Dental Emergencies

Accidents do happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing teeth. A dental emergency involving an injury to the teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and expensive treatment later on.

Dr Mark Peddey and his team at Dentistry in Elwood reserve time in their daily schedules for emergency patients. When you call to schedule a time, you will need to provide as much detail as possible about your condition. Remember, pain is a signal that something is wrong—a problem that will not disappear even if the pain subsides.

If you are concerned about visiting the dentist for fear of the fees, be comforted by knowing that at Dentistry in Elwood once a diagnosis is made your treatment options and the associated fees will be discussed with you. Commonly in an emergency appointment there is only time to diagnose and stabilise the tooth and get you out of pain. In most cases you will be required to schedule to come back on another day for your treatment. This gives you time to consider the information you are given and make an informed decision of the alternative treatment options that are presented to you.

Here is a quick summary of what to do for some common dental emergencies.

• Toothaches— First, thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water. Use dental floss to remove any lodged food. If your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. Call Dr Mark Peddey at Dentistry in Elwood on 9531 0011 and schedule to be seen as soon as possible.
• Chipped or broken teeth— Save any pieces. Rinse the mouth using warm water; rinse any broken pieces. If there ’s bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken/chipped tooth to keep any swelling down and relieve the pain. Call Dr Mark Peddey at Dentistry in Elwood on 9531 0011 and schedule to be seen as soon as possible.
• Knocked out tooth / teeth— This emergency requires immediate first aid. You must then call Dr Mark at Dentistry in Elwood on 9531 0011 and schedule to be seen as soon as possible. Alternatively you must call the Dental Hospital on 1300 360 054 for assistance. Knocked out teeth with the highest chances of being saved are those seen by the dentist and returned to their socket within 1 hour of being knocked out. F