.

At Amsel and Wilkins, our dental team has helped thousands of women keep their dental health in top shape during pregnancy, allowing for both a healthier pregnancy and healthier birth. Our dentist in Banbury can provide prescription-strength toothpaste and mouthwash to help you tackle the inevitable dental changes that will occur during those all-important 9 months. Perfect!

So, what are some of the common dental problems that our dentist in Banbury has seen in pregnant women? Read on to find out!

Gum disease

While gum disease can obviously occur without pregnancy, during those 9 months, you are more likely to experience swelling, bleeding and sensitivity around the gums. Due to fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, the surface of the gums can become more porous and inflamed, leading to periodontal issues like gingivitis. Our dentist in Banbury will be able to reduce the inflammation and discomfort associated with these conditions by offering you a scale and polish clean, while also prescribing a medicated toothpaste and mouthwash.

Cavities

Pregnancy can also cause enamel to become thinner, meaning that you are more likely to develop cavities. Once again, our team can help by applying fluoride sealants to your teeth to protect them, while also providing you with medicated washes to remove any lingering bacteria.

Tumours

While it may sound odd to say ‘don’t panic’ when the word tumour is involved, gum tumours are a common occurrence in pregnancy. Often resolving once you have given birth, these tumours are typically benign but, if they get too large, they can cause issues with both eating and breathing. If you are concerned about any growths in your mouth, talk to our dental team at Amsel and Wilkins about your treatment options.

Acid damage

With morning sickness and unusual cravings, it is likely that during your pregnancy your teeth will succumb to acid damage. Once again, our team at Amsel and Wilkins can help by providing you with a medicated mouthwash aimed at neutralising any acid. We can also apply fluoride sealants to the surface of your teeth, to strengthen the enamel against acid damage.