FAQ’s
Frequently asked questions
Toothache
Toothache is a sign that something is wrong with your tooth and you should never ignore it, even if it seems to initially disappear. It is often caused by an infection that will need dental treatment to clear it up and to hopefully save your tooth. Toothache can take the form of a shooting pain whenever you bite down, or it could be a consistent and throbbing pain.
What Should I Do If I Have Toothache?
Firstly, try gently flossing around the affected tooth and rinsing your mouth with warm water. Occasionally toothache can be caused by impacted food in between a tooth, pushing it slightly out of place. If this doesn’t help, contact us so we can arrange an emergency appointment for you. We can also offer advice about how to deal with the pain until you come to see us. Some people find using a cold compress helps to ease the pain, or that a warm salt water rinse is soothing. Please do not place aspirin directly on the gums as this will not help to relieve the discomfort but could burn your gum tissue.
When does Toothache Require Urgent Care?
If your toothache is causing facial swelling, or if you have a fever or feel unwell, please contact us straightaway. It is possible you may have an abscess that requires urgent treatment.
Please don’t put up with toothache as we are here to help you and will get rid of the discomfort. Book an appointment online or give us a call right now on (08) 8295 2607. Jetty Road Dental Clinic is located at 106 Jetty Road, Glenelg SA 5045.
Chipped or Broken Teeth
If you can, save any pieces of broken teeth and bring the fragments with you to your appointment. In the meantime, rinse your mouth with warm water to help remove any remaining debris.
What Should I Do if I Have Facial Swelling or Bleeding?
Use a cold compress on the outside of the mouth or your cheek or lip to reduce any swelling and to help relieve the pain. If the injury has caused bleeding, use a clean piece or gauze or tissue and apply gentle pressure to the wound until it stops bleeding. If the bleeding continues for more than twenty minutes, please contact us or visit the emergency department at your nearest hospital.
Does it Matter if I Have a Small Chip in a Tooth?
Please don’t ignore chipped or broken teeth! Even if the damage doesn’t seem serious, any chips still need mending. Your teeth are normally protected by a tough outer layer of tooth enamel. Even a minor breach to this enamel allows bacteria to get into your tooth and a small chip to a tooth that could initially have been easily mended, may potentially develop into a cavity or even a serious tooth infection.
If you chip or crack a tooth, don’t delay! We can restore your smile and your dental health. Please call us today on (08) 8295 2607. Jetty Road Dental Clinic is located at 106 Jetty Road, Glenelg SA 5045.
Knocked-Out Tooth
If you have knocked out a tooth, then you need to act quickly. Sometimes it is possible to re-insert it within the first half an hour to an hour after the accident.
What Should I Do If I Knock Out a Tooth?
Pick up the tooth, holding it by the crown (the part you normally see in the mouth). Carefully rinse the tooth root, but don’t scrub away any fragments of tissue. If you can, re-insert the tooth making sure it is facing the right way round. Bite down gently on a clean tissue or hold the tooth in place with a clean finger until you can get to Jetty Road Dental Clinic. If you can’t get the tooth back in its socket, then don’t force it. Instead, place it in a small container with a little milk or a saline solution. Alternatively use plain water with a pinch of salt.
What Should I Do If My Child Knocks out a Tooth?
If the tooth is permanent, then please follow the advice above. If it is a primary or milk tooth, then please don’t try to re-insert it as this could damage the adult tooth underneath. In both occasions, please bring your child in to see us as soon as you can.
Please contact us immediately if you knock out a tooth and let us take care of you. Call us on (08) 8295 2607. Jetty Road Dental Clinic is located at 106 Jetty Road, Glenelg SA 5045.
Extruded (Partially Dislodged Tooth)
If you have partially dislodged a tooth, then you will need to come and see us as soon as possible. With the correct care, we can often replant the tooth and will repair it if necessary. Extruded teeth may become loose, or a knock could have forced the tooth deeper into the gum tissues.
What Should I Do Immediately After Dislodging a Tooth?
You can probably feel the tooth is loose, but please try to avoid wiggling it around with your tongue or finger. This could cause the tooth to loosen even more. If you are in pain, take an over-the-counter painkiller and use a cold compress on the outside of your face to relieve swelling.
How Will a Dentist Save an Extruded Tooth?
Our dentist will closely examine the tooth to assess the damage to the surrounding tissues and to see if the nerves and blood supply are still intact. If they are, then saving the tooth is often straightforward. After thoroughly cleaning the tooth, it can be repositioned and will be held in place with a splint until it has stabilised. If the blood supply is not intact, then root canal treatment might be necessary as infection can set in when the nerves have become damaged.
Please don’t delay if you partially dislodge a tooth as our caring team is here to help you. Contact us immediately on (08) 8295 2607. Jetty Road Dental Clinic is located at 106 Jetty Road, Glenelg SA 5045.
Lost Filling
If you lose a filling or have an older filling that has begun to crumble away, it is important to get it replaced as soon as you can. A missing filling will allow bacteria to get into your tooth, causing more decay. This could lead to a tooth infection, requiring root canal therapy to prevent tooth loss. It is so much easier and cheaper to simply get that filling renewed, so please contact us for an appointment to see our dentist. We are an amalgam-free dental practice as modern filling materials are healthier for your teeth. Using the latest tooth coloured composite resins, we can nearly invisibly fill a cavity.
Is There Anything I Can Use to Temporarily Fill a Tooth?
Until you can come and see us, it is possible to insert a small piece of sugar-free chewing gum into the cavity. Another option is to use some temporary cement. You can buy this over-the counter as part of an emergency dental kit used to temporarily hold a loose crown in place. When a filling falls out, the dentine underneath the filling is exposed and your tooth might feel extra sensitive. Temporarily filling the tooth will help to reduce unwanted sensitivity, particularly when you eat something hot or cold.
If you lose a filling then please call today on (08) 8295 2607 and one of our friendly dental team will book you an appointment to mend your tooth. If it is more convenient, you can also book online. Jetty Road Dental Clinic is located at 106 Jetty Road, Glenelg SA 5045.
Lost Crown
If a dental crown falls off, you will need to get it replaced as soon as you can. The tooth underneath the crown will be particularly vulnerable to infection and decay as a substantial part of its structure will have been removed during preparation for the crown. If you can, save the crown, as it is possible for it to be cleaned and re-cemented back onto your tooth by our dentist.
What Should I Do If a Crown Falls Out?
You can buy over-the-counter emergency dental kits containing dental cement and which are safe for temporarily holding a crown in place, but you will still need to come and see us to have it properly fitted and cemented onto your tooth. If you can’t get hold of temporary cement, a small piece of sugar-free chewing gum or even some toothpaste will hold it in place.
While your crown is only temporarily fixed onto your tooth, you will need to be careful when eating. It is best to avoid eating on that side of your mouth, just in case you end up swallowing your crown. Please don’t be tempted to use super glue to stick your crown back onto your tooth! It is not safe to use this glue in your mouth and you will damage your tooth and your crown.
If your crown has fallen out or feels loose, call us today on (08) 8295 2607 so we can look after you. Please don’t forget, you can book online if this is more convenient. Jetty Road Dental Clinic is located at 106 Jetty Road, Glenelg SA 5045.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is an infection that affects the root of a tooth, or it can develop in between the teeth and gums. It is a very serious condition that can damage surrounding tissues and teeth and the infection can spread, affecting general health.
What are the Symptoms of a Dental Abscess?
An abscess can cause severe toothache or the tooth may hurt when chewing. The gum tissue around an abscess can look red and swollen and there might be a small pimple on the gums which is generally quite painful to touch. You may notice an increased sensitivity to hot and cold and you might have a persistently nasty taste. Dental abscesses can also make you feel quite unwell. Your neck glands may become swollen and you could have a fever or facial swelling near the affected tooth.
How is an Abscess Treated?
We will need to drain the abscess to clear up the infection. This may be done through root canal therapy, or sometimes we might have to remove a tooth to allow the abscess to drain. You may need antibiotics to help clear up the infection.
If you even suspect you might have an abscess then please contact Jetty Road Dental Clinic right away so we can arrange an emergency dental appointment to try to save the tooth and to help you feel better. Phone us now on (08) 8295 2607 to talk to our caring dental team, or you can call in to our practice. Jetty Road Dental Clinic is located at 106 Jetty Road, Glenelg SA 5045.
Soft Tissue Injuries
tissues of your mouth can easily bleed. This includes injuries to your cheeks, lips, gums and tongue.
What Should I Do to Stop a Soft Tissue Injury from Bleeding?
First of all, rinse your mouth with a mild solution of salt water. This will help soothe the injury and will enable you to see the injury more clearly. Try to keep your head tilted forwards as this will help prevent you from swallowing any blood which could cause vomiting. To stop the bleeding, use a clean piece of moistened gauze or a tea bag to apply gentle but with firm pressure to the wound. If the blood soaks through the gauze, apply another piece without removing the first. Hold the gauze in place for fifteen to twenty minutes. Mild bleeding should stop or will significantly slow down during this time. Using a cold compress on the outside of your mouth can help to control bleeding and pain.
What Should I Do If I Can’t Stop the Bleeding?
If the bleeding fails to stop or to slow down after twenty minutes of applying pressure on the wound, come and see us straightaway. If it is outside of practice hours, then go to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment. Continue applying pressure on the wound until a doctor can see you.
If you are at all concerned about a soft tissue injury then please call us straightaway as we are here to help you. Phone our dental practice on (08) 8295 2607 for immediate advice and care, or book online. Alternatively, you can drop by our practice. Jetty Road Dental Clinic is located at 106 Jetty Road, Glenelg SA 5045.