Emergency Dentist in Wantirna
Treat dental emergencies at Studfield Dental
Anyone can suffer a dental emergency any time, making it important to seek immediate professional care as soon as possible. At Studfield Dental Group, we take all your dental emergencies very seriously. That’s why we are open seven days a week so you can get effective and prompt treatment without spending a day in pain.
What Are The Dental Emergencies We Treat?
Dental emergencies can be of various nature, from dental infections and extreme swellings associated with fever, to dislodged fillings causing major sensitivity and much more. If you have any of the following dental emergencies, we advise that you come and see us right away:
Dental pain
We can broadly categorise a toothache into two different sources of pain: those caused by the dental nerve or pulp, known as odontogenic pain, and those that arise in the gum or bone surrounding teeth, called peri-radicular pain.
Odontogenic or tooth pain could be both acute or chronic in nature. When the dental nerve is infected, it can cause severe pain in acute conditions and swelling from within. This can lead to severe pulpitis and create an abscess full of pus, which is quite painful with the pressure build-up.
Chronic pulpitis is less painful but can get acutely exacerbated, leading to pus drainage. In both conditions, you need to see a dental professional as soon as possible due to the extreme nature of pain.
At SDG, we will find the source of pain and relieve the pressure from the pus accumulation, while treating the source of infection and medicating you. Peri-radicular pain is an infection in the tissues supporting your teeth, such as the gum and bones. It can infect the tooth and cause severe pain upon biting or pressure, sometimes forming pus and mimicking dental pain.
DENTAL TRAUMA
If your tooth has chipped, cracked or been dislodged from the mouth, this is considered dental trauma and requires immediate attention. Chipped teeth can cause severe sensitivity whereas cracked or broken teeth can cause the nerve to get exposed and also cause severe pain along with infection of the nerve within.
Sometimes accidental falls or impact injuries can cause your whole tooth to be impacted and become loose within its socket or completely fall out. In such a situation, gently pick up your tooth and place it in either milk, normal saline or within the mouth soaked in your own saliva to protect the fibres on your tooth’s root. Visit us at SDG Dental within the hour, and we’ll be able to re-position the tooth back into its socket and splint it immediately. The sooner action is taken, the better the chances of saving your teeth!
SEVERE GUM BLEEDING
Profuse or uncontrollable bleeding from your gums can be a sign of gum disease or trauma. Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater and apply gentle pressure to the bleeding area. Contact our dentist as soon as possible for an evaluation.
DISLODGED RESTORATIONS (FILLINGS, CROWNS & VENEERS)
A broken filling can be rather uncomfortable as a large portion of your tooth is now hollow, allowing cold or hot beverages to cause sensitivity and pain along with food impaction. Dental fillings are meant to restore your tooth structure and protect the underlying nerve. So, a dislodged filling would mean the protective cover is gone, resulting in the tooth hurting moderately or severely.
Similarly, sometimes dental crowns are placed over teeth which have large fillings, to protect the remaining tooth from breakage. So, when a crown or even a veneer falls off, the trimmed tooth surface gets exposed, causing extreme sensitivity and pain.
ACUTE ORAL INFECTIONS
Diffused swellings spreading across the soft tissues of your face and jaw are known as cellulitis, and can also be associated with fever. These could be caused by a sudden infection spreading from the gum or tooth, and requires immediate medication.
If the tooth causing the cellulitis has an active infection with abscess formation, our emergency team at SDG Dental would need to open the tooth or swollen tissue inside the mouth and allow the pus to drain to relieve the pressure from within. This is usually very helpful and you will feel relief quite immediately after the incision and drainage.
A rather life-threatening condition known as Ludwig’s Angina can occur if you have a dental infection from an impacted wisdom tooth or a tooth with a large cavity. This swelling is located at the base of your mouth and can enlarge to the point of blocking your airway. It is crucial that you visit SDG Dental immediately so that an incision and drainage are performed to relieve the swelling and quite literally, save your life!
Are you looking for the best emergency dentist in Wantirna? Open 7 days a week for any dental emergency.
PERICORONITIS
This condition is caused by infection and swelling of the tissues surrounding erupting teeth, usually the wisdom teeth. It is rather painful since you may have difficulty chewing, speaking, swallowing fluids, and it can even cause trismus (difficulty opening the jaws). In extreme or untreated cases, fever and malaise can also occur. You would need to start medication immediately, and we will wash out and treat the infected area to allow it to heal before removing the causative wisdom tooth.
POST-EXTRACTION DRY SOCKET
An excruciatingly painful condition called dry socket can occur after a tooth extraction, especially after a wisdom tooth extraction. This condition occurs if blood doesn’t clot properly after the surgery or if there is too much bleeding or haemorrhage. Either way, a dry socket cannot be treated by OTC medication and requires medical attention from our emergency dentists.
The above-mentioned conditions are only some of the many dental emergencies you could face. Other dental emergencies include broken orthodontic appliances, implant fixtures, dentures or in the worst case, accidentally choking on a broken fragment of a dental appliance.
Please do not hesitate to visit a dentist when you are in pain. Just rush over to SDG Dental and let our team of experienced emergency dentists take care of you! Your quality of life and improved oral health are our top priorities!
What to do in a Dental Emergency
In a dental emergency, it is important to take quick and appropriate action. Here’s what you can do:
- Make a quick call to our clinic to schedule an emergency appointment, we’re open 7 days a week.
- If there’s bleeding from your gums or mouth, use a clean cloth or gauze and apply gentle pressure.
- If there’s any facial swelling, apply a cold compress.
- If you get a toothache, rinse your mouth with warm water and floss to remove any trapped debris.
- For a knocked-out tooth, try to place the tooth back in its socket and keep it moist until you come to the clinic.
- For a chipped or broken tooth, save any broken pieces and rinse your mouth with warm water.
WAYS TO AVOID DENTAL EMERGENCIES
- Maintain a proper dental hygiene routine at home. Brush your teeth twice daily and floss at least once a day.
- Visit the dentist for regular dental check-ups and professional cleaning every 6 months.
- Avoid using your teeth as tools to open or cut things.
- Wear custom-made mouthguards to protect your teeth if you play high-contact sports.
- Avoid food and drinks that contain high amounts of sugar and acids.
Why Choose SDG Dental in Wantirna
Choosing SDG Dental can provide you with high-quality dental care, prompt treatment and peace of mind knowing that your oral health is in capable hands.
- Open 7 days a week
- Highly skilled and experienced dentists
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Patient-focused approach
- Personalised treatment plans
- A wide range of comprehensive dental services such as general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, emergency dentistry, family dentistry and laser dentistry.
Your smile deserves the best — Call us today to make an appointment.
