Karma Dental reopened following lockdown on 1st July. Since then, we have been working through our waiting list to ensure that those who were in need of emergency treatment, or those in the middle of essential treatment, have been seen. Please bear with us as we are currently very busy and we hope to be able to accommodate you all as soon as we can. Karma is running at half the normal capacity due to the extra measures we must take to avoid the spread of Covid.

This includes:

• Full clean-down of the surgeries between patients, which can take longer following the use of aerosol treatments
• One dental practitioner operating per day, this means they can switch between our 2 surgery rooms to accommodate the cleaning of the surgeries and fit more patients in with less gaps
• Patients are asked not to arrive with other people unless you are unable to arrange childcare or require assistance/chaperones

We apologise if wait times are a little longer or our protocols cause any inconvenience. Your understanding is appreciated.

In the meantime, if you are in need of help or advice, please email or call us and we will do our best to arrange an appointment as soon as possible. We understand that it can be frustrating, but please be patient and kind to our team as we are doing everything we can.

Non-Urgent Dental Concerns

• Bleeding gums
• Broken/rubbing/loose dentures
• Loose/lost fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers
• Chipped teeth with no pain
• Loose orthodontic wires.

While these may not be considered urgent, you may still feel concerned, please do not worry as there are ways of helping to treat or receive many of your dental issues at home.

Urgent Dental Concerns

Please contact us if you are experiencing any of the following

Swelling

Advice:

• Regular painkillers if required
• Hot salty water mouthwash if its draining
• Obvious facial swelling – antibiotics may be prescribed by the dentist for severe infection and swelling
• If you have continuing or recurrent symptoms refer to urgent dental care centre for extraction or drainage.

Trauma

Questions:

1. Any loss of consciousness/vomiting/double vision? Head to A&E if trauma causing loss of consciousness/double vision or vomiting

• Contact your dentist for advice if you have experienced a broken tooth, moved tooth, lost or broken filling, tooth has fallen out or is severely damaged.

Toothache

Advice:

• Regular painkillers if required
• Rinse with cold water, this can alleviate the pain
• Good oral hygiene with a fluoride toothpaste and reduce intake of sugary food to ensure decay does not worsen
• If pain is severe and uncontrollable, preventing sleeping or eating contact us immediately.

Tooth sensitivity

Advice:

• Rub sensitive toothpaste directly on affected area and don’t rinse afterwards, leave on overnight
• Orajel may help ease the pain
• Avoid stimuli (cold/acidic foods or drink).

Wisdom tooth pain

Advice:

• Keep the area clean with a small headed toothbrush or single tufted toothbrush
• Rinse two to three times a day with warm salt water or chlorhexidine mouthwash
• Paracetemol/Ibuprofen regularly if required
• Obvious facial swelling – antibiotics may be prescribed by the dentist for severe infection and swelling
• Call us in 48-72 hours if your symptoms have not resolved
• If  you feel unwell, are unable to open your mouth (less than two fingers) and difficulty swallowing please contact us.

Ulcers

Advice:

• Don’t worry – traumatic ulcers are usually sore but resolve in a week or two
• Oral hygiene advice – brush twice a day, salt water/chlorhexidine mouthwash such as Corsodyl at a  different time to brushing
• Local pain relief using mouthwashes or topical gels  – Paracetemol/Ibuprofen, benydamine hydrochloride mouthwash or topical anaesthetic gels such as Bonjela
• Good oral hygiene
• If due to rubbing dentures – try Fixodent to secure loose dentures. Any sharp or rough edges can be adjusted at home using an emery board. Leave dentures out if too sore to wear
• Avoid aggravating factors eg spicy food
• Avoid smoking.

Alert

• Any non-healing and non-painful ulcer present for two weeks or more requires urgent dental with potential referral to urgent dental health centre. Please call us asap for an telephone assessment.

Jaw pain

Advice:

• Don’t worry – clenching/grinding of teeth is common in periods of stress or due to some medications
• Soft diet for two weeks
• Limit opening of mouth when yawning or eating – place hand under chin
• Avoid recurrent chewing habits eg chewing gum/nail biting
• Ibuprofen gel – rub onto skin outside of the mouth near the pain
• Warm/cold compress over affected area
• Massaging sore areas of face eg temples

Lost filling/crowns

Advice:

• Pain relief if required
• Can buy temporary cement/filling kit from chemist – E.g ‘Dentanurse’
• Soft diet
• Avoid hot/cold foods
• Good oral hygiene and a low sugar diet will help prevent decay in the underlying tooth
• Soft toothbrush and sensitive toothpaste
• If you have inhaled fragment then please contact us.