How often should I see a dentist?

Dentists recommend that you attend a regular check-up and oral hygiene clean once every six months. Depending on your individual needs, your dentist may recommend recurring visits more frequently or less frequently, such as every nine to 12 months. During your check-up, your dentist will look at your oral hygiene and diet, the health of your teeth, lips, gums, and any risk of gum disease, signs of tooth wear and the alignment of your teeth, jaws and bite. Book an appointment online today.

Why do I need to see a dentist regularly?

Making regular visits to the dentist can help spot early signs of tooth decay and gum disease. These issues are easier to treat when caught early. Regular check-ups also allow your dentist to spot risks and prepare a treatment plan to manage them.

Should I spit toothpaste out or rinse my mouth with water?

According to the Australian Dental Association (ADA) it is better to spit out the toothpaste from your mouth rather than rinsing out as this provides on going protection to tooth enamel.

Can a professional dental cleaning damage teeth?

Hygienists and Oral Health Therapists are professionally qualified to clean your teeth safely and carefully and do not damage teeth. it’s common to experience a bit of tooth sensitivity after a professional clean, this is because of the effects caused by decay rather than the process of it being removed.

What are the alternatives to wisdom tooth removal?

If our dentists check your wisdom teeth and are happy with the way they are growing, we may recommend over-the-counter pain medication to help you manage the pain and discomfort and we'll monitor the tooth to check that it comes through normally. We may also prescribe antibiotics to treat an infection if there is one present. For some over eruptions or partial eruptions of wisdom teeth, we may recommend removing part of the tooth or some of the gum tissue covering the tooth rather than extracting the whole tooth. We'll make sure you know all your options so you can decide what's best for you.

How much does wisdom tooth removal cost?

The cost of wisdom tooth removal in Perth can vary depending on the number of teeth to be extracted and the type of sedation required. EVP Dental have agreements with two dedicated anaesthetists. This means for patients with private health insurance hospital cover (having served waiting periods and not exceeded yearly limits), the excess cost for the anaesthetist and hospital may be minimal. For patients without hospital cover, IV sedation can also be an affordable cost alternative for wisdom tooth removal and can be administered at our practice or at Southbank Day Surgery. For more information on wisdom teeth removal pricing at our Perth clinic, contact us today.

Why do I need a custom-fitted sports mouthguard?

A custom-fitted sports mouthguard provides the best possible protection for your teeth, gums and jaw while playing contact sports. While more expensive than over-the-counter types, the cost of treating a dental injury far outweighs the cost of a custom-fitted mouthguard.

What are the alternatives to wisdom tooth removal?

If our dentists check your wisdom teeth and are happy with the way they are growing, we may recommend over-the-counter pain medication to help you manage the pain and discomfort and we'll monitor the tooth to check that it comes through normally. We may also prescribe antibiotics to treat an infection if there is one present. For some over eruptions or partial eruptions of wisdom teeth, we may recommend removing part of the tooth or some of the gum tissue covering the tooth rather than extracting the whole tooth. We'll make sure you know all your options so you can decide what's best for you.

Dental Emergencies

How to Preserve a Broken Tooth

Posted on: 08 April, 2021

Accidents happen when you least expect. Learn the steps you can take to preserve a knocked-out tooth, so your dentist has the best chance of saving it.

How To Preserve a Broken Tooth

4 minute read

There are roughly 60 million (1) dental accidents that happen worldwide each year. In fact, about one-half of the world’s population experiences dental trauma at some point in their lives. This could mean a chipped or cracked tooth, or a completely knocked-out tooth. No matter the type of dental injury, all trauma involves:

Stress - Especially when there is blood present
Urgency - To seek emergency care
Consultation - no matter how serious an injury

An Avulsed Tooth

A blow to the mouth can cause a tooth to dislocate out of its socket, this is known as a tooth avulsion. It can be a stressful situation that requires an immediate visit to the dentist for consultation and treatment. The force that knocks a tooth out of the mouth can also result in:

A cut lip
Fractured jaw or facial bones
Damaged gums and surrounding teeth
A lot of blood in the mouth

The most common causes (2) of a knocked-out tooth are falls, contact sports, traffic accidents and cycling.

What Happens to the Tooth?

Inside the canals of each tooth root are blood vessels and nerve tissue known as tooth pulp. The tooth root's outer surface is called the periodontal ligament. While tooth pulp plays a role in forming a tooth during childhood, it no longer serves a vital role after the tooth is fully formed.

The periodontal ligament on the other hand, serves a vital function throughout life, as it holds teeth in their sockets and allows teeth to absorb the stress of chewing.

Once a tooth is knocked out, tooth pulp can’t survive, but it’s extremely important to preserve the periodontal ligament so the tooth can be reattached and continue to function.

Can a Knocked-Out Tooth Be Saved?

Yes, our team of experienced dental professionals can usually save a knocked-out tooth. The steps you take in the lead up to your emergency appointment may determine how successfully we can reattach the tooth. Factors that affect the long-term outcome of replanting and maintaining the tooth include:

How much damage has been done to the periodontal ligament and root surface
How long the tooth is out of its socket
How moist the root is kept before replacing the tooth in its socket
Your age (Undeveloped teeth have less chance of successful treatment)
Follow-up dental care

Stay Calm, Act Quickly and Take These Steps

What you do in the lead up to your emergency dental appointment, impacts how successfully we can reattach your knocked-out tooth. Take these steps to increase your chances of saving it.

Remain calm and act quickly
Find the tooth and pick it up by the top part only. DO NOT pick the tooth up by the root
Gently rinse dirt off with water, saline solution, or milk. DO NOT rinse with soap or chemicals. DO NOT scrub the tooth. DO NOT place the tooth in a tissue or cloth.
Attempt to put the tooth back in its socket gently and as quickly as possible, then gently bite down on a cloth or towel
Contact our practice immediately on (08) 9470 3944

What if I Can’t Put The Tooth Back in its Socket?

If you’re not able to put the tooth back into its socket, here’s what you’ll need to do:

Do not let the tooth become dry
Do not store in tap water
Store the tooth in milk or saliva (Preferably your own saliva).
Place the tooth and milk in a plastic container
Bring the tooth to EVP Dental as quickly as possible

What About Baby Teeth?

Book an emergency appointment at EVP Dental

Baby teeth are a little different when it comes to preserving a knocked out tooth. We don’t recommend attempting to place a baby tooth back in its socket, because it can cause difficulties in shedding the baby tooth and can damage the developing adult tooth.

EVP Dental reserves appointments for dental emergencies every day. Call our practice on (08) 9470 3944 and we’ll arrange a time to see you and your child as soon as possible.

What About Chipped or Cracked Teeth

How to preserve chipped or cracked teeth

Chipped, cracked or fractured teeth are still a cause for concern, but may not require emergency treatment like a knocked-out tooth does. It’s important to book a check-up so your dentist can determine the appropriate care needed.

Delaying treatment can result in teeth shifting out of place, dental abscesses and possibly tooth loss. Our team of dentists at EVP Dental can restore the appearance and function of your injured teeth with treatments such as:

Preventing Sporting Injuries

Prevent sporting injuries with a custom mouthguard from EVP Dental

Protecting your teeth on the sports field can help you avoid dental injuries and costly treatment. A custom mouthguard helps to significantly reduce the severity of an injury by absorbing impact and protecting teeth, jaws and soft tissues in the mouth.

Unlike an over-the-counter mouthguard, a custom-fitted mouthguard is designed by taking impressions of your teeth to precisely fit the contours of your mouth. They offer superior protection and comfort and allow you to breathe and speak normally. They can also last for several seasons before needing to be replaced.

EVP Dental reserves appointments for dental emergencies every day. Call our practice on (08) 9470 3944 for any questions or concerns about saving teeth after a dental accident, or book an appointment online.