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We understand that things happen beyond your control, and we would like to provide you with the best service to alleviate your pain and stress, and restore damaged teeth so that you feel better quickly. Whether you have a toothache, broken tooth, had an unfortunate sports or work accident, or suffer from wisdom tooth pain, our Dental Emergency on the Gold Coast is here to help.
ArtSmiles is a Full-Service Dental Clinic in Southport on the Gold Coast. We provide a wide range of emergency dental services to our existing and new patients. We regard emergency appointments as an important facet of our regular services. Our front office staff ensure we have daily appointments available only for emergencies, so we can often see patients on short notice. Should you experience pain, discomfort or any type of dental trauma, do not delay to call us so we can arrange to see you as soon as possible.
As healthcare professionals, we understand that our duty extends beyond offering pain relief and effective treatment for the patient but also to be sensitive to their emotional stress during emergency situations. We take pride in our ability to offer quick and decisive action under time constraints, while showing compassion and empathy in all our dealings. By contacting us straight away can often mean the difference between a long, painful experience and treating the symptoms quickly, comfortably and safely.
Our clinic functions on a per appointment basis and will strive to suit your appointment needs. Our hours are:
Monday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Dental Emergencies Are A Common Occurrence, And Are Usually Painful, Inconvenient And Always Occur At The Worst Time. At ArtSmiles we are here for you.
or call us on (07) 5588-3677
Dental problems can occur anytime and at times the patients do not know how urgent is the issue that they experience. Can they postpone the treatment for a few hours or a few days or should they run to the nearby emergency dental clinic right away?
A dental emergency is not necessarily classified in terms of pain. Lost fillings or crowns and fractured or chipped teeth are just as much a dental emergency as a broken or dislocated jaw.
Usually, there are few ways to tell if your problem is an emergency that needs treatment right away. For example, if you lost or broke a tooth, the best thing is to schedule your emergency dental care visit. An emergency visit to the dentist is valuable in these instances as teeth can be saved, where they otherwise would not if left untreated. When a tooth cannot be saved, procedures for a replacement crown, cap, or replacement tooth can be made straight away.
A toothache is also a good reason to schedule urgent dental care at ArtSmiles Gold Coast. A ‘simple’ toothache can be the underlying cause of tooth decay, an exposed root canal, an infection in the gums (usually associated with swelling and inflammation) or even gum abscesses.
Some issues that may seem like emergencies do not necessarily require urgent dental care. If you have a chipped tooth without pain, severe bleeding or if you have slight sensitivity that causes minor discomfort, and that does not interfere with your daily activities, you might be able to wait a few days before seeing a dentist without the discomfort causing extreme distress. By all means, schedule an appointment right away, but do not worry if it is a couple of days before your dental provider can see you.
That said, a dental concern can become an emergency if you do not see a dentist for treatment in a timely manner. If you do have any pain or discomfort in your mouth, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with us sooner rather than later.
Dental emergencies range from severe toothaches and infections to cracked teeth or lost teeth. Some of the more common dental emergencies include:
There are countless reasons of a toothache and some main reasons are dental caries, infection, dental trauma or broken tooth, etc. Excessive grinding and clenching can also lead to a toothache because excessive use can damage the tooth and, as a result, it causes a toothache, with potential to cause pain, ranging from mild to extreme.
In the case of a toothache, you must visit our practice on the Gold Coast the earliest so that the emergency dentist would analyse the causes and the solutions.
A thorough oral exam is the best way to find out why you’re experiencing a toothache, but generally the reasons fall under one of these causes:
It’s important to pay attention to little things that might seem “off” with your teeth and the inside of your mouth.
For example, you might have an abscess, which means that pus has collected around the tooth root. Pus can be a sign of a bacterial infection, especially if it’s accompanied by tissue inflammation, bleeding gums and bone loss around the tooth. In either case, you should see your dentist as soon as possible.
While an abscess means you should visit your dentist, any of the following means you might need to visit the emergency room:
The first thing to remember is to call your emergency dentist on the Gold Coast at the first sign of a toothache right away. That way you can get the proper oral health care treatment you need to restore your smile.
In the meantime, something you can do at home is to clear out or rinse your teeth and the area afflicted. This will help in case something is stuck between your gums and tooth causing the discomfort. You can also gently floss around the sore tooth to remove any bits of food that may be stuck.
Medication to relieve the pain can also help as a toothache remedy until you get to the dentist. For children, we suggest acetaminophen (Panadol) to relieve minor pain from a toothache. For adults, take your pick of over-the-counter medicines like Ibuprofen and Panadol. If you choose aspirin, swallow it – don’t put it right on the tooth or your gums. That folk remedy doesn’t work and might harm the inside of your mouth.*
A cool compress can also help make you feel better as you await your appointment with the dentist. Once you see your dentist, he will be able to figure out the best course of action for your tooth, which could include antibiotics, draining the infected area, or even a root canal for serious cases. If you still have questions or need help, please call (07) 5588-3677 and set up an appointment. Our staff is prepared to help your smile in any way we can.
*If you have history of allergy to the medications suggested above, please contact our team for other options of painkillers. Please be mindful that Aspirin may promote increased bleeding in case of dental extractions.
The best way to deal with a toothache is to avoid it in the first place. You can reduce the risk of oral health issues by thoroughly brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing every day. You should also eat a healthy diet, avoiding sugary or sticky foods and beverages. You should also be careful not to chew ice or hard items that might cause a fracture in your tooth. Finally, be sure to schedule regular dental cleanings and checkups, so you can get treatment for minor dental issues before they become painful problems that demand expensive treatments.
A dental abscess develops when a pocket of pus that’s caused by a bacterial infection forms either in the gums or at the base of a tooth. A periapical abscess occurs at the tip of the root, whereas a periodontal abscess occurs in the gums next to a tooth root.
Signs of an abscess may include a bubble of pus that formed around the infected area. Sudden, intense pain in the area near the affected gum or tooth may also be a sign of an abscess. The pain might be throbbing and may be worse when a person lies down on one side. It can seem to travel or radiate to other areas such as the neck and ear. Other signs of a dental abscess include bad breath, swelling, and sensitivity to chewing or pressure on the tooth or gum.
A dental abscess requires an emergency visit. There is a risk of worsening pain that often gets stronger as the day progresses and becomes unbearable at night. In addition, there is a chance of untreated infection spreading to the blood or other parts of the body, and may cause potentially fatal sepsis.
An abscess in a tooth can form because of the advanced tooth decay, failing root canal treatment or as a result of injury to the tooth.
A gum abscess can develop as a result of untreated periodontal disease. Occasionally even a piece of food that has lodged between the root of the tooth and gum may cause the infection. Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to gum inflammation.
Antibiotics can be prescribed by a dentist or GP to reduce the risk of the infection spreading. The antibiotics will often cause the swelling and pain to subside within a day or two, but it’s important to note that this relief is temporary: antibiotics will not cure the abscess. This is because the source of infection remains deep inside the tooth, well-protected from the antibiotics, which can only reach infections via the bloodstream.
To effectively treat an abscess, the source of the infection (the bacteria) needs to be removed. The dentist will make a small cut into the abscess, allowing the pus to drain out, and then wash the area. The resulting void inside the tooth must be cleaned, sterilised and filled in to prevent further infection. The process of draining, cleaning, sterilising and filling the inside of an abscessed tooth is called Root Canal Therapy. The tooth may be capped with a crown to make it stronger, especially if this is a back tooth. If you care for your restored tooth properly, it can last a lifetime.
If the affected tooth can’t be saved, your dentist will pull (extract) the tooth and drain the abscess to get rid of the infection.
Swelling in your gums usually begins where the gum meets the tooth. Your gums may become so swollen, however, that they begin to hide parts of your teeth. Swollen gums appear red instead of their normal pink colour. Swollen gums, also called gingival swelling, are often irritated, sensitive, or painful. You may also notice that your gums bleed more easily when brushing or flossing your teeth.
If you do suffer from inflammed gums, be sure to visit our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast for treatment recommendations. We can help pinpoint the specific cause of the inflammation and help you get to better gum health.
Swollen gums are usually a result of infection from plaque and gum disease or from food becoming stuck in between teeth. Gingivitis is also a common cause of swollen gums. Many people don’t know they have gingivitis because the symptoms can be quite mild. However, if it’s left untreated, gingivitis can eventually lead to a much more serious condition called periodontitis and possible tooth loss.
Swollen gums can also occur during pregnancy. The rush of hormones your body produces during pregnancy may increase the blood flow in your gums. This increase in blood flow can cause your gums to be more easily irritated, leading to swelling. These hormonal changes can also hinder your body’s ability to fight off bacteria that typically cause gum infections. This can increase your chance of developing gingivitis.
Other common causes for swollen gums include infections caused by fungi and viruses (ex: herpes), malnutrition, poorly fitting dentures or dental appliances, sensitivity to toothpaste or mouthwash and side effect of a medicine. The best way to determine the root cause of your swollen gums is by reviewing your symptoms with our dentists on the Gold Coast so they can make an accurate and complete diagnosis.
You can dislodge the stuck food by flossing or brushing the teeth gently. Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water can also alleviate the gum swelling. If these don’t work you should visit the dentist as soon as possible.
If you have an extreme case of gingivitis, you may need surgery. One common treatment option is scaling and root planing. This is a procedure in which the dentist scrapes away diseased gums, dental plaque, and calculus, or tartar, on the roots of the teeth to allow the remaining gums to heal.
There are some preventive measures you can take to avoid swollen gums, including maintaining proper oral care and eating healthy foods.
Brush and floss regularly, especially after meals. Visit ArtSmiles Dental Clinic Gold Coast at least once every six months for a cleaning. If you have dry mouth, it can increase your risk of plaque and tartar buildup. Talk to your dentist about mouthwashes and toothpastes that may help with this condition.
Traumatic dental injuries often occur as a result of an accident, falls or sports injury and can range from mild to severe. Dental injury without associated head and neck trauma can usually be evaluated and treated in a dental emergency office. Such dental injuries include broken teeth, teeth totally knocked out of the mouth, or teeth displaced by unexpected external forces. Patients suffering significant head, neck, or facial trauma should be evaluated and treated in a hospital emergency room setting.
In case of minor dental injury, you may lightly rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress inside the mouth over the injured tooth or outside on the cheeks or lips to reduce pain and swelling before you reach our emergency dental practice on the Gold Coast. Warm salt water (if salt is accessible) acts as a disinfectant and cold compress will help with swelling right after the injury. Do not use a toothbrush or anything else to clean the area since it may aggravate the condition!
If you have an accident where a tooth is knocked out or broken, contact us as soon as possible. It’s less common to dislodge your tooth or have it knocked completely out but these injuries are more severe. Treatment depends on the type, location and severity of each injury. Regardless of the extent of the injury, your tooth requires immediate examination by our dentist. Sometimes, your neighbouring teeth suffer an additional, unnoticed injury that can only be detected by a thorough dental exam.
Having a tooth knocked out or having a tooth knocked out of position but still in the mouth is an example of such injury. In such an event call us for an emergency dental visit. The most important variable affecting the success of reimplantation of a tooth that is knocked out is the amount of time that the tooth is out of its socket. For best results, it is ideal to see our emergency dentist for treatment within 30 minutes of the accident or injury. Bring the tooth with you. Avoid touching the root of the tooth, or harsh cleaning. Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root. After that, you want to try to put it back into the socket or keep it between gum and cheek. If you are concerned with swallowing it, you can place the tooth in a small cup of milk and bring it with you to the dentist’s office. It is essential that the tooth stays moist.
Our emergency dentist will do all that is possible to save the natural tooth and have the knowledge and skill to treat your dental trauma. emergency dentist may be able to place the tooth back into the socket. Be aware, the adult tooth has a smaller chance of healing.
CHIPPED OR FRACTURED TEETH
If you’ve chipped or fractured your tooth’s crown, it’s likely it can be repaired either by reattaching the broken piece or by putting a tooth-coloured filling in place. If a significant part of your tooth crown is broken off, an artificial crown or “cap” may be needed to restore it.
When the pulp is exposed or damaged after a crown fracture, root canal treatment may be needed. These injuries require special attention.
Injuries in the back teeth, such as fractured cusps, cracked teeth require root canal treatment and a full coverage crown to restore function your tooth if the crack extends into the root. More seriously injured split teeth may require extraction.
DISLODGED TEETH
During an injury, a tooth may be pushed sideways, out of or into its socket. Our emergency dentist will reposition and stabilise your tooth. Root canal treatment is usually needed for permanent teeth that have been dislodged and should be started several days following the injury. Medication may be put inside your tooth as part of the root canal treatment; once treatment is complete and has been deemed successful a permanent root canal filling or crown will be put in place at a later date.
Children ages 12 and under may not need root canal treatment since their teeth are still developing. New research indicates that stem cells present in the pulps of children can be stimulated to complete root growth and heal the pulp following injuries or infection. When a child’s tooth is injured, an endodontist or dentist will monitor the healing carefully and intervene immediately if any unfavourable changes appear. Multiple follow-up appointments are likely to be needed.
KNOCKED-OUT TEETH
If one of your teeth is completely knocked out of your mouth, call us and book a dental emergency appointment immediately! Time is of the essence and if you receive treatment quickly, preferably within 30 minutes, there is a chance to save your tooth.
Handle a knocked-out tooth very carefully and don’t touch the root surface. Following a few important steps will help increase the likelihood of saving your tooth. Our emergency dentist will evaluate the tooth, place it back in its socket and examine you for any other dental and facial injuries. A stabilising splint will be placed for the next few weeks. Depending on the stage of root development, we may need to start root canal treatment a week or two later.
ROOT FRACTURES
A traumatic injury to your tooth may also result in a horizontal root fracture. The location of the fracture determines the long-term health of your tooth. The closer a fracture is to the root tip, the better the chances of success and long-term health; fractures closer to the gum line are more debilitating for your tooth. Sometimes, stabilisation with a splint is required while the tooth heals.
Children and teenagers might be more likely to experience a traumatic injury since the bone is not as dense as adults’. In addition, kids are generally more involved in physical activities.
Chipped primary (baby) teeth can be aesthetically restored. Dislodged primary teeth can, in rare cases, be repositioned. However, primary teeth that have been knocked out typically should not be replanted because it may cause further and permanent damage to the underlying permanent tooth that is growing inside the bone.
Children’s permanent teeth that are not fully developed at the time of the injury need special attention and careful follow up, but not all of them will need root canal treatment. In an immature permanent tooth, blood supply to the tooth and stem cells in the region may enable your dentist or endodontist to stimulate continued root growth.
Factors that affect the long-term health of your tooth after an injury include: the nature of the injury, the length of time from injury to treatment, how your tooth was cared for after the injury and your body’s response. Getting treatment as soon as possible is very important with dislodged or knocked-out teeth in particular, in order to prevent root resorption.
Resorption occurs when your body, through its own defense mechanisms, begins to reject your own tooth in response to the traumatic injury. Following an injury, you should return to your dentist to have the tooth examined and/or treated on a regular basis for up to five years to ensure that root resorption is not occurring and that surrounding tissues continue to heal. Unfortunately, some types of resorption are untreatable.
Teeth are strong enough but sometimes they can break or chip due to some reasons like biting down on hard food, opening bottles, falling, any accident and due to cavities. Minor fractures don’t cause pain but if a large part of the tooth is fractured it can cause severe pain. This is because the tissues of the tooth can be damaged or nerves exposed and any contact with exterior things could cause the pain.
Chipped tooth though maybe unsightly often does not require urgent dental care. Since the trauma to the tooth does not cause pain and is mostly of cosmetic concern the treatment can be delayed a day.
Broken tooth has a larger trauma to the tooth and often requires an emergency appointment. Broken tooth treatment options vary based on the severity of the injury.
Unlike chipped or broken teeth patients may not always notice that they have a cracked tooth. Crack usually appears in the middle of the tooth and can be a hairline thin. It can also be quite large. Even if there are no symptoms, cracked teeth should be evaluated in the near future. The teeth that have vertical cracks may be fractured and may result in potential tooth loss. The large cracks on the biting surfaces of the tooth may signify a decay.
If a tooth is broken, you must call our emergency dental practice as soon as possible. Your dentist will be able to figure out if there were any cavities involved in the breaking of your tooth and if the tooth’s nerve is in danger.
Before you get to our dentist’s office on the Gold Coast, there are several measures you should take in order to try and save your tooth:
If the break is clean, our emergency dentist may be able to re-cement the tooth back together. He may also need to perform a root canal in order to save the tooth in the event that the tooth nerve is injured.
Tooth fractures can range from minor (involving chipping of the outer tooth protective layers called enamel and dentin) to severe (involving vertical, diagonal, or horizontal fractures of the tooth and/or root). Different tests are performed in the mouth to determine if a tooth fracture is present. In some instances, dental X-rays can help to diagnose, locate, and measure the extent of tooth fractures.
However, cracked teeth can often be difficult to detect, they do not show up in x-rays and may require several appointments to diagnose.
Not all cracked or fractured teeth can cause pain. The level of pain experienced when one crack a tooth depends on the severity of the fracture and the response of the pulp to outside irritants allowed to enter into the tooth. If the cracked tooth is not sensitive, you would only need to fix an appointment with your dentist to evaluate and repair the problem. Sometimes the tooth may look just fine, but is in pain when you eat something hot or cold or during cold weather. If the pain persists or the tooth simply hurts all the time, this could be a warning sign of nerve damage and you must visit our emergency dentist as soon as possible.
Cracked teeth are not fully preventable, but there are steps you can take to make your teeth less likely to crack
If your permanent tooth is knocked out, call our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast immediately. That would ensure the best chance of saving the tooth. There is a chance that the tooth can be re-implanted as long as the ligaments (fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages) are alive. The first hour is crucial, the long you take the less would be the chance of getting the tooth fixed.
The following measures must be taken if your tooth is knocked out to increase the chances of the tooth being re-implanted:
The nerves and blood vessels that were severed when the tooth was knocked out often don’t heal. If this happens, the tooth may begin to darken. This is usually a sign that you will probably need to have root canal treatment.
Important Note: Never try and place a deciduous tooth (baby tooth) back in the socket as this could affect the adult tooth beneath.
Maybe. The complete tooth needs to be replaced in the socket as soon as possible, ideally in under 30 minutes. But teeth have been successfully replaced up to 60 minutes after being knocked out.
If not possible to save your tooth, the space can be filled with one of the following:
Denture – a removable false tooth that you have to take out to clean
Bridge – where a false tooth is glued to the teeth either side using a special cement
Implant – where a titanium screw is placed in the jaw bone, and after a few months a mould is taken so that a false tooth can be made
A denture, bridge or implant will improve the appearance of your smile and restore your confidence. Speak to your dentist about your options, to help you decide what you would like.
We do not recommend putting back a baby tooth because it can damage the adult tooth underneath. Contact your dental team as soon as possible for advice. They may need to examine the child to check if any bits of tooth are still in the gum. There is no way to temporarily replace a baby tooth, so the only treatment is to wait for the adult tooth to appear.
A dislodged tooth occurs when a tooth happens to push out of its original socket, when jammed into the gum (intruded) or moved in position (dental luxation). These most frequently happen through falls, accidents, or sports injuries.
This is considered a dental emergency due to the severity of the issue and what can happen if left untreated. Without seeking treatment immediately, you can potentially lose the tooth, or it could cause great infection or damage to the surrounding teeth. In order to ensure that these outcomes do not occur, repositioning and stabilisation is key.
When you first realise you may be dealing with a dislodged tooth, contact our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast as soon as possible to discuss the best treatment options for you in office.
If you, a loved one, or someone you know has suffered from a dislodged tooth from a traumatic injury, be sure to contact our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast immediately. We will evaluate the severity of the situation and determine a course of action from there.
Typically, your treatment options include placing either a splint, wire bracket, composite resin material or receiving a root canal. An oral and dental splint allows the bone surrounding the area to heal, connecting the dislodged root to the surrounding bone. This option is typically offered for cases that are not severe and can be fixed in a minimally invasive way.
Our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast will clean and anaesthetise the area. If the tooth is intact, they will reposition it and stabilise it before taking a series of X-rays. This allows them to see if the roots, nerves, or blood vessels have been damaged.
If there aren’t any permanent complications to the structure or blood supply to the tooth, it may be able to heal without any issues.
If there is damage, you might need a root canal to prevent an abscess. The pulp is extracted, and it’s sterilised and sealed before a crown is bonded over the entire surface of the tooth. Unfortunately, some injuries are too severe, and a tooth can’t always be saved. In the event your tooth needs to be extracted, our dentist will discuss your replacement options, like a dental implant.
Regardless of the treatment you may need, it is important to seek treatment fast. If the injury is not significant and you wait to visit a dentist, the situation may become more severe and therefore require more extreme procedures.
Loose teeth are one of the most common dental emergencies. Although a loose tooth is not a serious concern in children, if you get a loose adult tooth it is a sign that something is going on, and you should call us at ArtSmiles in Southport right away. The dentist needs to examine the tooth regardless of the cause of the situation. In most cases, our emergency dentist can save the tooth if you visit our office immediately.
Sometimes, loose teeth in adults are caused by traumatic impact injuries, such as a slip and fall or a hard hit while playing contact sports. However, they may also be caused by periodontal disease or tooth decay.
As soon as you notice that you have a loose tooth, you must schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist at ArtSmiles Gold Coast. A loose tooth is a serious dental emergency, and it should not be taken lightly.
Human teeth are delicate and could come loose for different reasons, typically if there is a problem with the supporting tissues. Common reasons why a permanent, adult tooth can become loose include the following.
Periodontal disease: Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in Australia. In the advanced stage of gum disease, the gum may slack around the tooth, revealing the root. This may cause damages to the root and loosening and eventually, falling out.
Traumatic tooth injuries: This may include hard falls, sports injuries, auto crashes, getting hit by an object or any impact-related accidents. Traumatic injuries to the teeth can loosen and knock out a tooth, which may cause severe pain and bleeding.
Bruxism: Also called teeth grinding, bruxism typically damages the molars and rear teeth, but its impact can be felt anywhere in the mouth. Repeatedly biting and grinding the tooth against each other can loosen the teeth and can cause complete tooth loss if left unchecked.
Tooth decay: Extensive and untreated tooth decay can reach the tooth root and supporting gum tissues. The infection can cause loose tooth eventually.
Pregnancy: Higher-than-usual levels of progesterone and oestrogen during pregnancy can result in a loose tooth. The ligaments and bone holding a tooth in place can actually loosen. It’s usually temporary, but don’t assume it is.
Osteoporosis: Our bones can become less dense as we age: not just the jaw, but throughout the body. If it happens in the jaw then teeth can become loose. It can happen to men and women, but is more common in women.
All of these issues should be taken seriously. If you notice a loose tooth, call us at ArtSmiles in Southport on the Gold Coast immediately.
When there is an issue with the teeth, leaving it untreated may lead to other issues. This is why anyone experiencing a dental problem like a loose tooth should visit our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast as soon as possible.
Avoid touching
Do your best to avoid touching your loose tooth. Any kind of motion will usually just make things worse. This means you should not push it around with your tongue, attempt to straighten it out, or use any kind of temporary dental splint.
Even if you think your tooth will have to be pulled, you should never do so yourself. Attempting to will increase the risk of infection from improper tooth extraction. It will also be painful.
Avoid Sticky, Chewy Or Hard Foods
If you do eat with a loose tooth, try to avoid chewing food on that side of your mouth. You should also avoid eating sticky foods like taffy or candy, chewy foods like raisins, and hard foods like apples and nuts.
Get To The Dentist – And Get Your Treatment!
As long as you get the proper emergency dental treatment in time, and follow all of our above advice, you should be able to save your tooth!
The treatment that we provide for loose teeth depends on the cause. If the tooth came loose due to traumatic injuries or bruxism, the typical procedure is splinting. Like braces, splints are temporary dental devices that connect to the teeth close to the loose tooth. They will hold the tooth in position while it heals and reattaches with the surrounding gum tissue to ensure a full recovery. After recovery, our dentist will recommend getting a mouth-guard to shield the teeth from impact trauma and grinding forces.
The usual treatment options for gum disease and tooth decay include a deep cleaning to eliminate infected tissue, root planing to reduce bacterial growth and antibiotics to fight infection and inflammation. Our dentist may recommend bone grafts for advanced gum disease to clean root pockets or build the bone and for gum reattachment. After treating the infection, the loose tooth should reattach quickly. Dental splints may be used to position the tooth correctly during reattachment.
Dental restorations such as tooth fillings, crowns, and inlays/onlays are used to restore your teeth and protect them from further damage. Unfortunately, they can fall out for various reasons. Despite their durability, dental restorations can still suffer from damage.
If the tooth was previously treated with a root canal therapy the problem should be addressed in a timely manner. Since the tooth has no nerves, the loss of the old restoration will not cause any pain. However, such a tooth is more susceptible to further breakage. If the tooth had no root canal treatment the exposure to air, liquids, and food is likely to cause painful sensitivity.
If previously placed fillings are cracked or lost, the resulting empty space accumulates food and initiates the start of dental decay. Prompt replacement of lost fillings is vital to maintain a healthy and pain-free mouth.
If your restoration falls off, be sure to make an appointment with us to see your emergency dentist on the Gold Coast as soon as you can. You don’t want to wait too long because the tooth will be weak and could be damaged more if it is not protected.
Natural wear and tear
Every day, your dental restorations perform different functions of your teeth, such as chewing, grinding, and biting. Over time, these activities can weaken your dental restorations and the margin (the area where the tooth and filling material join) become compromised.
Improper care
Your dental restorations have limitations. Using them as tools outside your teeth’s normal functions can strain and damage them. We sometimes bite on packets to open them, rather than using scissors, and damage the tooth or restoration.
Poor dental hygiene
The most common reason for the need of a dental restoration is tooth decay. Upon restoration placement, your dentist will see to it that all the decayed has been removed before the tooth is restored.
In some cases, a restoration may become loose because there is decay underneath it. The decay destroys part of the tooth, so it no longer has a tight hold on the restoration.
Your dentist will also advise you on how to take care of your dental restorations. Failure to follow this advice can cause further cavities to form, weakening the tooth until it cannot support your dental restorations anymore.
Poor dental job
Choosing the best dentist is as important as getting proper dental treatment for your teeth. Inferior dental work can affect the durability of your dental restorations.
If your crown or inlay/onlay has come off, seeing a dentist is the most important step you can take. You don’t want to wait too long because the tooth will be weak and could be damaged more if it is not protected by the crown. Also, when a crown is missing for a long time, your teeth may move. If this happens your crown may no longer fit.
Our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast will examine the structure of the tooth to ensure no damage has been done to the tooth itself, all being good, the restoration can then be re-cemented back into its original position.
Provided no significant amounts of tooth has broken along with your filling, our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast should be able to simply place a new filling.
You can discuss the cause of the lost filling, how to potentially avoid the same situation with other or future restorations and the longevity of the new restoration.
Mouth injuries are quite common, especially in children, and may involve the lips, tongue, inner cheeks, gums or roof of the mouth (hard or soft palates). Sometimes mouth injuries look worse than they are. Any cut inside the mouth usually bleeds heavily because there are many blood vessels in that area. Home treatment of minor mouth injuries can help stop bleeding, reduce pain, help healing and prevent infection.
Many mouth injuries occur during sports activities. They often can be prevented through the use of a mouth guard. At ArtSmiles Gold Coast we can create a professional, custom fit mouth guard for you. Contact our office for more information.
An injury to your mouth or lips may cause a large, loose flap of tissue or a gaping wound that may need stitches. A smaller wound on the lip may be stitched for cosmetic reasons. If an object, such as a piece of broken tooth or an orthodontic wire, gets stuck in a wound, you may need to have it removed by a doctor. You can also have problems from a piercing in the mouth.
The piece of skin between your lips and gums or under your tongue (frenulum) may tear or rip. Usually this type of injury will heal without stitches.
To clean cuts inside the mouth, rinse with salt water. If your lip is swollen or bruised, apply a cold compress. If there is bleeding, apply pressure with a clean cloth for at least 5 minutes. Using ice can help limit swelling, bleeding and discomfort. Wrap crushed ice in clean gauze or a clean piece of cloth and hold it on the affected area.
Seek medical care if:
• Bleeding cannot be controlled with pressure and a cold compress
• Trouble breathing
• You have a deep cut
• A cut crosses the border between the lip and facial skin
• The lip is punctured
• An infection develops after an injury
• Swelling of the neck or floor of mouth occurs
• Severe pain and not better 2 hours after taking pain medicine
If you’ve recently had a tooth removed, you’re at risk for dry socket. Although dry socket is the most common complication of tooth removal, it’s still relatively rare.
When a tooth is removed from the bone and gums, a blood clot is supposed to form to protect the hole in your gums as it heals. If the blood clot doesn’t form properly or becomes dislodged from your gums, it can create a dry socket. Since the formation of a blood clot is an important part of the healing process, the normal healing of the extraction site is interrupted.
A dry socket can leave the nerves and bones in your gums exposed, so it’s important to seek dental care. If left untreated, this can lead to infection and other complications.
Typically dry sockets manifest themselves as a dull throbbing pain which doesn’t appear until three or four days after the tooth extraction.
If you’re able to look into your open mouth in a mirror and see bone where your tooth used to be, you’re probably experiencing dry socket.
Another tell-tale sign of dry socket is an unexplained throbbing pain in your jaw. This pain may spread from the extraction site up to your ear, eye, temple, or neck. It’s typically felt on the same side as the tooth extraction site.
This pain typically develops within three days of tooth extraction, but can occur at any time.
Other symptoms include bad breath and an unpleasant taste that lingers in your mouth.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you should see our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast right away.
A dry socket can develop if, after tooth extraction, a protective blood clot doesn’t form in the vacated space. Dry socket can also develop if this blood clot becomes dislodged from your gums.
Dry sockets are most frequently associated with difficult tooth extractions or extractions that have been traumatic in nature. An extraction that has involved the removal of bone from around a tooth in order for the dentist to access it, which is often the case when lower impacted wisdom teeth are removed, would be considered to be more traumatic in nature than an extraction where this step was not required.
But what prevents this blood clot from forming? Researchers aren’t sure. It’s thought that bacterial contamination, whether from food, liquid, or other things that enter the mouth, can provoke this response.
Trauma to the area may also lead to dry socket. This can occur during a complicated tooth extraction or during aftercare. For example, accidentally poking the area with your toothbrush may disrupt the socket.
If you’ve had a dry socket before, you may be more likely to experience it again. Make sure your dentist or oral surgeon is aware of your history with dry socket ahead of your planned tooth extraction.
Although your dentist can’t do anything to prevent it from occurring, keeping them in the loop will speed up the treatment process if a dry socket develops.
You’re also more likely to develop dry socket if:
If you have a dry socket, our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast will clean the socket to make sure it’s free of food and other particles. This may alleviate any pain and can help prevent infection from forming.
The dentist may also pack the socket with gauze and a medicated gel to help numb the pain. They’ll provide you with instructions on how and when to remove it at home.
After removing your dressing, you’ll need to clean the socket again. Our dentist will likely recommend a salt water or prescription rinse.
If your dry socket is more severe, they’ll provide instructions on how and when to add a new dressing at home.
Over-the-counter pain medication can help relieve any discomfort. Your dentist will probably recommend a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain reliever, such as Ibuprofen or aspirin. A cold compress may also provide relief.
If your pain is more severe, they may recommend a prescription pain reliever.
You’ll likely have a follow-up appointment about a week after your extraction. Our dentist will look over the affected area and discuss any next steps.
You can reduce your risk for dry socket by taking the following steps before surgery:
After the procedure, your dentist will provide you with information about recovery and general guidelines for care. It’s important that you follow these directions. If you have any questions, call our dentist’s office on the Gold Coast — we can clear up any concerns that you may have.
Your dentist may recommend one or more of the following during recovery:
• antibacterial mouthwashes
• antiseptic solutions
• medicated gauze
• medicated gel
Your dentist may also suggest an antibiotic, especially if your immune system has been compromised.
Jaw pain can be a debilitating condition that affects your ability to eat and speak. Many things can cause jaw pain, from your sinuses and ears to your teeth or jaw itself. This means it can be difficult to tell if your jaw pain is because of a jaw issue or something else.
Most types of jaw pain result from temporomandibular joint disorder. In many cases, jaw pain does not need immediate medical attention, but sometimes, it can indicate a more serious underlying condition that needs treatment.
Click here to read more about TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder.
Although permanent teeth were meant to last a lifetime, there are a number of reasons why tooth extraction may be needed.
At ArtSmiles Gold Coast we believe that a tooth extraction is the last resort. As an alternative to an extraction we will always recommend Root Canal Therapy if the tooth can be saved, to retain the health, function and comfort of your mouth.
Even if you have significant tooth decay, there are numerous restorative treatments that we can recommend, such as crowns and fillings rather than a tooth extraction.
Tooth extraction has a number of unwanted and unnecessary side effects including misalignment and spreading of the teeth that can affect the look of your smile. Missing teeth can also have a dramatic affect on your ability to chew food effectively.
An emergency tooth extraction is required when it is absolutely imperative that a tooth be removed. These situations include massive breaks, severe pain, large cracks and other scenarios that may put a patient’s oral health at risk.
When there isn’t an option, an emergency tooth extraction might be the only course of action. There are lots of things that can cause an emergency tooth extraction, including:
If one of your teeth is increasing your risk of infection, that tooth may need to be removed, not just because it’s a danger itself, but because it increases the risk for the teeth around it.
There are numerous symptoms that could indicate that an emergency tooth extraction is needed. If you’re suffering from any of the following, it may be time to seek out some help:
Before your dentist removes a tooth, they will review your medical and dental history to ensure that you do not have any allergies or pre-existing conditions that could cause a complication during the procedure. They will also take X-rays of the area to study the tooth’s shape and position.
There are two types of tooth extraction procedures.
Your dentist can do a simple extraction. During a simple extraction, your dentist will numb the area, loosen the tooth with an instrument called an elevator, then remove it with dental forceps.
Your dentist may prescribe a surgical extraction if a tooth is broken off at the gum line or has not grown fully into the mouth yet. During a surgical extraction, our surgeon will make a small incision (cut) into your gum and remove the underlying tooth. Sometimes they will need to remove some of the bone around the tooth or cut the tooth in half to extract it.
You may feel a slight degree of pressure during the procedure, however, the pain you experience shouldn’t be too discomforting. If the procedure does hurt, it’s important that you tell your dentist as soon as possible in order to avoid any further damage.
After an emergency tooth extraction, your gums may bleed a little, you may experience some swelling and you might feel a dull pain. This is completely normal.
After the numbing wears off, you can expect some pain and discomfort. In some cases, your dentist will recommend over-the-counter pain medicine or prescribe one. Applying an ice pack or cold compress can help reduce swelling. You should also limit strenuous activity, avoid hot liquids, and drinking through a straw.
Typically, pain should lessen within three days to two weeks. Yet, if you experience severe pain or excessive bleeding several hours after your tooth extraction, call your dentist immediately.
A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. The tooth can then be restored without the need for an extraction.
Root canal procedures are performed when the nerve of the tooth becomes infected or the pulp becomes damaged. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.
Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay repeated dental procedures on the tooth or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks.
If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.
Some indications root canal therapy may be required include:
There’s no need to be worried if your dentist prescribes a root canal procedure to treat a damaged or diseased tooth.
Inside your tooth, beneath the white enamel and a hard layer called dentine, there is a soft tissue called pulp. This tissue contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue, which help grow the root of your tooth during its development. A fully developed tooth can survive without the pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.
A modern root canal treatment is very similar to a routine filling and can usually be completed in one or two appointments, depending on the condition of your tooth and your personal circumstances.
Getting a root canal is relatively painless and extremely effective. You’ll be back to smiling, biting and chewing with ease in no time.
Having your natural teeth is the very best option, if possible. Your natural teeth allow you to eat a wide variety of foods necessary to maintain proper nutrition. The root canal procedure is the treatment of choice.
The only alternative to a root canal procedure is having the tooth extracted and replaced with a bridge, implant, or removable partial denture to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. These alternatives not only are more expensive than a root canal procedure, but require more treatment time and additional procedures to adjacent teeth and supporting tissues.
Although you will most likely be numb for 2-4 hours following the procedure, most patients are able to return to school or work directly following a root canal. However, it is advised against eating until the numbness is completely gone.
Most teeth can be treated. Occasionally, a tooth can’t be saved because the root canals are not accessible, the root is severely fractured, the tooth doesn’t have adequate bone support, or the tooth cannot be restored. However, advances in endodontics are making it possible to save teeth that even a few years ago would have been lost. When endodontic treatment is not effective, endodontic surgery may be able to save the tooth.
The cost varies depending on how complex the problem is and which tooth is affected. Molars are more difficult to treat; the fee is usually more. Most dental insurance policies provide some coverage for endodontic treatment.
Generally, endodontic treatment and restoration of the natural tooth are less expensive than the alternative of having the tooth extracted. An extracted tooth must be replaced with an implant or bridge to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. These procedures tend to cost more than endodontic treatment and appropriate restoration.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure to remove one or more wisdom teeth or third molar – the four permanent adult teeth located at the back corners of your mouth on the top and bottom.
In many cases, the patient’s jaws are too small to properly accommodate the 32 teeth in human dentition. The most commonly seen results of this crowding are unusual positioned wisdom teeth, resulting in pain, infection or other dental problems.
Problematic wisdom teeth are usually seen in patients above the age of 18. Many wisdom teeth erupt after all the other teeth have positioned themselves and have no room to properly align with the other teeth already in position. As a result, they often enter the mouth in a twisted, unusual angle, causing much pain and swelling.
A visit with the Emergency Dentist on the Gold Coast is the best answer to this problem and the sooner the better before complications develop which will make the problem more difficult to solve.
During a consultation involving X-rays or OPG (panoramic X-ray) and examination, our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast can determine if the wisdom tooth needs to be removed.
Your surgery should take 45 minutes or less. Our dentist administers local anaesthesia near the site of each extraction. Before you receive an injection, he will likely apply a substance to your gums to numb them. You’re awake during the tooth extraction. Although you’ll feel some pressure and movement, you shouldn’t experience pain.
During wisdom tooth extraction, the dentist:
Most people have little to no pain after surgery. You’ll likely have swelling and mild discomfort for 3 or so days. Your mouth may need a few weeks to completely heal. As you heal from your surgery, follow your dentist’s instructions on:
Bleeding. Some oozing of blood may occur the first day after wisdom tooth removal. Try to avoid excessive spitting so that you don’t dislodge the blood clot from the socket. Replace gauze over the extraction site as directed by your dentist or oral surgeon.
Pain management. You may be able to manage pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Panadol, others), or a prescription pain medication from our oral surgeon. Prescription pain medication may be especially helpful if bone has been removed during the procedure. Holding a cold pack against your jaw also may relieve pain.
Swelling and bruising. Use an ice pack as directed by our dentist. Any swelling of your cheeks usually improves in two or three days. Bruising may take several more days to resolve.
Activity. After your surgery, plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Resume normal activities the next day, but for at least a week, avoid strenuous activity that might result in losing the blood clot from the socket.
Beverages. Drink lots of water after the surgery. Don’t drink alcoholic, caffeinated, carbonated or hot beverages in the first 24 hours. Don’t drink with a straw for at least a week because the sucking action can dislodge the blood clot from the socket.
Food. Eat only soft foods, such as yoghurt or applesauce, for the first 24 hours. Start eating semi-soft foods when you can tolerate them. Avoid hard, chewy, hot or spicy foods that might get stuck in the socket or irritate the wound.
Cleaning your mouth. Don’t brush your teeth, rinse your mouth, spit or use mouthwash during the first 24 hours after surgery. Typically you’ll be told to resume brushing your teeth after the first 24 hours. Be particularly gentle near the surgical wound when brushing and gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water every two hours and after meals for a week.
Tobacco use. If you smoke, don’t do so for at least 72 hours after surgery — and wait longer than that if possible. If you chew tobacco, don’t use it for at least a week. Using tobacco products after oral surgery can delay healing and increase the risk of complications.
Stitches. You may have stitches that dissolve within a few weeks or no stitches at all. If your stitches need to be removed, schedule an appointment to have them taken out.
There are countless reasons of a toothache and some main reasons are dental caries, infection, dental trauma or broken tooth, etc. Excessive grinding and clenching can also lead to a toothache because excessive use can damage the tooth and, as a result, it causes a toothache, with potential to cause pain, ranging from mild to extreme.
In the case of a toothache, you must visit our practice on the Gold Coast the earliest so that the emergency dentist would analyse the causes and the solutions.
Dentures can break for a variety of reasons, despite withstanding the pressure of the jawbone. For example, a denture is vulnerable to the following accidents:
Dropping/Banging
The most common reason for a denture breaking is dropping in the sink or knocking off the tap while cleaning your denture. Denture may not break instantly when dropped, however, the impact can weaken a spot which leads to the denture breaking months later.
Not Fitting
If your dentures are not fitting well the denture can rock in the mouth. Every time you chew, there is a levering effect going on with the denture and the force of your bite is not evenly spread because the dentures are not fitting well. Over time this rocking/levering weakens the denture and causes it to break. You may notice a small fine line appear on the denture which then spreads to a full crack or break. The most common areas are between your 2 front teeth or the area of the denture that touches around any natural teeth you have left, these are the most vulnerable areas.
Isolated Teeth
There can be a risk with isolated teeth breaking off your denture. Although your denture is designed to hold this tooth, the force of your bite and constant chewing can add pressure to this small piece of the denture and cause it to break or snap off. You may decide to have a Chrome Denture made instead which would add considerable strength to this area, or consider a bridge or an implant in the future, if the problem persists.
Clasps Breaking
Clasps are usually made from SS or gold and designed to help retain your dentures, securing it around your natural teeth. Although clasps can be adjusted slightly by your dental professional they are not designed to be bent. Constant/regular removing and inserting your denture can put pressure onto clasps. Dentures with clasps should be taken out and put back in the mouth slowly and very carefully. Never bite your denture into place. If your clasp breaks, seek advice immediately from your denturist to ensure your denture remains stable and replace the clasp.
Your dentures are nearing 5 years old
Dentures are made from a man-made material which deteriorates over time. The life of a denture is considered to be 5 years. As the material deteriorates it can become weaker and therefore be prone to breaking.
Every broken denture is unique. If your dentures is broken, please set up a consultation appointment at ArtSmiles Gold Coast. We would be more than happy to discuss a treatment plan and your payment options.
Most dentists advise against trying to repair your dentures at home. However, in an emergency, you can get a denture repair kit, which will enable you to provide basic, temporary repairs to your dentures. After a home repair, you should get your dentures professionally repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
There are different types of denture repair kits on the market. Most contain a cement bonding material or glue that you can use to make running repairs on your dentures. This should only be a temporary fix, but you may find it is necessary until you can see your dentist.
It is important to remember that the glue, cement, and bonding materials used in denture repair kits are approved and designed to be suitable for dental work. You should never be tempted to try a different type of glue. In many cases, household glues can be poisonous – so the last place you want them is in your mouth.
If you are not sure if your problem is a dental emergency, our professional advice is: if you have a strong toothache or extreme tooth pain, it’s a dental emergency! You should contact us right away.
Even dental injuries that seem superficial or small can affect the living tissues inside the teeth. Quick emergency dental treatment improves the odds of saving injured or damaged teeth.
Even if you aren’t in much pain, any structural damage to a tooth, from a sports injury, for example should be considered an emergency. Chips or fractures can affect the living tissue inside the tooth, causing more problems in the future. Your emergency dentist on the Gold Coast can prevent the damage from getting worse.
The same is true for a lost filling or crown. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, the tooth has lost its support and it could easily become weaker. Pieces could break off or crumble, and you would need more extensive treatment. If you see our dentist right away, there’s a good chance that our dentist will be able to repair the damage with minimal treatment.
If you have a dental emergency, seeking urgent dental care is essential for your comfort and peace of mind. Not getting prompt treatment may result in further deterioration of the condition and potential tooth loss. If a front tooth is compromised cosmetic concerns are valid. Proper emergency dental services also will help you avoid complications from injury or infection.
Risks of not treating dental emergencies may result in search of emergency tooth extraction or spread to other areas of the body. In some cases, ignoring a dental emergency for too long can be fatal. There is a possibility that the infection from an abscess or untreated gum disease will spread to other areas of the body. The pus in an abscess can travel to the jaw and neighbouring teeth, causing complications there. Infection can also spread beyond the mouth to organs such as the heart or brain.
You can prevent dental emergencies in many cases. Dental abscesses and infections often develop as a result of poor oral hygiene. A poor diet can also play a role in the development of abscesses or infections.
Starting a regular oral care routine at home will help you maintain oral health. It is also a good idea to replace your toothbrush every three months. Toothbrushes that have frayed bristles will not clean your teeth as well as a new brush.
Wearing a mouth-guard while playing sports can help protect your teeth and prevent other mouth injuries.
Not biting down on hard foods or items such as ice also makes it less likely that you will chip or lose a tooth.
If you are experiencing a dental emergency or have had a traumatic dental injury, who should you see on the Gold Coast? If you are seeking dental emergency treatment your best option is to find a dental office, not an emergency room. Not every dental clinic sees new patients on an emergency basis, so call first.
At ArtSmiles Gold Coast, we understand the importance of moving quickly and providing patients with the immediate, emergency care that they need. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, call (07) 5588-3677 or book online to discuss your injury, schedule an appointment and get the treatment necessary as soon as possible.
You never expect a dental emergency but you should know what to do if the time comes!
The most important thing you should do is remain calm. It is essential to get in touch with our emergency dentists at ArtSmiles Gold Coast at (07) 5588-3677. We are highly experienced emergency dentists, and if you require urgent dental treatment on the Gold Coast, we do keep a flexible schedule to accommodate your dental emergency.
Your care is our priority, and we will do our absolute best ensure you’re as comfortable throughout your emergency dental appointment, whether you’ve had a fall and broken a tooth, knocked a tooth out playing sport, or are otherwise in severe pain.
In the meantime, there are a few things you can do on your own to alleviate some of the issues during an emergency.
If you need to see a dentist urgently on the Gold Coast, contact our clinic on 07 5588-3677 or book an appointment online (click here) for an emergency service.
If you need to relieve tooth pain at home, anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen can be effective, as they reduce inflammation (swelling) to put less pressure on the tooth.
If you want to talk to a dentist about your toothache, call our clinic so we can decide if you need emergency dental work.
If you cannot get in touch with us, please do the following.
• Take 2 x Nurofen (ibuprofen).
• Wait for three hours and then take 2 x Panadol (paracetamol).
• Wait for three hours again and repeat the cycle. This will help you with the pain. Leave a message on our answering machine and we will contact you ASAP.
If you can’t see our emergency dentist Gold Coast until the next day, you can try to relieve toothache overnight by:
• only eating soft foods that aren’t too hot or cold
• using over-the-counter pain medication
• placing an ice pack or cold compress on your cheek
• keeping your head elevated
If a tooth is too badly damaged or infected to be restored, our emergency dentist on the Gold Coast may recommend extraction. We can discuss ways to replace the extracted tooth and restore your smile using a dental bridge, partial denture or implant.
If a dental emergency occurs, try to stay calm and call our office on the Gold Coast or book an emergency appointment online. Before your appointment follow these steps:
• Take over the counter pain relief (acetaminophen, for example)
• If the tooth is broken and there are sharp edges, cover the tooth with wax paraffin or sugarless gum. This way, you can avoid any discomfort or potential cuts before your visit to the dentist
• Avoid eating hard foods, instead opt for liquids or soft solids
• Gently rinse your mouth with a salt water mix
• Gently press an ice pack to the affected area
We set aside time every day so our Gold Coast emergency dentist can treat urgent patients, but if we don’t have any appointments available, we can refer you to another local clinic who may be able to help you. We can also offer home care advice over the phone.
When you call our friendly staff will ask you a few questions to assess the seriousness of your condition, such as extent of pain or injury. We call this triaging, which is a process for sorting patients into groups based on their condition and whether it is urgent enough to warrant an emergency visit.
In cases where immediate care is deemed necessary, you may be given an instant appointment without the need for prior booking. Patients with less urgent conditions may be given an appointment the following day or in a few days depending on the circumstances and urgency.
During the visit, the dentist would normally check on the injured site or area that is causing the pain, followed by relieving the pain. Depending on your condition, he would then work on repairing the broken, chipped or knocked out tooth. If decay or infection has been determined as the cause of the pain, the dentist may advice a root canal or restorative procedure to fix the dental problem.
Examples of serious problems that will be treated as an emergency appointment include chipped or broken tooth, severe toothaches and swelling.
The symptoms of a cracked or broken tooth can vary patient to patient and the size and position of the crack can play a large role in determining these symptoms. Common symptoms include:
• Sensitivity to hot and cold drinks or food,
• Pain when biting into food,
• An odd sensation when having sticky, sweet or sour foods
• Feeling a sharp edge to the remainder of the tooth with your tongue or finger
Treatments vary dependent on the size of the chip or fracture, the health or state of the remaining tooth structure and the patient’s functional and aesthetic needs and budget.
Small chips to the enamel surface can sometimes be simply buffed to smooth the irritating and rough edge.
Larger breaks, or those that are highly visible in the front teeth, can be repaired using modern bonding techniques with tooth-coloured fillings or porcelain crowns. With precise colour matching, chipped teeth are restored to their former selves and most patients can’t tell the difference!
It is difficult to ascertain a specific range of dental fees for an emergency appointment as the type and degree of injury/ condition varies from patient to patient, generally an estimate would be from $250. We understand, however, that seeking treatment during a dental emergency can be a stressful experience. That is why we work with health insurance companies and financial institutions to minimise your out-of-pocket expenses and provide more flexible payment options.
The absolute last thing you want to worry about in a dental emergency is being able to budget and pay for your service. We make paying for your dental work easy with multiple payment options. From cash, EFTPOS and major credit cards to hassle-free finance plans, we offer flexible payment options to suit you.
We welcome members of all private heath funds for treatment, and you would only need to bring your health fund card to claim your treatment on the spot by swiping it in our HICAPS terminal and only the “gap” payment is required at time of treatment.
At ArtSmiles Southport, we offer a wide range of payment plans like Afterpay, ZipPay, Access my Super and Humm.
With these payment plans you don’t need to worry about paying the full amount on the spot.
If you are unsure as to whether you need a dentist, it is always best to ring and discuss your situation with our Gold Coast dentist. They can let you know if the issue is serious and help address any concerns you may have.
Our emergency appointments are primarily a triage service. We need to find out what is wrong and how we can fix it. We will do a thorough exam, take all necessary clinical photographs and x-rays and advise you on how to proceed. Should we be able to provide treatment on the day for less complex cases we will, otherwise we will offer you a follow-up appointment. At a minimum, we endeavour to get you out of pain and give you some peace of mind.
If you have a dental emergency and have called our clinic, we’ll prioritise your visit and get you in as quickly as possible. However, there are things you can do at home to lessen the pain and stabilise the situation while waiting to see us.
If you’re suffering from the pain of a severe toothache, we recommend first rinsing your mouth out with warm, salty water to give you some relief. It may also help to take a couple of over-the-counter pain relief medication tablets, such as Panadol or Ibuprofen, to lessen the pain until you can see us.
You can also try a natural remedy for toothaches. Cloves and clove oil are very effective in treating toothaches at home. Cloves contain a natural antiseptic called eugenol and properties that can numb pain and reduce inflammation.
If you have a dental emergency and have called our clinic, we’ll prioritise your visit and get you in as quickly as possible. However, there are things you can do at home to lessen the pain and stabilise the situation while waiting to see us.
If you’ve cracked or chipped your tooth, try rinsing your mouth out with warm water. If you’re bleeding, apply some gauze to the area with pressure until it stops. You may need to use dental cement (available at pharmacies) to protect the area if you can’t see a dentist right away.
For a lost tooth, it’s crucial that you get to a dentist immediately. You may be able to slip the tooth back into place by holding it by the crown, not the exposed root. If it won’t go back in easily, place it in a container of milk if possible to prevent it from drying out and get to a dentist or hospital as quickly as possible.
A lost crown or filling may not be painful at first but the exposed area can easily turn into something more serious if not taken care of promptly. While waiting to see us, you may be able to apply some dental cement to the tooth in order to protect it. If you have the crown or filling, you can try putting it back into the gap as a temporary solution.
If that’s not possible, keep it somewhere safe and bring it in to your appointment with you.
Dental Emergencies Are A Common Occurrence, And Are Usually Painful, Inconvenient And Always Occur At The Worst Time. At ArtSmiles we are here for you.
or call us on (07) 5588-3677
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(07) 5588-3677
contact@artsmiles.com.au
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Privacy Policy | Cancellation Policy | Deposit Policy