Emergency Dental Care

A Bit About Dental Emergencies

Most of us will try to avoid dental emergencies where we can, however, sometimes it’s inevitable. While it is recommended to visit the dentist regularly, even for just a quick check-up or teeth cleaning, sometimes, we find ourselves in need of emergency dental care.

Unlike general dentists, an emergency dentist is specially trained to treat emergency oral problems.

The main difference between general dentistry and emergency dentistry is the urgency of the dental work required. It is mainly the difference between a mild toothache and a knocked-out tooth.

Call us today if you are in pain or experience a dental emergency.

Call (03) 8391 8414

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So, what exactly is a dental emergency?

Dental emergencies are oral problems that need to be immediately addressed. If not dealt with, there’s a high risk of injury or permanent tooth loss.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know what is and isn’t a situation where you would need emergency dental care, but generally dental emergencies might include:

• Cracked or broken teeth: This can be considered an emergency if it is causing severe pain. Otherwise, a normal dental appointment can help repair this problem.
• Knocked-out teeth: Especially in adults, this can always be urgent. Try not to touch the root of the tooth and contact an emergency dentist as soon as you can.
• Severe tooth pain: Whether this is caused by injury or a bad cavity, an emergency dentist can treat the problem and ease the pain it is causing.
• Abscesses/infection: Care for this emergency is vital in ensuring the infection does not spread or worsen.
• Trauma to the mouth, teeth, or gums that otherwise cannot be properly addressed by a general dentist.

As long as the problem is causing significant pain and discomfort, it is considered a dental emergency.

When Should You See an Emergency Dentist?

An emergency dentist should be contacted as soon as you are experiencing a dental emergency.

If you have any sort of dental emergency, it is vital that you contact an emergency dentist as soon as possible, otherwise the risk of permanent injury or tooth loss increases substantially.

You can either call up to arrange an emergency dental appointment, or book through the online forms (though in cases of emergency, it is probably best to call).

Generally, if the emergency is urgent or severe, you will be booked right away and be placed into the next available slot.

Not every dental emergency is urgent, so if you cannot be seen for a while, you will be given management instructions to decrease discomfort until your appointment.

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What Happens at Your Emergency Dental Appointment?

Once you are at your appointment, a dentist will ask you a few questions and perform an oral exam.

As soon as the dentist has determined the problem, they will work on fixing it. More often than not, repairing a dental emergency requires some form of local anaesthetic, minimalizing the pain and discomfort you feel as the dentist works.

The main goal of an emergency dental appointment is to decrease pain and discomfort, while fixing the dental problem as best as possible. Some dental emergencies may require follow up visits to fully correct the problem or track healing progress, so don’t be too surprised if your emergency dentist needs you to come back in for that.