Life is not always convenient. We understand that sometimes a dental emergency can happen out of hours or at the weekend. If you are suffering from tooth pain or have had an accident that has damaged your teeth, then you won’t want to wait days for the next available appointment. The emergency dentists at K1 Dental don’t think you should.
What is a dental emergency?
Emergency dental care is available for when you need to see a dentist urgently. Usually, an emergency involves any kind of pain or discomfort that can’t be treated with a simple over-the-counter painkiller, or any kind of tooth breakage.
By arranging an emergency appointment, your dentist will be able to assess the problem and offer an immediate solution that improves the pain and ensures the damage is minimised or even reversed.
However, not all emergencies of the mouth are suited to the skills of your dentist. You may need to go to the emergency department at your local hospital.
If you are unsure if your issue is an emergency, please call the practice to discuss.
Typical emergency dental treatments
All of these issues are emergencies because they require immediate attention. For example:
- Broken or dislodged teeth
- Severe toothache
- Tooth trauma
- Tooth and gum abscess
- Lost filling or crown
- Braces being broken
What to expect from an emergency dental appointment?
We may ask you a few questions about your emergency so we can decide how to treat you quickly and efficiently.
Where possible we will book you in on the same day but if your call is out of hours, you may be booked into an emergency dental appointment for the very next day with some phone advice regarding how to effectively manage the problem in the meantime.
Our team will endeavour to provide you with a same-day appointment and prioritise your care. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please contact us as early as possible for us to try and get you seen on the same day.
Don’t hesitate! Call or book an emergency dentist appointment online today
We place a high importance on dental emergencies as dental pain can be distressing.
Come and visit your Melbourne emergency dentist located just behind Toorak Village on Carters Avenue.
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.