Dental emergencies can vary from an excruciatingly painful toothache to having a tooth knocked out. To avoid permanent damage, the person experiencing the emergency must remain calm and rational. If the sufferer is a child, both parent and child need to stay calm while a dentist emergency appointment is made with a dental clinic such as Signature Smile in Sydney.
How Soon Should I See an Emergency Dentist?
Whether the emergency dentist appointment for a child is required or for an adult, the sooner, the better, especially if there is an infection or a tooth has been knocked out. Most mouth injuries should be treated by a dentist as quickly as possible, preferably within 30 minutes of the accident or incident. A quick response can be the difference between saving a tooth or losing it.
Even if your dentist doesn’t operate after hours, most dentists set aside appointments for emergencies during business hours. So, always let the receptionist know exactly what the problem is so they can fit you in immediately.
Can I Get an Emergency Dentist Appointment on a Saturday?
Many dentists in New South Wales operate after hours for emergencies. Some have longer hours on weekdays and are open seven days a week. If a dentist’s surgery advertises emergency treatment, they may also answer the phone and try to triage as needed.
Reasons For Emergency Dentist Appointments
You can usually get a private emergency dentist appointment after hours or at a public hospital emergency department if the situation is urgent. The reasons for emergency dentist appointments include the following:
Knocked out tooth:
This would be one of the most urgent reasons where time is critical in saving the tooth, so be sure to call the emergency dentist immediately for an appointment.
Fractured, cracked or chipped teeth:
The urgency would depend on how severe the damage is, and only a dentist can decide the extent of the damage to a broken tooth. It’s always better to err on the side of caution, so call Signature Smile as soon as possible for a dental emergency appointment for your chipped, broken or cracked tooth.
A severe toothache:
If a tooth is causing excruciating pain and the person’s face is swollen, it may need immediate dental treatment. If it’s after hours, you should call an emergency dental clinic such as Signature Smile for an appointment as soon as possible.
Lost crown or filling:
Cavities can develop under fillings or crowns and cause them to fall out. If this happens, the nerve may be exposed and cause severe pain when consuming hot or cold beverages. The tooth will need a new crown or filling, so the sooner you receive emergency dental treatment, the better.
How Much Do Emergency Dentist Appointments Cost?
The Australian Government provides emergency dental services to the public to relieve patients’ dental pain, and it is free for individuals with a concession, pensioner card (waitlisted and will need to contact the local health district) or veterans affairs. There is a waiting list, so the most urgent cases are seen first. At private dental practices, a dentist emergency appointment cost will differ depending on what needs to be done.
For instance, a dental emergency appointment cost to treat a chipped tooth can range from $250 and $350. An emergency appointment dentist cost for a root canal could be up to $1100, while the cost of an emergency extraction may be from $200 and $600.
In general, the cost of emergency dental treatment depends on the kind of damage that’s caused your dental emergency, the time taken to repair it, and whether you need an anaesthetic, which will add to the costs.
Why Choose Signature Smile?
At Signature Smile, we may be able to help you with emergency dental care at the Randwick surgery from 8.30 am until 5.30 pm weekdays and on some Saturdays up until midday. The Sans Souci practice operates on those 8.30 am to 5.30 pm hours on weekdays but is closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays and weekends.
If you’re searching for “a dentist emergency appointment near me”, our Randwick site is less than a 5-minute walk from Royal Randwick Shopping Centre, and our Sans Souci clinic is conveniently located inside Sans Souci Medical Practice.
We service patients from Sans Souci, Randwick, Bronte, Coogee, Clovelly, Kingsford, Matraville, Kensington, Ramsgate, and Brighton-Le-Sands. Contact us today on 02 9398 9398