Emergency Sydney Dental Care starts with unexpected changes in someone’s mouth or oral pain. Most people panic in situations like this, but some can wait, while others need urgent attention from a dental professional. Knowing the difference can prevent further complications in the mouth. Knowing when to contact a dental professional Sydney for further help is crucial. Emergency sydney dental care is offered based on the factors involved and the patients unique circumstance, for this reason, informed decision-making is important.
In this guide, the readers are offered insight on the most urgent dental health problems, and are offered a risk assessment most can do on their own to help ensure a positive outcome while waiting to contact a professional. It also combines triage, neutral and clinical medically guided documentation to provide a structured statement on the next steps from the dental professional.
Which Symptoms Might Entail Getting Emergency Care for Your Teeth?
Different dental symptoms vary, and some may indicate an immediate dental emergency. While it may differ individually, the following are some of the dental symptoms that require immediate attention:
Indicators that may require immediate attention include:
- Chronic and unbearable pain in the affected tooth/teeth
- Facial/ gum swelling
- A tooth that has been completely dislodged
- A tooth that has undergone dental trauma, such as a chipped, cracked, or broke tooth
- Clots/ uncontrolled blood loss in the mouth
- Shortness of breath/ trouble in breathing (this is a medical emergency)
- Other symptoms that indicate the presence of an infection, swelling, or a noticeable increase in the affected area of the pain such as a fever.
- Rapid swelling or out of control pain that may be spreading.
These symptoms may provide more than a clue about dental health conditions that may require intervention immediately. These conditions may include dental emergency needs. How severe the pain is, how fast the swelling is increasing, and the clinical status of the soft tissues are all factors that increase the need to act quickly. It emphasizes the need to identify when the clinical picture has worsened.
When Do You Think A Dental Problem is Not An Emergency?
In case dental trauma has been experienced in the form of pain or discomfort, and in case these conditions are not responsive, then emergency dental treatment is not required for the same day. Also, in the following cases, these conditions may justify the need to apply clinical monitoring until a dental health therapy appointment is scheduled.
Some troubling symptoms that you may originally consider as more lower priority may include:
- Slightly sensitive teeth.
- Pain-free minor chips on teeth.
- Lost crown and fillings with no nagging pain.
- Quiet and dull, unexpected pain that comes and goes.
- Mild and non-worsening gum irritations.
- Worsening symptoms have less discomfort and are more tolerable with simple observation.
The symptoms may be monitored, and cleaning should be done with caution on the impacted site until the site can be examined for further treatment by dental professionals.
What are the differences in symptoms that are emergent and non-urgent?
The much-anticipated answer to those questions is documented in the following structure:
Table for distinguishing between emergent and non emergent symptoms.
| Symptoms | Emergent/life threatening | Non emergent/life threatening | Notes by the author of the table |
| Intense pain in teeth. | Expected to be in need of urgent evaluation, and assessment. | None. | Continuous symptoms and discomfort may lead to severe pain and other symptoms. |
| Mild pain. | None. | Considered to be lowly urgent. | Symptom observation is reasonable to perform if pain is stable. |
| Facial swelling. | Warrant and is in need of immediate care and evaluation. | None. | Swelling may be from infection, which is not annoying. |
| Small pain-free chips. | None. | Non-urgent. | Moderate and low workload. |
| Displaced teeth. | In need of urgent and immediate intervention. | None. | ASAP professional help is deserved. |
| Ongoing pain. | None. | Expected to be low priority of urgency. | |
| Increased gum bleeding. | None. | Expected to be lowly urgent. | Professionals should be contacted if the bleeding does not stop and is persistent. |
| Pain free gums. | Expected to be lowly urgent. | Professionals should be contacted if the bleeding does not stop and is persistent. Expected to be lowly urgent. |
Situations that Require Instantly Acting Vs Waiting
In some instances, It can be difficult to discern whether to wait and watch, or to act immediately. The following table can help clarify.
Table 2: When Are Actions Required Immediately Vs When Can Monitoring Occur?
| Example of Case | Take Action Immediately | Monitor and Wait | Clinical Remarks |
| Rapid swelling around a tooth or face | (Check) | (Not Applicable) | Swelling could mean infection. |
| Sudden trauma to teeth or mouth | (Check) | (Not Applicable) | Injuries can be severe. Evaluations are warranted. |
| Temperature sensitivity only | (Not Applicable) | (Check) | Could be due to dietary habits or enamel loss. |
| Lost dental retainer | (Not Applicable) | (Check) | Not a dental emergency unless it has a sharp edge or is causing pain and discomfort. |
| Difficulty swallowing | (Check) Medical | Not Applicable | Urgent Medical Attention is Required Immediately |
What Are Some Temporary Measures That Can Help While Waiting for Professional Treatment?
Although these suggestions are not a substitute for clinical care, they can help in protecting the area until an appointment is available.
- Maintaining the mouth’s cleanliness by rinsing gently with lukewarm water
- Staying away from hard, chewy, or excessively hot food
- Placing a cold compress on the outer side of the cheek
- Not biting or putting pressure on the side that is hurting
- Promptly contacting a dental professional for help
None of these suggestions would be considered treatment. They are measures that will help with comfort until the area has been evaluated by a professional.
Making Safe Decisions About Emergency Dental Care
The first step to determining one’s priorities is to analyse the symptoms, the rate of escalation of symptoms, and, lastly, the presence of specific risk factors. Consider the following to help decide what to do next:
- Is the pain more severe or more widespread?
- Has there been or is there an increase in swelling?
- Is there any trouble in chewing, swallowing, or talking?
- Has there been any trauma that has resulted in visible changes to the teeth or gums?
- Is there any active bleeding and is it persistent?
- Is there any loss of function with the affected area as part of the symptoms?
These scenarios are created with uncertainty in mind; therefore, it is ideal to reach out to a dentist Sydney regarding these types of scenarios.
How Can Macquarie Dental Assist You With Your Suffers?
Macquarie Dental is designed as a relaxing and clinical setting to help Sydney CBD patients on a first come, first serve basis with their urgent dental issues. It is located at Suite 1, Level 6, 229–231 Macquarie St, Sydney, where patients are able to access dental practitioners that specialize in communication and provide a detailed, step-by-step evaluation and treatment plan that is based on sound clinical reasoning.
Whether sudden discomfort, uncertainty regarding symptom severity, or structured step guidance are required, Macquarie Dental offers patient-centered, safety, suitability, and information transparency. Their staff offer factual, unbiased descriptions of dental conditions, possible risks and their respective treatments, to assist adults in making decisions in both urgent and non-urgent emergency dental care situations.
Research & References
References:
- Australian Dental Association – Managing Dental Emergencies
https://www.ada.org.au/Your-Dental-Health/Younger-Adults/Managing-Dental-Emergencies - NSW Health – Oral Health Fact Sheets
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/oralhealth/Pages/default.aspx
FAQs
- What symptoms might indicate the need for immediate dental care?
Severe pain, sudden swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, or a missing (knocked-out) tooth may indicate the need for urgent evaluation. If you are having difficulty swallowing or breathing you require emergency medical care.
- Can mild tooth sensitivity wait for a normal appointment?
In many situations, mild sensitivity is non-urgent or is expected and can wait for a future appointment.
- What should I do if I am unsure whether my situation is urgent?
When uncertainty exists, it may be helpful to reach out to a dental professional in order to arrive at a conclusion whether the symptoms require prompt evaluation.
- Is facial swelling always an emergency?
Facial swelling is often related to infection, which can progress and manifest additional symptoms, it is best to have a professional assess your situation.
- What if a filling or crown falls out but there is no pain?
This situation is often not a dental emergency. It is advised not to chew on this side until your next dental appointment.
- Should I come in right away after a dental trauma?
Trauma involving broken or displaced teeth, or teeth that have been knocked out, usually need to be seen in a timely manner to evaluate for changes to the teeth and structures.
Disclaimer
Dental procedures involve certain risks and benefits. The information in this blog is meant to be general in nature and should not be considered as medical advice. If you are making a decision regarding your health, we advise you consult with a qualified health professional. It may also be prudent for you to seek a second opinion, where applicable.
Where applicable, the images and videos used have been released by the patients, and are for educational purposes only. These images and videos are not meant to serve as assurances that you will achieve the same results, as each patient is unique. The results of treatment, as well as the results of treatment in terms of complications, recovery, and effectiveness are subject to the individual patient.
