In need of a dentist in Richmond for your dental emergency?

Dentists experience treating a wide range of dental issues within their role, and emergencies are no exception. We are all aware that in our daily lives accidents can occur which can result in injuries such as a chipped tooth or losing a tooth altogether. So if you require emergency dental care because of an accident or injury you can rest assured that a dentist Richmond will be able to help.

If you have experienced an injury and are in need of emergency dental care, the best thing to do is to contact your dental practice as soon as possible. If you do not have a dental practice and the emergency is out of hours, you can call NHS 111 who will be able to provide you with the details of practices who are providing emergency dental services.

What to expect at an emergency dental appointment

If you have been asked to go to your local dental practice for an emergency dental appointment, the dentist will firstly carry out a thorough examination of the injured area. This will be to identify how serious the injury is and also to determine the extent of damage to the affected tooth or teeth. If the damage is severe and you are experiencing pain, the injured area will be numbed with a local anaesthetic and also sterilised in order to reduce the risk of infection. Once this has been done, the dentist will work on restoring, either temporarily or permanently, the damaged tooth or teeth. If the damage to your tooth is particularly severe, it may be necessary for the tooth to be extracted. If this is the case for you, the dentist will also discuss further dental treatment to replace the tooth. 

By visiting a dentist as soon as you have an dental emergency, you are ensuring that your oral health remains good, you are less likely to have an infection and your remaining tooth structure will also be preserved. 

Dental treatment options to replace a missing tooth 

If unfortunately your tooth has to be removed as a result of an accident or injury, there is an option for you to have the tooth or teeth replaced through restorative dental treatments such as dental implants. 

Dental implant treatment can replace either a single missing tooth or multiple teeth using a titanium implant which is placed into the jaw of a patient where there is a gap which has been left. Once this is done, the area is given some time to heal before the second procedure, which would be to attach a tooth-coloured crown. 

Dental implants are a long-lasting solution to replace missing teeth which not only improves the appearance of your smile, but also allows you to eat normally, improves your speech and essentially your overall oral health. When compared to other restorative dental treatments such as dentures they are also known to be more durable and also very comfortable. 

It is important that after having dental implants you maintain a good oral regime by continuing to brush your teeth twice a day and floss when required. When taken care of well, dental implants can last between 10 to 15 years.