Unfortunately, this can happen to anyone at any time. You bite into your lunch and feel a sudden crack. Half of your crown is now sitting on your tongue. What should you do next? Dental emergencies rarely happen at convenient times (say, when you’re having lunch next to an emergency dentist), but delaying treatment only creates bigger problems. The team at Casuarina Square Dental Care sets aside time each day specifically for dental emergencies, so you can get the care you need when you need it most.
Next steps for people with a dental emergency:
- Call us immediately on (08) 8927 9518 if you have an emergency
- Keep any broken tooth fragments in milk or saliva until you reach the clinic
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water to clean the area
- Use a cold compress to keep any swelling at bay
- Don’t wait! Getting help now increases the likelihood of good outcomes.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
Not every dental issue requires an emergency dentist, but there are situations during which you should immediately get help. For example, let’s say you trip and fall on a hard surface and knock out one or more teeth. This is a situation that requires you to see an emergency dentist immediately. Knocked-out teeth require speedy intervention for successful reimplantation.
Here are some other situations that may require an emergency dentist. If you have severe tooth pain that’s keeping you up at night and interrupting your daily life, it may signal that you have an infection. People with broken or chipped teeth should also see an emergency dentist as quickly as possible for further assessment. A lost filling or crown may not seem like a big deal, but losing them exposes your tooth structure and should be remedied quickly. If you aren’t sure, please call us! We can help you determine if your situation is an emergency.
How We Handle Emergencies
If you call us with a dental emergency, we’ll ask you a few questions about your symptoms and book an appointment at the earliest available time. Once you arrive at our clinic, we’ll examine your teeth and take x-rays to understand the extent of your dental issues. Pain relief is essential, so we’ll numb the affected areas to keep you comfortable during treatment. Each one of our dentists leaves time open daily to treat emergencies. We do this to reduce wait times for people dealing with emergencies.
Why Prompt Treatment is So Important
There are many dental emergencies for which quick action significantly improves the chances of a good outcome. For example, a knocked-out tooth is much more likely to be reimplanted successfully if it’s treated within an hour. If you have a tooth infection spreading, waiting to treat it may cause damage to your surrounding teeth and gums. It can even spread to the rest of your body. A broken tooth is more vulnerable to decay and further damage with each passing day. Prompt treatment also means less pain and lower costs, as earlier treatment keeps problems from becoming more severe.
Let Us Help With Your Dental Emergency!
If you are experiencing a dental issue and seeking emergency dental care in Casuarina, NT, we’re ready to help. Dental emergencies involve a lot of stress, but you don’t have to face them alone. We serve patients from Darwin and the surrounding communities. Don’t suffer through tooth pain. Call us on (08) 8927 9518 or schedule an appointment.