Dealing with dental emergencies can be extremely stressful and painful. Having timely access to emergency dental care can provide much-needed relief and treatment when you are suffering and in need of help the most. However, what precisely constitutes a true dental emergency that requires immediate emergency dental treatment, and what can an on-call emergency dentist actually do for you if you are experiencing one? This comprehensive article from aims to address those key questions in detail, covering the various types of urgent dental issues that would be classed as dental emergencies requiring prompt, professional attention and intervention.
Common Dental Emergencies
Several dental issues may require prompt attention from an emergency dentist. These include:
- Toothaches
Tooth pain ranging from mild to debilitating requires assessment to determine the underlying cause and necessary treatment.
- Damaged teeth
Blunt force trauma from an injury can crack, chip, or even fully break teeth, necessitating emergency repair.
- Lost fillings
Losing a filling exposes vulnerable tooth structures to potential decay and infection. An emergency refilling is advised.
- Lost crowns
A lost crown risks tooth damage and necessitates a replacement crown to protect and rebuild the tooth.
- Abscesses
Bacterial infections in the tooth or gums often cause extreme pain and swelling, needing urgent care.
- Broken braces & wires
Damaged orthodontic appliances can damage tissue and require emergency repair or removal.
What Can an Emergency Dentist Do?
Emergency dentists complete additional training beyond general dentistry education that equips them to provide urgent assessment and dental treatment outside normal office hours. This allows them to give patients prompt relief when dealing with painful, traumatic, or potentially serious dental issues requiring immediate intervention when other dental clinics are closed.
The range of emergency dental services an on-call dentist in Carrum Downs can provide includes:
- Diagnostic Exam
The emergency dentist will carry out a thorough examination of the oral cavity to assess dental issues causing acute pain and discern the underlying condition requiring emergency treatment. This allows them to determine the most appropriate solutions.
- X-Rays
Emergency dentists can take x-ray images of the affected teeth and jaw to help visualize any hidden problems, damage, infections and causes of tooth pain that may not be evident from a visual inspection alone.
- Pain Relief Treatment
If patients are in severe discomfort, the dentist can promptly administer local anaesthetic injections to numb the area and provide instant pain relief. They may also prescribe strong analgesic medications to help ease intense dental pain or swelling.
- Temporary Fillings:
The dentist can insert temporary fillings into holes or gaps in teeth caused by lost fillings to shield exposed dentin and protect teeth and nerves from potential infection until permanent restorations can be arranged.
- Adjust/Replace Broken Braces
For damaged orthodontic brace appliances causing injury or discomfort, the dentist can provide emergency orthodontic treatment to repair or replace broken braces, wires or corroded parts.
Additional services like tooth extractions, temporary tooth crowns, antibiotics for spreading infections, and referrals to ongoing restorative dental care may also be provided based on the diagnosis and treatment plan recommended by the assessing emergency dentist.
If you experience sudden, severe tooth pain or trauma, seek emergency dental assistance right away. Contact or visit our emergency dentist at Carrum Downs Dental Group to arrange urgent evaluation and relief. Our clinic offers emergency support after hours and will advise critical next steps tailored to your unique condition for recovery. With prompt care, emergency dentists can restore comfort, prevent additional damage, and set you on the pathway toward healing.