
While some oral issues don’t need urgent care, others require it as soon as possible. The second kind – “dental emergencies” – are often painful and put your smile’s health at very high risk. Given that fact, see Dr. Rose for emergency dentistry if you have this type of dental problem. She and her team will ease your pain and treat your mouth quickly, making your grin as good as new. To find out more, keep reading below book a visit today!

If you’re nervous about your dental emergency, you don’t need to worry. Our team is here to walk you through your upcoming care and its steps. To that end, expect four things from our urgent dental treatment process:
In general, you should always call us if you have a dental emergency. Our team will see you as soon as possible and provide you with the best level of smile care. However, you can take steps to handle things yourself before you get certified treatment. These measures would further prepare you for your final treatment, helping you heal and recover. Learn more by clicking the relevant icon(s) below and using their related tips.

Dr. Rose and the rest of our team in Melbourne reserve time for same-day emergency visits so you don’t have to wait long to get help for urgent situations. But many patients hesitate to reach out because they worry they can’t afford the services required to repair their smile.
If you’re concerned about the cost of your dental emergency, continue reading to learn more about the different factors that influence pricing and how our office helps make treatments more affordable!

It’s impossible to predict how much your visit will cost until after your initial examination because it depends significantly on your individual circumstances. For example, some issues can be addressed with simpler solutions, such as providing a prescription mouthwash or filling in cavities.
However, more severe concerns, like infected or broken teeth, will require more involved and complex treatments. For example, you might need a root canal, a dental crown, or an extraction, which are usually more expensive. Our team will provide a detailed estimate after identifying the underlying problem and determining the necessary steps to address it.

Although your visit may not be fully covered, many dental insurance policies do offer benefits that can help reduce your out-of-pocket expenses for your emergency dental appointment. For instance, many plans include an annual exam and X-rays that might be applied.
Then, they often also include anywhere from 50% to 80% of different services needed to protect and preserve your smile, such as undergoing a root canal or placing a restoration to preserve a tooth. If you’re unsure what your policy allows or would like assistance with claims applications or paperwork, please let us know! Our office staff is familiar with various policies and can help you maximize your available benefits.

Are you worried you might not have the budget available to undergo the recommended treatments to address your urgent issue? Our team believes that everyone deserves access to quality, smile-saving services, regardless of their financial situation. To make this possible, we have partnered with CareCredit to offer flexible payment packages.
If your application is approved, this allows you to divide your final invoice into more manageable installments over a designated period that are easier on your wallet.

Some dental emergencies happen due to circumstances that are completely beyond your control, but many of them occur because of more common oral concerns that could potentially have been prevented. Taking care of your teeth and gums routinely strengthens them and increases their resistance to issues like cavities, gum disease, and injuries that can worsen if they remain untreated for too long. This can result in more complex and costly repairs that can be avoided with regular maintenance.
For instance, brushing and flossing twice daily removes plaque and bacteria to safeguard your smile from harm. You should also schedule a routine checkup and cleaning with Dr. Rose every six months, which allows her to monitor your condition so she can catch and treat any areas of concern before they progress.

Unfortunately, you can’t always avoid dental emergencies. That’s why, as your dental team, our goal is to just be a phone call away if you need us. We also want to help you protect your smile, which is why we recommend keeping the following tips in mind:

One of the many advantages of scheduling a dental visit every six months is that it allows us to periodically look for common oral health problems, like tooth decay and gum disease. If we notice anything unusual, we will bring it to your attention and review your treatment options so we can address the root of the problem before it gets any worse. To put it simply, your biannual appointments play a crucial role in protecting your smile from harm.
Important reminder: If you start to experience abnormal symptoms between visits, like pain when biting down, you should schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in Melbourne ASAP.

Of course, taking care of your smile twice a year won’t cut it. In addition to scheduling a dental checkup and cleaning every six months, you need to brush your teeth twice daily, floss between them at least once daily, and rinse with mouthwash consistently. You should also clean your tongue with a tongue scraper or a soft-bristled toothbrush so food particles and other debris aren’t left to linger on the surface.

Remember, what you eat can impact your oral health. That’s why we recommend limiting your intake of crunchy, sticky, sugary, and starchy foods. Simultaneously, focus on adding nutrient-dense, smile-friendly foods to your plate, like cottage cheese, cooked carrots, and scrambled eggs. It’s also a good idea to drink lots of water throughout the day (it’s sugar-free, it will help you stay hydrated, and it reduces your risk of dry mouth).

It’s very common for patients who don’t wear mouthguards to sustain serious dental injuries while playing sports, such as a knocked-out tooth. That’s why it’s so important to wear one, even if you skateboard, ride your bike, or participate in another non-contact sport. If you don’t have one already, that’s okay – we can have a custom one made for you. That way, it fits comfortably while also protecting your teeth and gums from harm.

Oftentimes, patients immediately think of smoking. While that is certainly a habit that can wreak havoc on your oral health, it isn’t the only one. We also recommend trying not to chew on hard objects much. After all, things like ice, popcorn kernels, and pens can easily chip or crack your tooth. It’s also important that you don’t use your teeth as tools to open things. Instead, get in the habit of using the appropriate items (scissors, screwdrivers, etc.).
Sometimes, getting to our office the same day for the restorative care you need simply isn’t possible. In that case, it’s important to know what to do so your toothache doesn’t keep you up all night. We recommend avoiding crunchy, sticky, sugary, and acidic foods at dinner. Then, about 30 minutes before bed, use a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time and take OTC pain medication (following the directions on the label, of course). When you’re ready to turn in for the evening, prop yourself up on a few pillows so blood doesn’t rush to your head throughout the night, exacerbating your symptoms in the process.
If you notice a pimple-like bump on your gums, do NOT try to pop it. Instead, schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in Melbourne, Dr. Rose, ASAP. That way, she can carefully open and drain the abscess before the infection spreads throughout your mouth and body.
If the chip is so minor that you aren’t experiencing any sensitivity, pain, or discomfort, you might assume that you don’t have to worry about it. However, it’s possible for the tooth to break further, the soft tissue in your mouth to get cut, or an infection to develop. For all of those reasons, we do recommend scheduling an appointment at our office, even if it’s a day or two from now.
No, we do not recommend putting a knocked-out tooth in water. Instead, you should place it back in its socket. If that would require force or you’re too scared to try, you can put it in a clean container filled with milk or saline solution instead.
Not only can superglue negatively affect the way food tastes, but it also contains toxins that are not safe to ingest. Plus, adhesives like these do not thrive in damp environments. So, whether there is a small crack running along the surface or your dentures have broken into several pieces, the best thing to do is call our office. The sooner you do, the sooner we can schedule an appointment and begin the process of having yours repaired or replaced.
Oftentimes, patients are tempted to reach for a toothpick when they get something caught in their teeth. However, the sharp edge can push the debris further into place and irritate your gums. So, we advise against it. Instead, dissolve some salt in warm water and rinse with the mixture a few times (spitting it out when you’re done). Then, use a strand of floss to gently clean between your teeth. If that doesn’t work, then give us a call.