DENTISTS OUT THERE??!! Wobbly adult tooth

[suecy]

DS (7) fell over today and has a wobbly incisor (unfortunately an adult tooth). It's not massively wobbly - I'd put it at slight/medium.

His incisors have both come through quite high so will have hopefully drop down naturally as is usual, so I'm wondering if that will help to firm it up?

I'm unlikely to be able to get an appointment for a couple of weeks so wondered if you had any advice - what can a dentist do anyway?!

TIA

Teeth which have been knocked will usually just firm up again gradually within days. They may become discoloured if damaged, but just be careful to reduce hard food on that side til its firmer.

Yes what sneeze said. Sometimes the teeth will die (causing discolouration) and need root canal treatment so be aware of changes in colour, sensitivity, a pimple on the gum above the tooth.

All perfectly treatable and can arise several years after trauma.

Wobblyness isn't too much of a concern unless the root is fractured but it would probably be more wobbly if it was. Prob a good idea to be seen in a week or two for an x ray/baseline observations.

BTW, what can a dentist do? We can reposition the tooth, splint it into position, remove interferences in the bite and diagnose a root fracture, quite a lot more than the MN panel then.

Sorry Grumpy, was a legitimate question, not questioning the abilities of dentists - it was literally like what can the dentisit do if it is wobbly!

I should have added...see a dentist as soon as feasible! Dentists certainly can do lots more than the likes of me! I'm and A&E nurse so only deal in short termisms!

Why do people go to A&E with dental problems - never, ever seen a dentist there!?

because they can refer you to on-call emergency dentist but there is no walk-in dental A&E.

I did this - was in screaming mouth pain when I was about 22 and working for 2 months away from home i.e. not long enough to register locally, and I got a wisdom tooth whipped out at about one in the morning that had come through just too far and was hitting the top tooth. Sat there in the waiting room with somebody who'd been kicked in the face at their ju jitsu session.

I agree sneeze the entire PCT I work in doesn't have a dentist in A&E. I think people go there because it's free and the majority only want antibiotics even though they rarely work for toothache, the last thing they want is a dentist with a drill actually fixing the problem.

Just for general info. NHSDirect have phone numbers of emergency dentists, and local PCT numbers where you can phone and get an emergency appointment if they are available weekends and evenings.

My A&E department didnt even refer let alone give abx. We would take pity though and give painkillers!

One woman even brough in by ambulance with toothache! she was in agony though. In fact almost all the accidental painkiller overdoses we get are from dental pain so mucho sympathy!