Use It or Lose It

Health Insurance Benefits Are About to Expire

If you have health insurance that includes dentistry, then you need to make sure you get the most from it. Unfortunately, not everyone knows that their dental benefits may run out at the end of the year. So if you want to get the most from your insurance, here’s what you need to know.

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About Health Funds

Every health insurance fund is different and offers different benefits and rules. Generally speaking, these funds usually cover all or part of your regular dental check-ups. This means that you should probably get two visits to your dentist a year that are covered by your insurance. Unfortunately, if you forget about this, put it off, or don’t understand the rules, you’ll miss out.

The majority of health funds have a benefit year that starts on the 1st of January and ends on the 31st of December. Of course, this doesn’t mean that your fund runs out on New Year’s, leaving you uninsured. Instead, it means that if you don’t use your dental benefits before the end of the year, they will expire. So basically, you’ll be paying for dental visits that you aren’t using. This is both a waste of money and a missed opportunity, because having regular dental check-ups is essential for your oral health.

Use Your Dental Benefits

Check your policy

Every health fund and policy is different. So check with your provider and learn about the dental benefits that you should be getting from them. Also, make sure that you make note of any expiry dates and keep them in mind, particularly at this time of the year.

Make an appointment

If you have benefits that are about to expire, make an appointment with your dentist before the New Year. This will improve your oral health over the Christmas period, when you really want your pearly whites to look their absolute best. It will also help you to avoid pain, discomfort, and a visit to the after hours dentist during the festive season.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

So make sure you’re getting what you paid for this Christmas Season. Contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney and get your teeth in the best health possible. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.

Do I Have a True Dental Emergency?

When to Call the Dentist

If you have a problem with your teeth on the weekend or late at night, you might worry about contacting an after hours dentist. After all, when you’re in pain, it can be hard to tell if the problem is an emergency, and what kind of medical professional you should contact. To help with that, here are some of the most common dental emergencies and what you should do about them.

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What is a Dental Emergency?

This may seem obvious. For most people, a dental emergency is when your tooth really hurts and you want it fixed. However, there are a few different types of emergencies that after hours dentists see. Here are some common dental emergencies.

• Any problem that threatens the health and placement of a tooth. This broken, lose and cracked teeth. 

•  Severe pain.

•  Bleeding from the mouth tissues that won’t stop.

• A severe infection that suddenly flares up. This can be life threatening, so it’s important that you see an after hours dentist as soon as possible if this occurs.

What to do in a Dental Emergency

If you experience a dental emergency, then you need to get help as soon as possible if you want to solve the problem. This will also help you to preserve the health of your mouth and teeth over the long term. With that in mind, here’s what to do for some specific dental situations:

• A toothache

If you experience severe pain after hours, you can take Nurofen to alleviate it until you can get to an after hours dentist. Don’t try to brush the area, but you can rinse with warm water to gently clean it.  

• Bleeding

If the bleeding isn’t too bad, rinse your mouth with warm water and apply pressure to the area to encourage it to stop. If the bleeding is severe, seek medical help immediately.

• Dislodged teeth

If you have a tooth or teeth knocked out because of some type of injury, retrieve the tooth and rinse with water to clean it. Reposition gently in the tooth socket without pressing it down. If you can’t put it back in your mouth, put the tooth in milk to keep it moist. And contact an after hours dentist immediately so the tooth can be put back where it belongs.

• Cracked teeth.

It’s easier than you think to crack a tooth or teeth. If you experience this, rinse your mouth with warm water, apply a cold compress to the face and see an after hours dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will be able to repair the tooth using a porcelain crown or veneer, dental bonding, or a dental bridge.

• Something stuck in your tooth.

Unless it’s extremely painful or bleeding, this usually isn’t a dental emergency. Try to gently remove the obstruction with your fingers or tweezers. You can also try flossing around the object. If this doesn’t remove the problem, make an appointment with your dentist.

• Severed gum or lips.

This is considered a medical emergency, not a dental emergency. So apply pressure to slow the bleeding and go to your doctor or to the emergency room if it’s after hours.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

If you have a dental emergency, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.

Why Do Some Root Canal Treatments Fail?

And Why It Isn’t Your Dentist’s Fault

Root canals aren’t usually people’s favourite procedures. If you have to have one, it means that you’ve probably been in pain or discomfort for a while and have made a trip to an after hours dentist. After all that trouble, you probably think that the root canal should solve everything. But sometimes, your problems will continue after the root canal, meaning that you have to get further treatments. If this happens to you, then you need to know why it happens and why it isn’t always your dentist’s fault.

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Why Do You Need a Root Canal?

In basic terms, people need a root canal when the pulp or inside of their tooth has become infected. During a root canal, the nerve and pulp inside your tooth are cleared out and the area is sealed so that bacteria can’t get in there again. To complete the procedure, your dentist will usually put a crown over the top of the tooth to increase its strength and repair its appearance. This procedure usually alleviates any pain immediately because the nerve, the part of your tooth that registers pain, is gone. And once the area has healed, you will be able to go back to your normal eating routine and probably won’t even notice that you ever had the procedure done.

If you have an infected tooth, your dentist will usually try to treat the infection with antibiotics first. However, if the infection has gone too far, if it threatens the health of surrounding tissue, it’s usually better to perform a root canal. Otherwise it can cause problems such as abscesses or pain and infection in other parts of the face and even in the rest of the body.

Some causes of tooth pulp infection include:

• A cavity that has been left too long.

• A crack or chip that hasn’t been repaired and has let bacteria into the centre of the tooth.

• Repeated procedures on a tooth.

• Gum infections that have been left untreated and infected a tooth.

• Face traumas.

What if the Root Canal Doesn’t Work?

Most people who get a root canal go back to their normal lives without any further problems. In fact, between 90 and 95 percent of root canals are completely successful. However, there are a small percentage of people who aren’t so lucky.  

There can be a number of reasons why a root canal may fail. And the first and most common is related to the original infection. As Doctor Oberoi from Emergency Dentist Sydney says about root canals, “If they haven’t been done properly in the first place and the infection is still there they can fail.” That’s why you need to make sure that your root canal is done by a properly qualified and experienced after hours dentist.

Another reason why a root canal may fail has to do with the condition of the tooth itself. Doctor Oberoi points out, “…if there’s a crack in the tooth then it can affect the root canal. That’s why we usually recommend putting a crown over the tooth.”

A root canal may also fail if it isn’t taken care of after the procedure. You need to make sure that you follow your dentist’s instructions closely when it comes to after care. Otherwise the gum or surrounding teeth could become infected, resulting in more dental work.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

If you need a root canal or any other emergency procedure, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.

How is Pain Relieved in Dental Emergencies?

Why Your Dentist Can Help Immediately

Dental pain can be scary. You’ll probably worry about the cause, about the treatment, and about how long you’ll have to tolerate the discomfort. But the one thing you don’t have to worry about is whether an after hours dentist can help. Your dentist has a variety of treatments that can alleviate your pain almost immediately. And this is the best strategy for allowing you to get back to your regular schedule once more.

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About Dental Pain

Dental emergencies can happen anytime and without warning. This will usually be accompanied by pain, which can feel like the following:

• General mouth pain which is hard to localise.

• Sharp pain like someone’s stabbing at your tooth or gum.

• Throbbing pain that’s like a heartbeat in your tooth.

• Low grade pain that spikes when you eat or drink anything.

If you experience this type of pain and you can’t get to your after hours dentist immediately, there are some easy, short term ways to deal with the pain. According to Dr. Oberoi from Emergency Dentist Sydney, “Nurofen and Panadol are the best options for pain relief in the short term.” This will allow you to cope until you can get the problem fixed.

Common Causes of Dental Pain

There are a number of things that can cause dental pain including the following:

• Tooth decay.

• A broken filling.

• A tooth abscess.

• Infected gums.

• Damage from repetitive movements such as grinding or chewing.

Pain Relief Options in Dental Emergencies

Once you get to an after hours dentist, they have a lot of options that will help relieve your pain during dental emergencies. These can be used to make your dental appointment much more pleasant and to relieve ongoing pain as the problem heals.

The most effective option for removing the pain caused by a toothache according to Dr. Oberoi is, “By removing the infection and draining it, and then treating the infection through antibiotics, this is the best way to treat pain.” This will remove the source of the pain itself, rather than masking it.

However, if your pain isn’t caused by infection, there are a number of options that your dentist can use to alleviate your pain while they treat the problem. Some of the most effective solutions are:

• Local anaesthesia, which is used for simpler procedures such as fillings and root canals.

• Happy gas, which can alleviate pain and anxiety during most types of dental procedures.

• IV sedation, which is most commonly used for more complex procedures such as wisdom teeth extractions.

• Oral sedation, which is used most often for anxious patients.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

There’s no reason for you to be in pain when your dentist can fix it so easily. So if you do experience it, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.

Our Top 5 Sydney Spring Summer Events Picks

2018 - 2019

Summer in Sydney is great. There’s always so much to do, and sometimes it can be hard to decide which events to attend and which to miss. That’s why we’re here to help. No matter what you’re into, whether it’s music or food or sport, here are the top events to see and be seen at in the coming summer months.

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22nd of December, Carols in the Domain

If you love to sing, or just soak up the Christmas spirit, then you need to be at the Woolworths Carols in the Domain. This is an event for the young and the young at heart and will feature some great Aussie talent who will help you sing in the Christmas season.

31st of December, New Year’s Eve Celebrations

New Years in Sydney harbour is iconic, and it’s one of the biggest celebrations in the country. If you like fireworks, people celebrating the possibilities of a New Year, or just want to take part in all the festivities, this is the place to be.

7th - 26th of January, Sydney Festival

Spending time at the Sydney Festival could take up most of your free time in January. With more than 400 performances and 100 events, this event celebrates culture, ideas, style and summer itself. Many of the events are free and you can get a full schedule on the website from the middle of October. There will also be some world famous talents up on the stages, so buy your tickets early if you’re interested in any of these amazing shows. 

27th January to 12th of February, Chinese New Year

For the people who just can’t get enough of the New Year’s spirit, here’s a celebration that runs for weeks. There are events all across Sydney, from Martin Place to Chinatown, so you can celebrate the year of the rooster with traditional and delicious food and drinks.

February and March, Mardi Gras

The world can be a scary place sometimes, which is why celebrating pride and diversity is more important than ever before. Show your support for the LGBTQI community and have some fun at the Mardi Gras fair day or the raising of the rainbow flag in February. Marvel at the spectacle of the main parade in March. Or fill up your calendar and be there for all of them.

So there really is no excuse. This Summer, get out and enjoy everything Sydney has to offer. And make this season one to remember.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

If you have a dental emergency over the Summer, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.

"Just Take My Tooth Out."

Is This What You Should Be Saying?

If you have tooth pain, it can be tempting to do whatever is necessary to immediately fix the problem. If you do this, it will allow you to go back to your normal life with as little disruption as possible. However, this kind of speed can cause its own problems. It can lead to you making the wrong decision for your long term oral health. That’s why you need to carefully consider the alternatives before you ask an after hours dentist to remove a troublesome tooth.

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Why Some People Choose Extraction

If you have a really severe toothache or cracked tooth, you might think that the best solution is to just get rid of the tooth. There may be a number of reasons for making this decision. As Dr. Oberoi from Emergency Dentist Sydney says, “Some people who want their tooth taken out do it because they don’t think they can afford to keep it, or they don’t fully understand the value of having your own teeth.” 

You might also be experiencing severe pain or just don’t seem to have the time to get the problem fixed properly. Unfortunately, you might think that you can just get your tooth out and go through the rest of your life as if nothing happened, but this isn’t usually the case. Having a missing tooth or teeth can cause a variety of problems in the long term. This includes the following:

• Chewing will be more difficult.

• The shape of your face will change.

• Your speech can be affected.

• The gap might show when you smile, making you feel self-conscious.

• The health of your remaining teeth will be affected, resulting in a higher chance of further decay.

• Teeth support each other in the right position, so if you have one removed it will lead to the others slowly collapsing into the gap.

Teeth are meant to work as a unit, so when one is missing, your oral health overall will decline. So if you get a tooth removed impulsively, it will probably lead to more serious problems down the road.

The Alternatives to Extraction

Extracting a tooth is a serious procedure. That’s why a good after hours dentist will find other ways to save your tooth if possible. As Dr. Oberoi says, “When you’re looking at alternatives, the best thing to do is to save the tooth with a root canal. If the tooth has a crack in it we can fit a crown or veneer over the top. And a dental implant is the last solution if the crack is really bad.”

 So the next time you have a toothache, talk to your dentist before you make any decisions. This will help ensure that you get the best treatment possible for your present and your future oral health.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

If you have a dental emergency, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.

Emergencies Aren't Always a One-Stop-Shop

What You Should Expect

There are few things as frightening as a dental emergency. You’re in pain, confused about what to do, and just want to go back to normal. But this isn’t always possible, at least not without diminishing your oral health in the long term. With some dental problems, you may need more than one visit to solve the issue. So when you visit an after hours dentist, you need to be prepared to come back until the issue is resolved. Because sometimes the quickest route to normal functioning isn’t the best one.

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The Problem with Dental Emergencies

The real problem with dental emergencies is that they can cause people to make the wrong decision. This is understandable. After all, when you see an emergency dentist you’re probably traumatised, in pain, and bleeding, and who wouldn’t want to fix those problem as soon as possible? As Dr. Oberoi from Emergency Dentist Sydney points out, “When people are in pain they want a quick fix, they don’t always think about the long term.”

But decisions made in the heat of the moment can have long term consequences. Which is why you need to listen to your dentist and take a longer view on your oral health.

One Stop Treatments

There are a number of different dental problems that an after hours dentist can fix immediately so you can go about your day as if it never happened. Some of them are as follows:

• Mild decay where you only need a filling.

• Small cracks in your teeth which can be fixed using dental bonding.

• More advanced decay when a root canal can be performed.

Treatments That Take Time

There are a number of dental treatments that will take time and multiple treatments before they can be fixed. However, not everyone wants to wait that long. As Dr. Oberoi says, “People come in with a sore tooth and just want it taken out when there are better options.” This often results in people getting treatments that aren’t the best for them in the long term. So they come in with an infected tooth, and leave with a gap in their mouth that will have to be filled at some point. This could have been avoided if they were willing to wait and commit to a longer treatment that could have saved their tooth.  

This situation doesn’t only occur with infected tooth. It can also be the case when you have severe gum disease, a tooth that needs to be extracted, or a broken tooth that needs a dental crown or bridge. You may also need multiple treatments if you have impacted wisdom teeth.  

So when you have to pay a visit to an after hours dentist, remember that it isn’t a one stop shop. Sometimes, the best solution will take time and multiple treatments. If this is the case, taking the longer option will be the best way for you to enjoy good oral health over the long term.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

If you have a dental emergency, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.

A Smile Says A Thousand Words

Fixing Broken Teeth is Rewarding For Us!

A great smile is one of the most attractive qualities in the world. It changes the way people see you, the way they interact with you, and it changes the way you see the world. You should never hesitate to smile, but sometimes things can get in the way. If you’re concerned about your teeth or the way your smile looks, it can rob you of everything a smile can bring to your life. And this is a real problem, which is why you need to work with your dentist to overcome these issues as soon as possible.

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Rewarding Work

Helping you get back your smile is one of the most rewarding things a dentist can do. As Dr. Oberoi from Emergency Dentist Sydney says, “What inspires me is when I really make a difference in people’s lives every day. I’m giving them more confidence in their smile. I’m helping them overcome years of phobia about the dentist.”

No matter what dental issues you have, your dentist has treatments that can help. And best of all, they’ll feel as good about the results as you will.

Fixing the Pain of Broken Teeth

One of the best things you can do to repair your smile is to get your broken teeth fixed. Teeth can break because of injury, poor oral hygiene, or grinding, and this can not only change how your smile looks, it can also make you feel ashamed and self-conscious. As Dr. Oberoi points out, “Often in the patient’s head, the broken teeth are a terrible fear and shame. But when you’re finished, they’re so happy and grateful with what you’ve done for them. After all that worry and shame, one appointment and everything is fixed.”

Before: Elbow to the Face

After: Dental Bonding

Fixing broken teeth is a relatively easy and straightforward procedure these days. Your dentist will examine your mouth and create a plan to deal with the problem. The treatment will vary depending on the condition of your mouth and teeth. But usually, broken teeth are covered with a dental crown, to give a flawless and natural looking smile.

Before: Cycling Accident

After: Crowns and Composite Bonding

If your broken teeth can’t be salvaged, they can be removed and a dental implant placed into the gum. After a bit of time, the implant site will heal so a new tooth can be fitted into place. And once this is complete, your smile will look so good that you’ll forget there was ever a problem. 

If you don’t want to have dental implants put in, your dentist may recommend a dental bridge. Dental bridges can be fitted over damaged teeth or used to replace missing teeth.They basically consist of two or more connected dental crowns that are bonded or cemented into place. Once they’re in, the replacement teeth are strong and secure, and they’ll look, feel and act just like your original teeth. So you can forget about them and show off your big, beautiful smile.

Before: Falling Accident

After: Porcelain Veneers and Bonding

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

If you have a dental emergency, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.

The Importance of Good Quality Emergency Dentistry

Avoid Long Term Dental Problems

You may not always get the opportunity to choose your emergency dentist. If you injure your mouth after hours, you’ll be in pain, confused and worried, as well as struggling to find an after hours dentist. But that doesn’t mean that you should settle for just any dentist who answers the phone. In fact, choosing the right Emergency Dentist in Sydney can be pivotal in getting the effective and expert help that you need.

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The Importance of Choosing the Right Emergency Dentist

You need to choose an after hours dentist with the same care that you use when you choose your regular dentist. Emergency dentists must have a specific set of skills that are related to what patients need when they experience an injury or other dental problem. As Dr. Oberoi from Emergency Dental Sydney explains, “Emergency dentists have to be trained well in managing people with dental pain or dental trauma. They’re like Emergency Doctors in a lot of ways. They have more experience in diagnosing and giving appropriate treatment.” This extra training is essential to ensure you get the right treatment and the best outcome possible no matter what type of treatment you need.  

If you don’t choose the right dentist, you may find yourself with someone who doesn’t have the depth of experience they need to cope with your dental emergency. This can result in substandard work, which causes more problems in the long run. If your dental work isn’t completed properly it can result in further trauma, infection or injury. And this will probably mean that you’ll have to have further work done to correct the problem or suffer long term pain or discomfort.

If you want to avoid these problems, then you need to put some thought into choosing an after hours dentist.

What to Look For in an Emergency Dentist

Obviously an after hours dentist should be appropriately qualified and experienced, but this isn’t really a big issue these days because of the regulations surrounding this profession. But that doesn’t mean that you should just go to anyone. As Dr. Oberoi says, “It’s important to choose an emergency dentist based on how good the dentist is. Because if the work isn’t done to the highest level then it can lead to further problems.”

This means that you shouldn’t default to just any dental provider even if you’re looking for a dentist after hours. It’s always better to visit a dentist who has a proven record in emergency treatments and can ensure the best outcome possible for your dental problem.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

If you have a dental emergency, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.

Is Immediate Pain Relief Always Possible?

What to Expect When You Visit Your Dentist with a Painful Problem

If you’ve ever had a toothache then you know how uncomfortable it can be. In fact, this is probably the most common complaint that sends people to an after hours dentist. If you experience dental pain, you might worry about how much your dentist can actually help with it. After all, how much can they do apart from give you painkillers? Well, they can actually do a lot more than give you some tablets. To understand all the ways your dentist can alleviate your dental pain, keep reading.

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Causes of Dental Pain

There are a number of things that can cause dental pain and send you to the after hours dentist. Some of the most common are:

• Tooth decay or a cavity.

• A cracked tooth.

• An abscess.

• Damaged dental work such as a broken filling or crown.

• Gum disease.

• Infection.

• Damage or strain caused by repetitive movements such as grinding or chewing.

Dental Solutions to Pain

If you’re suffering from dental pain, the first thing your dentist will do is treat the problem. So if you have a cavity, they will put a filling in. If you have an infection, they will treat the cause of the infection and clean the infected tissue. This will help to completely eliminate the cause of the pain, prevent further problems, and return you to normal functioning again. There are a number of options that your dentist can offer for pain relief including oral medication, laughing gas, and IV sedation.

How Long Until You’re Pain Free?

In most cases, your dentist can eliminate your pain almost immediately with the three different pain options available in the clinic. Once the pain is alleviated, the source of the pain can be treated. This will eliminate the pain at its source so you’re comfortable once the painkillers wear off. If the pain returns after the treatment, then it means you need to visit your after hours dentist again.

As Dr. Oberoi from Emergency Dentist Sydney says, “If the pain gets worse or comes back it means that something has gone wrong or the issue hasn’t been addressed.” So talk to your dentist if you experience any further problems.

The only real exception to this is if you have a severe infection. Dr. Oberoi warns that, “In terms of pain relief we try and alleviate the pain straight away, and a lot of times we can. But in the case of severe infection it can take 24 to 48 hours for the pain to go away completely.” Which is all the more reason to visit your dentist before a problem gets to this stage.

What About Surgical Pain?

If you have some kind of dental surgery there will be some pain and discomfort afterwards. This is the case for any type of surgery, and it can usually be treated with over the counter pain medication. But you can also minimise your discomfort by choosing the right dentist for the surgery.

Dr. Oberoi states, “It depends on how the surgery is done. If the surgeon is careful to cause little trauma, then there’s less pain. That’s why it’s important to get the right people for your dental surgery.” So before you have any dental surgery, make sure that your dentist is well trained and experienced. That will help ensure that you have the best outcome possible from the procedure and it will cut down on your recovery time as well.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

If you’re experiencing dental pain, contact Emergency Dentist Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.

The Top 6 Causes of Dental Emergencies

The Most Common Reasons for Seeing an After Hours Dentist

People call emergency dentists for all kinds of reasons. After all, it’s not like your teeth know that it’s the weekend or late at night and they need to wait for a more convenient time. However, you can decrease the chances that you will need to make an after hours trip to the dentist. To help you with that, here are the most common reasons people need an emergency dentist and how to avoid them.

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1. Neglect or Poor Hygiene

Taking care of your teeth is essential if you want to avoid a late night trip to the dentist. You need to brush at least twice a day, floss regularly, and see your dentist for regular check-ups. Neglecting one or all of these activities will lead to dental problems, guaranteed. These problems can include poor dental hygiene, cavities, and possibly even infections. And all of them are painful and can result in a trip to your after hours dentist.  

But avoiding the dentist is just as bad. Lots of people put off their dental appointments, usually because of nerves or fear. But this will only lead to further problems. Your teeth need to be cleaned and checked by the dentist on a regular basis. Regular check-ups mean that your dentist can identify and treat any potential problems before they turn into late night problems.

2. Trauma from Falls

Anyone can fall over, and most of the time it’s not a big deal. But sometimes it can have serious consequences. Falling can do more than hurt your knees and hands, it can also knock out your teeth or even break your teeth. Unfortunately, there’s really no way to avoid this problem, apart from being careful if you’re prone to falls.  

If you do damage or break one of your teeth, your dentist may be able to fix the problem. If the crack is small, dental bonding can be applied to repair the damage. Larger cracks can be covered with a crown. And if you have a tooth knocked out, your dentist may be able to put it back in place. The success of these interventions depends on you and on how quickly you seek treatment. That’s why it’s vitally important that you contact your after hours dentist as soon as possible after the injury so you can learn about your treatment options.

3. Trauma from Sporting Accidents

If you play sports where there’s a lot of physical contact, you should be wearing a mouth guard at all times. Your dentist can make a mould of your mouth and design a guard that’s specifically shaped to fit you.

However, this doesn’t completely eliminate the danger of some sports. If you play contact sports there’s always the risk of injuring your mouth or your teeth even with a mouthguard. You can crack or break a tooth or teeth, or even knock one out. If this occurs, your dentist needs to assess the damage so they can determine the best treatment option.

4. Poor Diet

If your diet is high in sugars, carbohydrates, or starches, it can increase the plaque production in your mouth and lead to decay. Soft drinks and sweets are particularly bad for your teeth, and if you eat a lot of these foods you’re more likely to experience a dental emergency. You can decrease the damage these foods do by brushing and flossing after every meal, but the best way to avoid damage is to change your diet. Eating plenty of vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy carbohydrates will keep your teeth healthy and markedly reduce the risk of a trip to the late night dentist.

5. Fixing Existing Dental Issues

Another issue that often sends people to the late night dentist is problems with their existing dental hardware. This can be cracked or loose crowns, fillings that fall out, or damage to braces or other dental implants. These problems may be the result of poor dental work or they can be caused by eating hard food or physical injury.

No matter what causes the issue, you need to consult your dentist to discuss your treatment options. In most cases, the dental work can be replaced or redone without too much trouble so you can go about your daily life again.

6. Lack of Education on Dental Health

A lack of education about dental health is still a big problem in the modern world. It can lead to poor dietary habits and poor oral hygiene habits, both of which can seriously affect dental health. This problem may also cause people to avoid going to the dentist until it’s absolutely essential, which means that they only get dental care in emergency situations. If you avoid the dentist for this reason, it will be incredibly detrimental to your long term dental health.   

The best solution to this problem is to pay a visit to your dentist. They will be able to give you all the latest information on dental care and make suggestions for your ongoing oral health. They’ll also be able to identify any existing problems so that you can avoid emergency trips to the after hours dentist.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

If you have a dental emergency, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.

Do All Toothaches Come From Bad Hygiene?

The Truth About Your Sore Tooth

If you have a toothache you might worry that it’s because of bad hygiene. This worry could make you embarrassed to visit your dentist, because you don’t want to be told that you aren’t taking care of your teeth properly. But there are a number of reasons why your tooth might hurt and send you to the after hours dentist, and some of them have nothing to do with your oral hygiene. If you want to understand why your tooth is hurting, here are some of the most common causes.

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The Effects of Bad Dental Hygiene

As Dr. Oberoi from Emergency Dentist Sydney says, “Toothaches are caused by nerve pain, gum infection, trauma, wisdom teeth, grinding, or extreme sensitivity. There are a lot of reasons why your teeth may hurt.”

However, problems associated with toothache are most commonly caused by bad dental hygiene. That’s why it’s so important that you brush and floss regularly and visit your dentist for regular check-ups. This will prevent any problems from getting worse and help you avoid getting a toothache.

The most common dental problems caused by bad dental hygiene are:

• Tooth decay or cavities.

If you have a toothache, it’s very likely that it’s because you have tooth decay because this is the most common cause of dental pain. Tooth decay is caused by poor oral hygiene. So make sure you brush and floss regularly if you want to avoid a trip to the after hours dentist with a hole in your tooth.

• An abscessed tooth

If you ignore tooth decay for a long time it may result in an abscessed tooth. This is an infection within the tooth that occurs when a cavity penetrates down to the pulp of the tooth. It can result in severe pain, infected and swollen gums, and can even result in the loss of a tooth.

• Gum disease

If you neglect your oral health it will do more than make you more likely to get a cavity. It can also cause gum disease. Gum disease occurs when plaque builds up on your teeth and isn’t regularly removed. Plaque contains millions of bacteria which attack the gums, causing redness, swelling and bleeding. If gum disease is left untreated it can cause tooth loss and other serious problems.

Toothaches That Aren’t Related to Hygiene

There are also a number of common dental problems that can cause a toothache and aren’t related to your dental hygiene. These include:

• Injury or trauma

This is a very obvious cause of pain. If you fall or hurt yourself during sports you can crack a tooth or damage your gums, both of which cause pain. If this occurs, see an after hours dentist as soon as possible to avoid further damage.

• Wisdom teeth

Most people just don’t have room in their mouth for their wisdom teeth. This doesn’t stop them growing however, and if there isn’t room for them they can become impacted. This can result in infection or it can push your other teeth out of alignment. When wisdom teeth become impacted they’re very painful, and the pain is usually centred at the back of the mouth. So if you experience this pain, visit your dentist as soon as possible to avoid further problems.

• Teeth grinding

If you grind your teeth at night you probably won’t know it until your teeth start to hurt. Grinding can wear down the enamel on your teeth, causing pain and trauma as well as other dental problems. So if you think that you grinding your teeth then you need to talk to your dentist about it as soon as possible.

A number of dental problems can cause pain and some of them are caused by poor oral hygiene. But this isn’t all bad, because it means that you can avoid these problems by taking care of your mouth and teeth and by visiting your dentist for regular check-ups.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

If you have a dental emergency, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.