When to contact your dentist in Mackay in an emergency

For most problems surrounding your teeth a regularly scheduled appointment a few days away is appropriate, but in some more severe cases an emergency visit may be necessary.

Unfortunately some patients are still unaware of what needs an immediate appointment at the practice and so they suffer unnecessarily for longer with symptoms. Or in some cases they get progressively worse leading to other oral health issues. Here are a few instances when you should get in touch with your dentist in Mackay in an emergency.

Bleeding gums

A fairly noticeable symptom is if you begin experiencing regular bleeding of the gums or there’s a persistent bleed that’s not going away despite changes to your cleaning routine.  In these cases you should contact your dentist in Mackay. Bleeding gums can often be a sign of gum disease setting in and the sooner our team can catch and treat it, the better.

Cracked, chipped or missing teeth

Another fairly noticeable sign that you should make an immediate appointment with our team is if there are any cracks and chips in your teeth, or if one has been knocked out by an accident or through physical hobbies like rugby.

Ideally you should make an appointment as soon as the damage occurs or is spotted.  The sooner we can look at and repair your teeth the better. In some cases this may involve prosthetic replacements and coverings or if you still have the piece that was chipped out we may be able to reattach it.

At Northern Beaches Dental in Mackay our team of talented professionals will provide you with a suitable repair or replacement to restore your damaged smile.

Swelling or pain in the gums

Similar to bleeding, if there’s any noticeable swelling or a persistent pain then there may be an underlying infection that could lead to wider health problems, like gingivitis or disintegration of the jawbone in more extreme cases.

Persistent toothache

If you are experiencing an aching or stabbing sharp pain in your teeth that lasts more than 24 hours and won’t subside with painkillers, then you should make an emergency appointment. Pain in your teeth should never be ignored as it may be symptomatic of a wider condition that needs immediate treatment.

Chronic jaw pain

Generally any pain in your mouth shouldn’t be ignored as it could potentially be caused by something more serious. In the case of persistent pain in your jaw it could be a sign of issues with your bite, stress related bruxism or grinding of the teeth, or it could be a sign of more life changing disorders such as sleep apnoea. The muscle of the jawbone could become inflamed and cause your jaw to lock in position, limiting your ability to eat, speak or talk.

These are just a few signs that may indicate an emergency appointment with your dentist is required. Although they may sound pretty scary, it may be an easily remedied problem, so if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms then get in touch with our team at the practice as soon as you can.

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.