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Dental Emergencies

Experiencing a toothache or damaging a tooth can interrupt your routine and create stress. At the Hornsby dental practice of Dr Ben Dunster, we are here when you need us most. If you feel you have a dental emergency, we welcome you to contact us right away to arrange for an emergency visit to the surgery.

Common Causes of Dental Emergencies

Both Ben and Clint believe the best way to prevent a dental emergency is with prevention and proper oral care. Of course, sometimes life has other plans, and a condition develops in spite of our best efforts.

Some of the most common causes of dental emergencies include:

Pain and swelling
Severe sensitivity
A broken or damaged restoration
A broken, lost or damaged denture
Something lodged in the gums
An accident or sport injury

Because many oral conditions display no symptoms until well advanced, it is a good idea to seek treatment at the first sign of trouble. This can help us save your tooth by providing you with timely treatment. Pain always indicates a problem, and waiting may cause your condition to worsen, leading to a severe infection or even tooth loss.

Your Emergency Visit

We strive to treat dental emergencies quickly, often on the same day. When you telephone our surgery, our team will ask a few questions so we can determine how we can best treat you.

When did the symptoms begin?
Where is the toothache located?
Have you recently hurt or damaged your tooth?
Is there a crown or filling on the tooth now?
When is the last time you visited a dentist?

When you arrive, our team will take a digital dental x-ray to assist Ben and Clint with diagnosing your condition. Not all oral conditions are detectable with a visual exam alone. Infection, decay and fractures can all appear on x-rays and provide us with the information we need to make accurate recommendations for treatment.

The purpose of an emergency dental visit is to relieve pain and stabilise your condition. In some cases, we may recommend treatment procedures that require an additional appointment. You will, however, feel much more comfortable and have the answers you need by the time your visit is complete.

We also develop customised treatment plans to help patients enjoy improved health and avoid dental emergencies in the future. We listen to our patients’ goal for their smiles and support their decisions for their oral health.

We Look Forward to Welcoming You

Our Hornsby dental clinic welcomes new patients, even if you are having an emergency and you have never visited us before. Give us a call to arrange an appointment if you are experiencing pain or a toothache. We will help you feel comfortable again quickly!

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my procedure hurt?

At Dr Ben Dunster’s dental clinic, we have noticed that many patients avoid the surgery for fear of pain. Dental anxiety is sometimes due to a traumatic experience in the past or because patients learned to fear the dentist from their parents.

You will be happy to know that today’s dentistry prioritises patient comfort more than ever before. Both Dr Ben and Dr Clint have a gentle approach when providing treatment and when developing a rapport with patients. They value how you feel while you are with us and will strive to make each dental visit comfortable while also providing a bit of fun with some friendly banter. Getting to know our patients and developing long-term relationships based on trust and respect is one of our core values.

Everyone is different, and how patients respond to anaesthetic also varies widely. We may apply a topical anaesthetic before numbing the area to minimise discomfort. Most patients say they barely felt anything. Dr Ben and Dr Clint will also check in periodically after applying anaesthetic to make sure you are completely comfortable before beginning. They will also check in during your procedure to make sure you stay completely comfortable.

We will explain treatment before beginning and answer any questions you may have regarding your treatment.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr Ben Dunster BSc BDS (Otago)
Principal Dentist

Ben was born in Christchurch, NZ and grew up on a farm in North Canterbury before moving to the hustle and bustle of Sydney in 1995.

As a New Zealand native, Dr Ben earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Christchurch University before attending Otago University for his Bachelor of Dentistry degree.

Dr Ben has worked in the Hornsby area since 1996 and enjoys being a part of this community. He purchased this dental practice in 2002 and recently welcomed an associate.

‘I love creating amazing smiles, treating children, relieving patients from pain ...