Emergency Dental Care
Receive immediate attention, with early and late opening hours seven days a week, Dentist WA Canning Vale is here to promptly handle any dental emergencies.
Emergency Dental Care
Receive immediate attention, with early and late opening hours seven days a week, Dentist WA Canning Vale is here to promptly handle any dental emergencies.
What is a dental emergency?
Emergency dental care is available for when you need to see a dentist urgently. Usually, an emergency involves any kind of pain or discomfort that can’t be treated with a simple over-the-counter painkiller, or any kind of tooth breakage.
By arranging an emergency appointment, your dentist will be able to assess the problem and offer an immediate solution that improves the pain and ensures the damage is minimised or even reversed.
However, not all emergencies of the mouth are suited to the skills of your dentist. You may need to go to the emergency department at your local hospital. If you are unsure if your issue is an emergency, please call the practice to discuss.
Whether you’ve had an accident, trauma or are in pain, you need to be seen immediately. We can help problems such as:
- Bleeding gums
- Broken teeth
- Infections
- Swelling
- Toothaches
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, ring us immediately. Even if we’re nearly closed for the day or are booked out, we will be sure to relieve your pain until you can be seen for a full procedure or referred to a specialist.
What services does emergency dental cover?
We accept all major health funds and are preferred providers for HBF, HCF, Bupa, nib and CBHS. An emergency dentist can help with a variety of dental emergencies; this could be for:
A chipped or broken tooth
A persistent or very painful toothache
A lost filling
A loose or knocked-out adult tooth
A loose or knocked-out adult tooth
Broken braces
All of these issues are emergencies because they require immediate attention. For example:
Pain reduction and management: An emergency dentist can help to diagnose the cause of pain and help to treat it right away
Damage minimisation: Immediate attention can help to minimise any damage to the tooth, gums, and your oral health
Avoid higher costs and more treatments later: In some cases, immediate attention can help you avoid more treatments and higher costs down the track.
How to Handle a Dental Emergency
When you’re experiencing a toothache from an abscess, it’s important to not irritate the area with your fingers or a compress—instead, rinse your mouth with salty water. If pain is persistent and you’re having trouble sleeping, you need to visit an emergency dentist as quickly as possible. Swelling or a prolonged fever are also signs that you should be seen by a dentist or medical professional.
When you lose a tooth suddenly from trauma or a sporting event, it may be able to be saved if you can get to our practice very quickly—typically within 30 minutes. Should the tooth be dirty, rinse it off immediately with milk or clean water. Store the tooth in a milk solution as you transport it to our practice. Though time is of the essence, a tooth can be replanted back into the socket.
Typically, a broken tooth with minimal discomfort requires a visit to the practice within a week. When pain is moderate, try an over the counter pain reliever to manage your pain. In severe cases where sensitivity is nearly unbearable, make an appointment with a Canning Vale emergency dentist as quickly as possible. In the meantime, placing a cold compress onto the face near the injured tooth may help swelling subside. If you’re able to save your broken tooth, please do so and bring it in with you for evaluation.
Tough pieces of sweets, food or other objects can become wedged into the teeth and irritate the gum as well as cause bleeding. Attempt to gently remove the debris with floss.
Typically, an orthodontist is required to remedy a problem with braces or retainers, which may include broken brackets or retainers among other problems. If a wire is causing you irritation, use cotton or a soft gauze to place over the irritated wire. Schedule a visit with your practitioner as soon as possible.
Start by cleansing the area with a clean cloth and applying direct pressure to the wound. If the wound swells, use a cold compress. If the bleeding doesn’t stop or bite seems severe, it’s important to visit a hospital as soon as possible.
The advantages of emergency dental treatment
Emergency dental services are beneficial for several reasons:
Pain reduction and managementAn emergency dentist can help to diagnose the cause of pain and help to treat it right away
Avoid higher costs and more treatments laterIn some cases, immediate attention can help you avoid more treatments and higher costs down the track
Damage minimisationImmediate attention can help to minimise any damage to the tooth, gums, and your oral health
What to expect from an emergency dental appointment
An emergency dental appointment will vary depending on your emergency, but here’s a general idea of what to expect:
Call ahead to let your dentist know you are coming so they can try to prepare for you, and ensure you are going to the right place (in some cases, you may be redirected to a hospital)
If your nearest dentist does not have space, try calling more dentists nearby to see if they can help
Note that a dentist cannot come to your home, but most dental offices provide emergency services during normal working hours, so you should have options nearby
When you arrive, your dentist will rinse or clean the affected area
They will perform a visual inspection and may take X-rays if required
They may provide pain medication or anaesthesia if required
They will either treat the issue immediately or do a temporary fix until you both have time for a more permanent solution
Your dentist may prescribe you with a round of antibiotics if an infection is involved or likely. They will provide you with follow-up care instructions
Experiencing a Dental Emergency?
If you’re dealing with a dental emergency, contact our practice for help. We’ll gladly fit you in as soon as possible and look forward to assisting you!
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of emergency dental services can vary greatly, depending on the issue. It truly depends on the extent of the damage, the time it takes to fix it, the tools and materials used, whether you require anaesthesia or not, and other factors.
Generally speaking, Medicare does not cover emergency dental treatments. However, some private health insurance providers do offer some coverage for emergency dental services. For example, a provider might give you a rebate of 60% of the cost of care, or cover 100% of the cost but only up to a certain amount per calendar year.
Some insurance providers will also have preferred providers for dental services, which is fine for standard dental care, but can be more difficult to ascertain which dental clinics are ‘preferred’ when you are having an emergency.
It’s best to fully read and understand your health insurance clauses when it comes to emergency dental care well before you need to use them.
Any issue regarding your teeth or gums that requires immediate attention can be considered a dental emergency. This includes anything that’s persistently painful, anything that bleeds without stopping, or any problem that exposes the soft inside of the tooth.
Yes, if your toothache is getting in the way of you eating, drinking, or enjoying life, you should have it checked as soon as possible. It could be due to an infection or nerve damage, and your dentist will be able to inspect the site, make a diagnosis, and help treat the cause of the pain.
Generally, no. If you need a tooth pulled you are best to go to your local dentist. In some cases, an emergency room may have a consulting dentist on site who could help, if necessary, but you are likely still better to visit your nearest emergency dentist.