If you experience a dental emergency outwith our normal opening hours, please contact the practice via telephone and leave a short message on the answering machine. Our reception staff will respond to your message the next working day.
If you cannot wait until the practice re-opens, we provide details of the NHS 24 service on the answering machine greeting.
Please contact the surgery number for details on out of hours emergency, otherwise contact
NHS 24 direct on 111.
http://www.nhs24.com/
We have included some helpful advice for managing dental emergencies until you can see your dentist.
After an Extraction
1. Avoid excessive exercise for the rest of the day. Rest after an extraction and use an extra pillow for the first night.
2. Do not drink anything alcoholic for the first 24 hours and avoid smoking.
3. Take painkillers as advised by your dentist (please see above.)
4. Before bed on the day of your extraction, rinse your mouth gently with a warm salty solution (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of water.) Continue after meals and before bed for 1 week.
5. You may feel the sharp edge of the socket with your tongue and small fragments may work their own way out. This is normal.
6. Try not to disturb the socket with your tongue, or by eating food on that side or by vigorous rinsing.
If excessive bleeding occurs;
1. Use some clean gauze to make a roll and form a firm pad or use a clean hankerchief.
2. Sit upright and clear the mouth of any loose blood clots with a clean linen square so you can find where the socket is bleeding.
3. Place the pad across the bleeding socket from the tongue to the cheek side.
4. Bite firmly to compress the pad on the socket for 10-15 minutes. Avoid lying down.
5. Inspect the socket and replace the pad, or use another one, if it is still bleeding.
6. If your efforts are unsuccessful after 1-2 hours, contact your dentist.
7. It is not unusual to experience swelling or discomfort for a few days. However, if pain, swelling or bleeding persists, contact the dentist.
If you cannot wait until the practice re-opens, we provide details of the NHS 24 service on the answering machine greeting.
Please contact the surgery number for details on out of hours emergency, otherwise contact
NHS 24 direct on 111.
http://www.nhs24.com/
We have included some helpful advice for managing dental emergencies until you can see your dentist.
After an Extraction
1. Avoid excessive exercise for the rest of the day. Rest after an extraction and use an extra pillow for the first night.
2. Do not drink anything alcoholic for the first 24 hours and avoid smoking.
3. Take painkillers as advised by your dentist (please see above.)
4. Before bed on the day of your extraction, rinse your mouth gently with a warm salty solution (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of water.) Continue after meals and before bed for 1 week.
5. You may feel the sharp edge of the socket with your tongue and small fragments may work their own way out. This is normal.
6. Try not to disturb the socket with your tongue, or by eating food on that side or by vigorous rinsing.
If excessive bleeding occurs;
1. Use some clean gauze to make a roll and form a firm pad or use a clean hankerchief.
2. Sit upright and clear the mouth of any loose blood clots with a clean linen square so you can find where the socket is bleeding.
3. Place the pad across the bleeding socket from the tongue to the cheek side.
4. Bite firmly to compress the pad on the socket for 10-15 minutes. Avoid lying down.
5. Inspect the socket and replace the pad, or use another one, if it is still bleeding.
6. If your efforts are unsuccessful after 1-2 hours, contact your dentist.
7. It is not unusual to experience swelling or discomfort for a few days. However, if pain, swelling or bleeding persists, contact the dentist.
