Dental Emergencies

When You Need an Emergency Dentist in Perth, Call Us

Dental emergencies are quite frightening and often painful. Prompt treatment is almost always required to alleviate pain and to ensure the teeth have the best possible chance of survival. Contacting an emergency dentist in Perth, like our team at Woodvale Park Dental, is imperative.

Sometimes teeth become fractured by trauma, grinding or biting on hard objects. In other cases, fillings, crowns and other restorative devices can be damaged or fall out of the mouth completely. If there is severe pain, it is essential to make an appointment with an emergency dentist in Perth as quickly as possible. The pain caused by dental emergencies almost always gets worse without treatment, and dental issues can seriously jeopardize physical health.

Do You Have a Dental Emergency in Perth? Here is What You Should Do...

There are various types of dental emergencies and here is some information on how to deal with them before you see an emergency dentist in Perth.

Avulsed tooth (tooth knocked out)

If a tooth has been knocked clean out of the mouth, it is essential to see an emergency dentist in Perth immediately. When a tooth exits the mouth, tissues, nerves and blood vessels become damaged. If the tooth can be placed back into its socket within an hour, there is a chance the tissues will grow to support the tooth once again.

Here are some steps to take:

Call an emergency dentist in Perth. Pick up the tooth by the crown and rinse it under warm water. DO NOT touch the root. If possible, place it back into its socket – if not tuck it into the cheek pouch. If the tooth cannot be placed in the mouth, put the tooth into a cup of milk, saliva, or water as a last resort. It is important to keep the tooth from drying out. Get to the dentist, quickly and safely.

The dentist will try to replace the tooth in its natural socket. In some cases, the tooth will reattach, but if the inner mechanisms of the teeth are seriously damaged, root canal therapy may be necessary.

Lost filling or crown

Usually, a crown or filling comes loose while eating. Once it is out of the mouth, the affected tooth may be incredibly sensitive to temperature changes and pressure. Crowns generally become loose mostly because the tooth underneath is decaying. The decay causes shape changes in the teeth – meaning that the crown no longer fits.

If a crown has dropped out of the mouth, make a dental appointment as soon as possible. Keep the crown in a cool, safe place because there is a possibility that the dentist can reinsert it. If the crown is out of the mouth for a long period of time, the teeth may shift or sustain further damage.

When the dentist is not immediately accessible, here are the steps to take:

Apply clove oil to the tooth to alleviate pain If the crown is lost, avoid extreme hot, cold, sweet, and sour food or beverages. Avoid chewing from that side. DO NOT use any kind of glue to affix the crown.

The dentist will check the crown to see if it still fits. If it does, it will be reattached to the tooth. Where decay is noted, this will be treated and a new crown will be made.

Cracked or broken teeth

The teeth are strong, but they are still prone to fractures, cracks and breaks. Sometimes fractures are fairly painless, but if the crack extends down into the root, it is likely that the pain will be extreme. Fractures, cracks and breaks can take several different forms, but are generally caused by trauma, grinding and biting. If a tooth has been fractured or cracked, there is no alternative but to see the dentist as quickly as possible.

Where a segment of tooth has been broken off, here are some steps that can be taken at home:

Call an emergency dentist in Perth. Rinse the tooth fragment and the mouth with lukewarm water. Apply gauze to the area for ten minutes if there is bleeding. Place a cold, damp dishtowel on the cheek to minimize swelling and pain. Take a topical pain reliever.

The nature of the break or fracture will limit what the dentist is able to do. If a fracture or crack extends into the root, root canal therapy may be the only effective way to retain the tooth. In the case of a complete break, the dentist will usually affix the fragment back onto the tooth as a temporary measure.

Dislodged/loose teeth

When a tooth has been dislodged or loosened from its socket by trauma or decay, it might be possible to save it. If the tooth remains in the mouth and attached to the blood vessels and nerves, there is a chance that root canal therapy will not be necessary.

It is important to call an emergency dentist in Perth immediately to make an appointment. In the meantime, use a cold compress and over-the-counter medications to relieve pain. The dentist will test the tooth, reposition the tooth and add splints to stabilize it. If the tooth fails to heal, root canal therapy may be required.

If you have questions or concerns about any dental emergency in Perth, please contact your dentist.