It’s that time of year once again! As 2025 draws to a close, we want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you yet again to all of our patients, returning and new, for visiting us this year- we are so grateful that so many people have chosen us as their dental practice, and for the trust that we have developed with those patients over the last 17 years in business.
From every single one of us here at Renmore Dental, we wish you a Merry Christmas and the very best for the year ahead ❤️
Dealing with dental issues over Christmas
As the practice will be closed over the festive period (24th December to 1st January inclusive, reopening on Friday 2nd of January 2026), we have put together this helpful guide addressing some common dental issues that can often occur over the holidays, and how best to temporarily manage them.
Urgent and non-urgent dental issues
While any dental issue is undoubtedly an inconvenience over the holidays, it is important not to panic- there are only a few truly emergency dental situations requiring immediate attention.
Urgent dental emergencies include infection/abscess (especially facial swelling), bleeding due to trauma, severe toothache that is combined with swelling & fever symptoms, and tooth avulsion (knocked out tooth). If you are experiencing any of these issues and your dentist is not available, it is best to attend an out of hours GP service or the emergency department of your closest hospital to get treatment of the most urgent symptoms first (such as antibiotics for swelling, etc). You can then return to the dentist once open for further treatment.
Dental issues that are classed as non-urgent include loose or dislodged crowns/veneers/bridgework, broken or lost fillings, chipped teeth (with no pain), broken dentures, & bleeding gums. While these issues should be seen to as soon as possible, they are not urgent emergencies and can usually be managed until your next dental visit.
Toothache
For a toothache, managing the symptoms until you can attend a dentist is the best course of action. Use whichever over the counter pain relief is suitable for you to take to alleviate discomfort (always follow the instructions/advice of your pharmacist), and avoid chewing on the affected area if possible. Desensitising toothpaste such as Sensodyne can also provide protection against hypersensitivity.
Rinsing with warm salty water regularly, especially after eating, will help keep the affected area clean and free from debris which may be contributing to symptoms.
If the toothache turns into severe pain/swelling, please consult with your GP/ emergency GP service.
Chipped tooth
Chipping a tooth can be common during the festive season- hard nuts and sweets being the main culprits! Ideally hard or sticky foods should be limited, especially for those who have large fillings, crowns, veneers or bridgework. If you do chip a tooth and cannot access a dentist, not to worry- chipped teeth are most often not an urgent issue unless they are accompanied by pain or swelling, and having it repaired by a dentist as soon as one is available (even if it’s not straight away) is the best course of action.
If the chipped tooth is sharp and cutting into the gum or cheek, then temporary filling kits are available from most pharmacies (e.g. DenTek Temparin repair kit), with material that can be applied to the affected tooth to soften sharp edges and repair the chip in the short term until you can attend a dentist.
Lost filling
The main issues with a lost or fractured filling are food trapping within the open space, and the now weakened tooth structure being more susceptible to further fracture. If you have lost a filling, then warm salty water rinses, especially after eating, will help keep the area clean and prevent any food debris from getting trapped, which could cause infection. Where possible it is best to avoid chewing on the side of the affected tooth to limit the chances of further damage.
Like a chipped tooth, lost or fractured fillings can also be temporarily repaired with filling kits to seal a large gap and prevent food trapping until it is replaced with a permanent filling (note this is only a short term solution, and this temporary filling material will normally only last for a day or two at a time, depending on the success of application).
Until the dentist can replace the filling or assess the tooth for alternative options, it is best to keep it clean and avoid hard or sticky foods- but if you do notice swelling around the area or severe pain, it is best to attend a GP/out of hours GP service in case of any infection.
Dislodged crown
If your crown has dislodged, keep it safe until you can attend a dentist to have it recemented. In the meantime, avoid any hard or sticky foods and try to avoid chewing on the affected tooth if possible, as the tooth will be weaker and more susceptible to breaking without the crown for protection. In the event that the crown needs to be recemented temporarily (e.g. if needed in the short term for aesthetic reasons like an upcoming event), then temporary crown cement is available from most pharmacies and can be used only as short-term measure if necessary.
Avulsed tooth
Following a trauma a tooth may be avulsed (knocked out). In this situation, attempt to retrieve the tooth if possible and put into a container of milk, taking care to avoid touching the root area of the tooth, handling only by the crown.
Once the tooth has been stored properly it is important to get to a dentist immediately, or failing that the emergency department- in most cases the tooth can be placed back in the socket and splinted to hold it in place while the root tries to fuse to the jawbone. This needs to be completed quickly and chances of success are varied depending on the condition of the tooth after the incident, and how quickly reattachment is carried out.
Infection/Abscess
In the event of an infection or abscess (such as an infected wisdom tooth), the best course of action is usually antibiotics when prescribed by an appropriate clinician. In the event that your dentist is unavailable, a GP or emergency GP service should be able to provide a prescription for antibiotics which will eliminate the infection present (it is important to follow the instructions of the medication as prescribed).
Until the infection has cleared, warm salty water rinses will help speed up the process of eliminating the infection and keep the affected area clean. Whatever pain relief you usually take (always follow recommended instructions/directions from pharmacist) can be used in the meantime to alleviate the symptoms while the saltwater rinses/antibiotics take effect.
Getting ahead of dental pain
As is often the case in dentistry, the easiest way to deal with an issue is to prevent it from happening at all- if you have not had your annual dental checkup yet, then getting an exam booked ahead of the Christmas holidays might just help avoid any dental issues; being aware of any possible problems (such as loose fillings, internal fractures in a tooth, etc.) is the first step in preventing them from worsening, ensuring they can be treated before they cause further issue.
To check for available slots for the rest of December & early New Year, contact us on 091 757 678 or email info@renmoredental.ie to enquire with our patient care team and we would be happy to help!