Belfast dentist encourages patients to avoid DIY dentistry
Belfast dentist Lucy Stock is encouraging patients to avoid DIY dentistry while practices are closed.
With dental clinics all over the country closed to reduce the risk of spreading Coronavirus, Lucy, like many other dentists, is worried that patients will resort to DIY treatment. Procedures like pulling teeth out can be incredibly risky in non-clinical environments. Instead of trying to extract a tooth at home, Lucy advises patients struggling with pain to get in touch with their dentist to talk through treatment options and to secure an appointment with an emergency dentist if required.
Pulling out teeth on your own carries a risk of infection, and without anaesthetic, it’s also likely to be very painful. There also a risk of complications, including excessive bleeding, which would normally be managed and addressed swiftly by dentists.
There has been criticism about a lack of urgent dental services while practices are closed to patients, but there are now centres up and running to cover emergency treatment.
As well as urging patients who do need urgent help to contact their regular dental practice, Lucy has also shared some self-help tips for those with milder ailments, such as toothache. Using a cold compress to ease swelling, taking over the counter pain relief and washing the mouth out with salt water and oil of cloves can all help.
It’s important for patients to be aware of the symptoms of infection. Anyone who experiences signs that could be linked to sepsis, including nausea and vomiting, fever, a fast heartbeat and diarrhoea, is encouraged to seek urgent assistance.
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