Emergency Dentistry
Dental emergencies are an unfortunate interruption. If you experience a toothache, facial swelling, lost filling or crown, contact our clinic as soon as possible. We can help.
We’ll treat you quickly, relieve your pain and organise a treatment plan to solve your condition. Of course, if you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please go to your local emergency department.
Common Dental Emergencies
What are the most common reasons that people need emergency dental care?
Sudden Tooth Pain – Significant tooth pain with no apparent cause results in many an emergency dental visit. Tooth pain should never be ignored. Many serious conditions can cause tooth pain including:
- Cavities that have penetrated deep into the tooth
- Advanced gum disease
- An abscessed tooth
- Exposed tooth roots
- An impacted tooth
These conditions should be treated promptly to prevent further damage to the tooth or spreading of the infection.
Chipped or Fractured Teeth – Chipped or broken teeth can be caused by sudden trauma to the mouth or by simply biting down on a hard object. Sometimes this happens because you had a cavity and didn’t know it, and the internal structure has been weakened. If possible, keep the chip or piece that broke off of the tooth and bring it with you to your appointment.
Lost Teeth – Whether your tooth was knocked out due to an injury or you lost a tooth for no apparent reason, losing a tooth is a dental emergency. In some cases, we can replace the tooth if we can get to it fast enough, but sometimes a lost tooth will have to be replaced with a dental implant or a bridge.
Our chances of saving the tooth are best if you retrieve the tooth and quickly rinse it with cool water, avoiding the root area. Try to replace the tooth back in the socket, but don’t force it. If the tooth can’t be replaced in the socket, keep it in a glass of milk.
Other Dental Emergencies
Some of the other reasons we would need to see you quickly include:
- A tooth has become dislodged (but not fully knocked out).
- An object is stuck between your teeth that can’t be removed with brushing or dental floss.
- You are experiencing a dental abscess (infection).
- You have injured your gums or palate.
Call our surgery to book an appointment for any dental emergency. We welcome new patients on an emergency basis and will help restore your oral health and your smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a general dentistry practice, we take care of most of the dental needs that arise on a day-to-day basis by supporting good oral health and wellness using preventive, restorative, and teeth replacement dentistry services. Dental exams, cleanings, x-rays, fillings, crowns, bridges, and dentures are all part of what we do here in our office.
We are also here to answer questions about your oral health and to educate patients on the importance of healthy teeth and gums.
In our office, we also offer cosmetic dentistry enhancements to improve the way you feel about the appearance of your smile. We can discuss this with you at your regular dental exam, or we can arrange a cosmetic dentistry consultation.
Each patient is different. While we strive to provide most of the care you need here in our clinic, we want what is best for you and will refer you to treatment with a specialist when necessary.
Our goal is to help our patients maintain good overall health by promoting the health of their teeth and gums. We will let you know if we find any conditions that require treatment so that you and your dentist can discuss which options will work best for you.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr Clare Straker BDent (USyd)
Dr Clare Straker grew up in Woy Woy and as a child had a heart to help people. From as early as she can remember, she wanted to work in the medical field, and her passion to study dentistry became apparent when she started to work as a Dental Assistant whilst at high school. Dr Clare grew up in Woy Woy and went on to study her Bachelor of Dentistry at Sydney University.
Ocean Dental Woy Woy was opened in 2013 – the second dental practice that Dr ...