We at DentCo Dental understand that unexpected dental emergencies can arise. Our caring team is ready to assist in relieving the stress and trauma such an emergency situation can bring. We allocate specific times in order to cater for emergencies, so you are not left waiting for an appointment.
Additionally, we have put together the following information to help you or your family member with various emergency scenario’s until you can make it to our office.
A major blow to the mouth, teeth or jaw can have grave consequences, however, the injury can be minimized if you know what to do. Most importantly, don’t take chances and act quickly. Tooth fracture is not always visible to the eye, so arrange and assessment with one of our dentists as soon as possible.
In the extreme instance of a tooth being knocked out, seek our dentists help immediately preferably within 30min. Additionally the following steps as recommended by the ADA (Australian Dental Association) can help prevent long term damage:
Tooth aches should be addressed promptly, pain is often an early warning sign that a problem is developing. Just because the pain may fade doesn’t always mean the problem has resolved.
There are numerous causes of tooth ache but the most common are tooth decay and infection of the nerve in the tooth. If left untreated eventually an abscess will form, and in extreme cases this can be fatal.
These issues can only be corrected by your dentist so don’t delay in having your dentist investigate the problem. Of course, Murphy’s law dictates that these things often arise at the most inconvenient times so if you can’t get to your dentist the next best option is to see your GP who may be able to prescribe antibiotics or other medication to by you some time until you are able to see one of our dentists. But be well advised, antibiotics cannot cure most dental infections, they only relieve the symptoms, temporarily, and can lead to antibiotic resistance. Dental infections need treatment by a dentist.
Chipped teeth can happen for many reasons, sport activities are the most commonly involved, but often patients tell us their tooth broke while chewing something soft. This is usually a case of ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’, in that the tooth was previously damaged/fractured, for instance by decay, and chewing on even soft food initiated a toothache of dislodgement of a part of a tooth, or a filling.
In some circumstances at chipped/broken tooth can cause significant pain, but this is not always the case. No matter, if you are in pain or not getting help, sooner rather than later can mean you avoid bigger problems and expenses, such as the tooth becoming decayed or the nerve becoming infected.
Depending on the size, shape and position of the chipped/broken tooth you may find the area very sharp which may cut or irritate your tongue or cheek. In this situation dental wax can be purchased from pharmacies and placed over the break to prevent damage to the soft tissues.
We will always prioritize emergency treatment and endeavor to accommodate you as soon as possible.
If a crown falls off, the tooth underneath is left exposed and can cause significant sensitivity. It is important to replace the crown as soon as possible, in order to prevent infection and decay compromising the tooth that supports your crown. An unprotected tooth is prone to fracturing which could result in the loss of the tooth completely. We recommend seeing one of our dentists within 48hrs.
In the interim, if you have managed to save the crown you can protect the tooth by using toothpaste or denture adhesive to re-cement the crown on a temporary basis. Use care this may sound easy, but crowns have been swallowed accidently before, many times. Most importantly DO NOT use household glues, such as ‘superglue’, of any kind in your mouth EVER.
If you haven’t been able to save the crown be sure to advise our office of this when you make your booking.
Bleeding or painful gums is generally an indicator of gum disease, gingivitis or periodontitis. Gingivitis is caused by the buildup of plaque on the teeth along the gum line, if not removed plaque hardens and becomes calculus (calcified plaque, similar to cement). This can be accompanied by bad breath, or a foul taste. In line with the ADA (Australian Dental Association) our dentists recommend dental cleaning every 6 months to remove calculus and prevent the progression of gingivitis to periodontitis.
Periodontitis is much more serious to the long-term health of your teeth and the bones that supports them. Periodontitis has even been linked to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer. If left untreated, the bone supporting your teeth begins to break down, eventually teeth become loose and may even fall out.
Don’t wait, see one of our dentists and stop gum disease in its tracks.
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