Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

Family dental care in Glen Iris

Why wear a mouth guard while playing sport in Glen Iris?

Each year, thousands of adults and children are treated for dental injuries that could have been prevented or minimised by simply wearing a mouthguard. The Australian Dental Association strongly recommends the use of a mouthguard in any sport or activity where collision or contact is likely, during both games and training. Often injuries in sports or activities that occur, are those we didn’t even consider to be a danger. It’s always best to ‘play it safe’ and wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth.

Who Needs a Mouthguard?

Anyone who plays a sport or undertakes an activity where collision or contact to the face is a risk should wear a mouthguard. Sports such as rugby union and league, AFL, hockey and boxing are ‘no brainers’ because intentional collision, are part of the game.
However, it is sports where accidental collision occurs that are often responsible for dental trauma, such as cricket, basketball, netball, touch football, and soccer. These sports are considered ‘non-contact’ and yet they also carry a risk of accidental collision.
It does not matter if you are just during training or you are during a game, the risk is always there.

The consequences of an injury to the face.

Dental trauma from sporting injury can include damage to the tooth nerve, fractured, cracked or knocked-out teeth, a broken jaw, damage to the tongue and cut lips. Unfortunately, a single event of dental trauma can lead to a lifelong need for dental treatment in order to maintain the strength and health of the damaged tooth or teeth. Some treatments do not last forever so a damaged tooth will often need attention more than once. Prevention is always better than the cure, so play it safe and wear a mouthguard.

The best protection.

The Australian Dental Association recommends a custom-fitted mouthguard for all those who participate in contact sports or sports with high risk of dental injury. A custom-fitted mouthguard that has been designed by Tooronga Family Dantistry makes breathing and speaking a lot easier when wearing your mouthguard. You are overall a lot more comfortable than the ‘boil-and-bite’ counterparts. These are the mouthguard that you can purchase from a chemist or sports store that offer less protection as they are ill-fitted and loose in the mouth, which can be dangerous during impact or they may come out altogether.
It is important to stay safe when playing sports, don’t let an injury take away the fum from the game.

Broken, Chipped or Cracked Teeth – What Glen Iris Patients Need to Know

Tooth enamel is one of the strongest materials in the human body, but even strong enamel can break, chip or crack—especially with some of the crunchy foods we love around Glen Iris. Crunching down on hard foods like pork crackling, ice or candy is one of the most common causes of cracked teeth. A fall while walking around Gardiner’s Creek Trail or a sporting knock at TH King Oval can also lead to sudden tooth damage.

If a tooth already has decay, is weakened by grinding, or has an old restoration, it is even more likely to fracture.

A cracked or broken tooth may not always hurt, especially if the tooth has already had a root canal treatment. More commonly, pain appears while chewing, when pressure causes the cracked sections of the tooth to move. You may also notice sensitivity to heat or cold if the nerve inside the tooth is irritated or exposed.

When left untreated, a cracked tooth can allow bacteria to enter deeper layers of the tooth, the root canal system and even the bone—leading to serious infection and possible tooth loss.

Below are the common types of tooth fractures that we treat every week at Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris, and the treatments most often used.

Minor Cracks

Small surface cracks in the enamel—often caused by tooth grinding, clenching or hard foods—are very common.
At Tooronga Family Dentistry, these are often resolved with a simple polish to remove rough edges and improve comfort.

A Cracked Tooth

A cracked tooth is at high risk of breaking apart.
If the crack runs through a tooth with a filling or decay, we will:

  1. Remove the old filling and any decay

  2. Rebuild the tooth using a strong composite restoration, which holds the cracked segments together

This restores strength and prevents further fracture.

Tooth Chips

Small chips can usually be repaired with a composite filling to prevent the damage from worsening.
If the chip is tiny and does not affect your smile, we may simply polish the area.

Large Fractures

When a large portion of the tooth breaks away, it often means the crack reaches the nerve. This can cause severe sensitivity or pain.
In these cases, treatment usually involves:

  • Root canal therapy

  • A custom crown to protect the weakened tooth

Split Tooth

If a crack runs vertically and the tooth is separated into two sections, treatment options include:

  • Root canal treatment, if the split is limited

  • Extraction, if the split is too deep to restore

If You Break, Chip or Crack a Tooth in Glen Iris

If you notice a crack, chip or break—even if it doesn’t hurt—it is important to see Dr Daniel Kaufman at Tooronga Family Dentistry as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

You can book online or 👉Call.
📍 Conveniently located for families in Glen Iris, Tooronga, Malvern and Hawthorn East

Common Causes of Tooth Pain and What to Do Before You See Your Glen Iris Emergency Dentist

Tooth pain can be one of the most distressing dental issues, and in my more than 35 years of experience providing emergency dental care in Glen Iris, I’ve found that most toothaches come from a small number of common causes. Understanding these issues—and knowing what to do before you reach us—can help you protect your teeth and get relief more quickly.

The Most Common Causes of Tooth Pain

1. Tooth decay (“tooth holes”)

Early decay often causes sensitivity to hot or cold foods. As decay progresses, the pain becomes constant and more severe.

2. Gum infection

Inflamed or infected gums can lead to bleeding, swelling, bad breath, and loosening of the teeth.

3. Trauma or knocked teeth

Sports injuries, accidents, or falls may cause a tooth to chip, crack, or be knocked out completely.

4. Chewing hard objects

Accidentally biting into a stone or very hard piece of food can fracture a tooth.

5. Problematic wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth often trap food and bacteria, leading to swelling, infection, and pain.

Why You Should See Dr. Kaufman Daniel Quickly

When you’re in pain or a tooth has been knocked out, timing is critical. Seeing us early helps:

  • Prevent further damage

  • Increase the chance of saving a broken or knocked-out tooth

  • Provide instant pain relief

  • Protect your long-term dental health

At Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris, we are open 6 days a week and do our best to see emergency patients as soon as possible.

When you arrive, I will first examine your teeth to identify the true source of the pain. It’s common for tooth pain to radiate into the ear, jaw, or even cause headaches, so professional diagnosis is essential. Once we understand the cause, we can provide immediate relief and a clear treatment plan.

What You Can Do While Waiting to See Us

If You Have a Toothache

Before your emergency appointment:

  • Rinse your mouth with water to clear debris.

  • Use dental floss or interdental brushes to remove trapped food.

  • Apply a cold pack to the cheek if there is swelling (remove it periodically).

  • Take pain medication you are familiar with—never place tablets directly on the tooth.

  • Avoid home remedies such as aspirin on the tooth, alcohol, or baking soda—these cause more harm than good.

The safest and best solution is a proper dental examination.

If You Have a Knocked-Out Tooth

  • Find the tooth.

  • Hold it only by the crown, not the root.

  • Rinse with milk; if unavailable, rinse briefly with water or have the patient gently suck it clean.

  • Try to reinsert the tooth into its socket.

  • If you can’t reinsert it, store it in milk, cling wrap, or inside the cheek (only if safe).

See a dentist within 30 minutes if possible—this greatly improves the survival of the tooth.

If You Have a Broken Tooth

  • Rinse with warm water (cold water may increase pain).

  • Collect any broken fragments and bring them to us—they are often repairable.

  • Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling.

  • Do not try to remove fragments lodged in lips or cheeks—wait for professional help.

Come to see us as soon as possible.

Cuts to the Tongue or Lip

These areas bleed heavily due to rich blood supply. To control bleeding:

  • Apply firm pressure with a clean cloth.

  • If bleeding does not stop or the cut is deep, visit us or your nearest hospital emergency department.

Braces or Retainers Causing Irritation

  • Cover loose or sharp wires with a cotton ball, gauze, or orthodontic wax.

  • Do not attempt to remove wires stuck in soft tissues.

  • Contact your orthodontist, or if unavailable, we can assist.

Need an Emergency Dentist in Glen Iris?

We are here to help—6 days a week.

👉Call or book online Tooronga Family Dentistry on (03) 9822 7006 so we can help you quickly.

📍 Conveniently located for families in Glen Iris, Tooronga, Malvern and Hawthorn East