Dental Emergencies

If you have a dental emergency do not delay taking action. If necessary apply first aid immediately. You must call Dr Mark Peddey at Dentistry in Elwood on 9531 0011 and ask to be seen as soon as possible. Our friendly team will assist you. If our phones are not attended Dr Mark Peddey recommends that you call the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne on 1300 360 054 or your local doctor or hospital.

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. FIRST AID: Retrieve the tooth, hold it by the crown (the part that is usually exposed in the mouth), and rinse off the tooth root with water if it is dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, try to put the tooth back in place. Make sure it ’s facing the right way. Never force it into the socket. If it ’s not possible to reinsert the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk (or cup of water that contains a pinch of table salt, if milk is not available).
  • Objects caught between teeth— First, try using dental floss to very gently and carefully remove the object. If you canft get the object out, call Dr Mark Peddey at Dentistry in Elwood on 9531 0011 and schedule to be seen as soon as possible.. Never use a pin or other sharp object to poke at the stuck object. These instruments can cut your gums or scratch your tooth surface.
  • Lost filling— Call Dr Mark Peddey at Dentistry in Elwood on 9531 0011 and schedule to be seen as soon as possible.
  • Lost crown— If the crown falls off, call Dr Mark Peddey at Dentistry in Elwood on 9531 0011 and schedule to be seen as soon as possible. Bring the crown with you to your appointment.
  • Broken braces and wires— If a wire breaks or sticks out of a bracket or band and is poking your cheek, tongue, or gum, try using the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable position. If you can ’t reposition the wire, cover the end with orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball, or piece of gauze until you come in. Call Dr Mark Peddey at Dentistry in Elwood on 9531 0011 and schedule to be seen as soon as possible. Never cut the wire, as you could end up swallowing it or breathing it into your lungs.
  • Loose brackets and bands— Temporarily reattach loose braces with a small piece of orthodontic wax. Alternatively, place the wax over the braces to provide a cushion. If the problem is a loose band, save it and call Dr Mark Peddey at Dentistry in Elwood on 9531 0011 or call your orthodontist.
  • Abscess— A tooth abscess can become a life threatening emergency. Often presenting like a ‘pimple’ on the gum it can also be extremely painful. Because of the serious oral health and general health implications that can result from an abscess, it is important that you do not delay in getting immediate assistance and call Dr Mark Peddey at Dentistry in Elwood on 9531 0011. Alternatively contact the Royal Melbourne Dental Hospital on 1300360054 or your local doctor.
  • Abscesses— Are infections that occur around the root of a tooth or in the space between the teeth and gums. Abscesses are a serious condition that can damage tissue and surrounding teeth, with the infection possibly spreading to other parts of the body if left untreated.
  • Soft—tissue injuries— Injuries to the soft tissues, which include the tongue, cheeks, gums, and lips, can result in bleeding. To control the bleeding, here ’s what to do:
    • 1. Rinse your mouth with a mild salt—water solution.
    • 2. Use a moistened piece of gauze or wet tea bag to apply pressure to the bleeding site. Hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes.
    • 3. To both control bleeding and relieve pain, hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes.
    • 4. If the bleeding doesn ’t stop, call Dr Mark Peddey at Dentistry in Elwood on 9531 0011 right away or go to a hospital emergency room. Continue to apply pressure on the bleeding site with the gauze until you can be seen and treated.