As you know, the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to change at a rapid pace. It is recommended that dental practitioners limit treatment to non-urgent dental care, particularly limiting treatment which generates large quantities of aerosol.
Support to patients must be remembered and for some, the terminology ‘emergency’ and ‘urgent’ dental treatment may cause confusion. Some patients may feel they do not qualify for such treatment which can cause increased stress for patients and the healthcare system if they instead present to a GP or in very severe cases, require hospitalisation.
Below is a description of treatment procedures classified as an emergency or urgent.
A dental emergency is a situation that requires immediate treatment. This can include:
Both facial swelling and trauma have the potential to affect your airway. Immediate treatment should be sought for these conditions.
Urgent dental treatment involves providing care for conditions that cause significant pain, infection or directly affect your health and wellbeing. This can include:
It is important that you do not attend for treatment if you have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COIVD-19 or are experiencing symptoms including cough, fever, sore throat or difficulty in breathing. We ask you to please attend for treatment alone or bring along minimal additional persons.
Please be assured if you are attending for treatment, that under the guidance of the Australian Dental Association, Smile Place Dental has implemented further infection control measures to keep you and us safe.
Although the treatments we can provide to you have been restricted for the time being, please know we are here to continue helping you care for your oral health. If you have a dental issue not listed above but are experiencing pain or it is affecting your wellbeing, please contact the practice and we will provide help where possible. Please call
Tecoma-97542148, Forest Hill-98773724 or Glen Iris-90481026 to contact the Smile Place Dental team, if we do not answer, please leave a message and a member of the team will return your call as soon as possible.
In general, the recommendation is that you should change your toothbrush every three to four months to maintain a consistent level of oral hygiene. But for many of us, we hardly keep track of when we last changed our toothbrush. Before you realise it, months have passed and your toothbrush starts looking a little worn. […]
Bruxism is the involuntary grinding, clenching, and gnashing of the teeth. It can cause issues with your teeth and jaw. This condition usually affects people when they are sleeping, however, it can also happen when you are awake.
Whether it's toothbrushing techniques or the need for regular dental visits, it's important to encourage kids to understand the importance of dental care and prioritise their own teeth cleaning. With the right approach and consistent practice, you can ensure your child continues to have good dental hygiene for the long-term!