Dental Emergencies
Urgent, same-day emergency dental services during business hours
Dental Emergencies
Urgent, same-day emergency dental services during business hours
At 818 Dental, we understand that dental emergencies can’t wait. Book an appointment now to alleviate your pain.
Whether it’s a chipped tooth, sudden severe pain, or a lost filling, immediate attention is crucial to protect your oral health and prevent further complications. Our team is here to provide fast, effective care when you need it most, so you can get back to feeling your best.
What is a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is any issue that requires urgent care from a dentist to relieve pain, fix damage, and restore your oral health. Common emergencies include everything from breaking a tooth in an accident to a painful toothache that can’t be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. If you're in pain or have damaged a tooth, don’t wait - schedule an emergency appointment as soon as possible to prevent the issue from worsening.
If you're unsure whether your issue is a true emergency, give our friendly team a call. We’ll help you determine the best next steps. In some cases, we may recommend visiting your local hospital for more immediate medical attention.
What services does emergency dental cover?
At 818 Dental, our emergency dental services cover a wide range of urgent conditions, such as:
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Severe tooth pain or infection
- Lost fillings or crowns
- Loose or knocked-out adult teeth
- Broken braces or wires
- Emergency tooth extractions
Each of these situations requires prompt attention to prevent further complications. For instance, a broken filling can expose your tooth to bacteria, increasing the risk of infection and decay. Similarly, a loose or knocked-out tooth should be treated quickly to improve the chances of saving it.
All of these issues are emergencies because they require immediate attention. For example:
- If your filling falls out, your tooth may be exposed to bacteria that could lead to an infection, and your tooth could be weakened, which could lead to a break or chip.
- If you have braces and they break, this can result in a wire or piece of bracket poking your mouth or gums, which can be very uncomfortable, so it’s best to have it fixed as soon as possible.
- If you have a very painful toothache, it could be that there is an infection inside the tooth that requires antibiotics or other treatment to stop it from spreading or causing damage.
The advantages of emergency dental treatment
Emergency dental services are beneficial for several reasons:
- 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.
What to expect from an emergency dental appointment
When you call ahead, we’ll do our best to accommodate a same-day appointment. Here’s what you can generally expect during your emergency dental visit:
Initial assessment: We’ll evaluate the issue, possibly using X-rays to get a clear view of the problem.
Pain management: If needed, we’ll provide pain relief or a local anaesthetic to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure.
Immediate treatment: Depending on the situation, we’ll either provide a temporary fix or perform a more permanent treatment to resolve the issue.
Follow-up care: After treatment, we’ll give you clear instructions on how to care for the affected area at home, and we may schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure everything is healing properly.
Your health and comfort are our top priorities, and we place a high importance on addressing dental emergencies as quickly as possible. If you’re experiencing any dental emergency, don’t hesitate to contact our Armadale clinic at 818 Dental. We’ll do our best to get you in for same-day treatment and help you feel better fast.
If you're feeling any of these signs, please contact us right away.
Don’t hesitate to contact our Armadale clinic at 818 Dental. We’ll do our best to get you in for same-day treatment and help you feel better fast.
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.
This could be:
- A broken, chipped, or cracked tooth
- A loose adult tooth
- A knocked-out tooth
- Broken braces that cause injury
- A persistent, painful toothache
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.