Emergency Dentist in Oakleigh South

A severe or persistent toothache can make eating, sleeping and concentrating difficult. Pain may be constant, come and go, become worse when biting, or be triggered by hot and cold foods.

Common causes include tooth decay, a cracked tooth, an infected dental pulp, a damaged filling, gum inflammation or problems around a wisdom tooth.

During your emergency appointment, the dentist will examine the painful area and may take a digital X-ray to help identify the cause. Depending on the tooth, treatment could include a filling, repair, extraction or root canal treatment.

If the pain is worsening, disturbing your sleep or accompanied by swelling, contact Mary Dental rather than waiting for it to settle on its own.

Teeth can chip or break after biting something hard, during sport or an accident, or when decay or an older restoration has weakened the tooth.

A small chip may cause little discomfort, while a deeper fracture can lead to sensitivity, pain when chewing or sharp edges that irritate the tongue or cheek.

If part of the tooth has broken away, keep the fragment if you can and bring it to your appointment. Avoid chewing on the affected side until the tooth has been assessed.

Treatment depends on how much of the tooth has been damaged. Options may include smoothing the area, rebuilding the tooth, placing a filling or dental crown, or providing further treatment when the fracture extends deeper into the tooth.

A knocked-out adult tooth needs prompt dental attention.

Handle the tooth by the crown rather than the root. If it is dirty, gently rinse it without scrubbing. If possible, carefully place the adult tooth back into its socket. If you cannot do this, keep it moist in milk and contact the clinic immediately.

Do not attempt to put a knocked-out baby tooth back into the socket.

When you call Mary Dental, let the team know that the tooth has been completely knocked out so we can advise you on the next step and check emergency appointment availability.

The dentist will also assess the surrounding gums, neighbouring teeth and supporting bone, as dental trauma can affect more than the tooth you can see.

A filling or crown can loosen or fall out because of wear, decay, biting forces or damage to the tooth underneath.

The exposed tooth may become sensitive to temperature, painful when chewing or uncomfortable because of a sharp edge.

If a crown has come off, keep it and bring it with you. Avoid trying to glue it back into position with household adhesives.

At your appointment, the dentist will assess the remaining tooth and determine whether the restoration can be repaired or replaced. If there is decay, a fracture or another problem underneath, additional treatment may need to be completed first.

A dental abscess is an infection that can develop around a tooth, its root or the surrounding gum.

Possible signs include:

• Throbbing or persistent tooth pain
• Gum or facial swelling
• Tenderness when biting
• An unpleasant taste in the mouth
• A small swelling or pimple on the gum
• Fever or feeling unwell

Dental abscesses should be assessed promptly. Even if the pain temporarily improves, the source of the infection may still need treatment.

Depending on the cause, treatment may involve draining the infection, treating the affected tooth, root canal treatment or removing a tooth that cannot be restored.

If swelling is rapidly spreading, moving towards the eye or neck, or you are having difficulty breathing or swallowing, seek urgent hospital medical care.

Urgent assessment may be required for toothache, swelling, trauma, broken teeth or lost restorations. Calling before attending allows the team to ask about the symptoms and advise on appointment availability.

Wisdom teeth can become painful when they are erupting, partially covered by gum or difficult to keep clean.

Food and bacteria can become trapped around a partially erupted wisdom tooth, resulting in tenderness, swelling, an unpleasant taste or discomfort when opening the mouth.

During an emergency assessment, the dentist can examine the wisdom tooth and surrounding gum and use imaging where needed to understand its position.

Treatment may initially focus on cleaning and settling the inflamed area. If the problem continues to return, your dentist may discuss whether wisdom tooth removal is appropriate.